House at 301 E. Lamar
Why it's listed
Built about 1885 for either John Cameron or John S. Matthews, this two-story frame house at 301 E. Lamar in McKinney follows the I-house plan. It has weatherboard siding, a gable roof with box eaves, double-hung windows with four-over-four lights, and a five-bay porch with Doric columns across the south side. A side porch on the west carries jigsawn detailing similar to that on another McKinney house, the Johnson House. Pedimented door and window surrounds, corbeled chimney caps, and a roof gable broken by two cross gables give the front a look suggestive of the Gothic Revival style. Although the I-house plan was popular in McKinney during the mid to late 19th century, relatively few examples have survived, and this residence is one of the least altered. A 1985 survey identified it as one of the best local examples of the type. It remains in residential use in fair condition, standing among late 19th-century houses near downtown.
Significance in brief: The form argues the house is architecturally significant as one of the best local examples of an I-house. Few I-houses from the mid to late 19th century survive in McKinney, and this one is among the least altered. Its corbeled chimneys, pedimented door and window surrounds, and double-gabled front are noted as noteworthy features.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 87001719, listed October 8, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 301 E. Lamar, McKinney |
|---|---|
| County | Collin County |
| Listed | October 8, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001719 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | I-house |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; condition is described as fair. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.20068, -96.61765 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 87001719.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001775
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.