Carroll, J. J., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1912 on Courtlandt Place, a tree-lined, divided boulevard in Houston, this two-and-a-half story house was among the first on an avenue platted in 1906 as an exclusive neighborhood. Its most striking feature is a classical gallery with a central two-story portico on massive Doric columns, extending west to form a porte cochere. Birdsall Briscoe remodeled it in 1924, enclosing the east porches as a solarium and bedrooms and adding a second porte cochere. Inside, a wide central hall separates the dining and living rooms, whose carved fireplace mantels are by Swiss-born woodcarver Peter Mansbendel. The attic, built as a ballroom, later gained liquor cabinets from the Prohibition era. Lumberman J. J. Carroll, a longtime school board member, lived here with his wife Lena, who remained until 1971. The house served as a regional center for the Audubon Society. It is recognized as a fine Neo-Classical Revival example in a well-preserved residential neighborhood.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as an excellent example of early 20th century Neo-Classical Revival architecture, built in the first two years of Courtlandt Place, one of Houston's earliest and most exclusive subdivisions. Its living and dining room fireplace mantels were carved by Peter Mansbendel, a noted Texas woodcarver. It was also the home of J. J. and Lena Carter Carroll, prominent Houston business and social leaders.
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 79002955, listed June 14, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 16 Courtlandt Pl., Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | June 14, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002955 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | J. J. Carroll, builder; Briscoe (Birdsall Briscoe, 1924 remodeling) |
| Architectural style | Neo-Classical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, private residence, in excellent condition; altered by the 1924 remodeling and the removal of the original balustrade on the portico roof. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.74386, -95.38413 (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 79002955.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002100
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.