Clendenen-Carleton House
Also known as: Carleton House
Why it's listed
Built around 1888 at 803 North Main Street in Bonham, this two-story frame house is an example of late Victorian domestic building in North Texas. Its builder was Albert Joseph Clendenen, son of a pioneer Bonham doctor, who worked in the ice business. The house is notable for its two-level porches and galleries on the east, south and north sides, decorated with gabled ends, brackets, fret work, spindle work and lathe-turned balusters, all applied to a simple frame structure covered in horizontal cypress siding and fishscale shingles. A stone carriage block initialed by Clendenen remains on the property and is the only one known in Bonham. Dr. James C. Carleton, a local physician for more than 40 years, acquired the home in 1914 and added a kitchen, back porch and sunporches. The house was listed because it displays Eastlake and Stick detailing and retains nearly all of its original architectural character.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a fine example of the vernacular Victorian homes built by prosperous merchants and professional men in North Texas in the late 19th century, using Eastlake and Stick elements. Its ornate east, south and north porches and galleries are the main features. The house keeps nearly all its original features, and the builder's initialed stone carriage block is the only one known to remain in Bonham.
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 79002937, listed May 14, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 803 N. Main St., Bonham |
|---|---|
| County | Fannin County |
| Listed | May 14, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002937 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1888 |
| Architect / builder | Builder Albert Joseph Clendenen; architect unknown |
| Architectural style | Eastlake and Stick (vernacular Victorian) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as unoccupied and altered. The 1914 additions are a kitchen, back porch and sunporches. The owner plans to refurbish it to its 1914 condition. Two outbuildings are in an advanced state of disrepair. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 33.58135, -96.17960 (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 79002937.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107321904
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.