Carter, W. T., Jr., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1912 at 18 Courtlandt Place in Houston, this two-and-a-half story wood-frame house is finished in plaster and designed in the Prairie Style. Architects Olle J. Lorehn and Birdsall P. Briscoe gave it a low-pitched hipped tile roof, wide chimneys, and a one-story front gallery on massive square brick piers that ends in a porte cochere on the west side. Most homes on this early, exclusive boulevard follow eclectic Revival styles, so the Carter House stands out as a modern departure. It was Briscoe's first commission on the street, where he later completed seven more designs. W. T. Carter, Jr. built it as the fifth house in the new subdivision. He was a leader in Houston's lumber business, served on the City Council and Port Commission, and pursued real estate ventures, including an early airport that later became Hobby Field. His descendants lived in the house until 1978.
Significance in brief: The house is one of the few on Courtlandt Place to depart from eclectic Revival styles and show Prairie Style influence, making it an excellent Houston example of that motif. It was Birdsall Briscoe's first commission in the neighborhood. It was also the home of W. T. Carter, Jr., a prominent lumber businessman and real estate figure.
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 79002956, listed June 14, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 18 Courtlandt Pl., Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | June 14, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002956 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Olle J. Lorehn & Birdsall Brisco |
| Architectural style | Prairie Style |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed condition is excellent and unaltered; used as a private residence. Carter family descendants owned and occupied it until 1978. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.74386, -95.38433 (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 79002956.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002102
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.