Copeland, Austin, House II
Why it's listed
Built in 1914 at 925 Arlington in the Houston Heights, this one-and-one-half-story frame cottage was constructed by Austin Copeland as his own home. It rests on brick piers and faces east under a gable-front roof, with clapboard siding and a composition roof. A half-story gable extends over the first floor to shelter an inset porch supported by three brick columns. Above, three one-over-one windows sit beneath a wooden-shingled gable pediment, a detail that reflects Shingle influence on an otherwise vernacular design. Side dormers with shed roofs appear on the north and south sides. Alterations are limited to removal of a rear kitchen window in the 1950s and addition of a front porch rail. The house was listed because gable-front houses were relatively uncommon in the Heights despite being a widespread early 20th-century type, and because of its unusually good condition. It also belongs to a group of houses Copeland built for his own residence. It remains a residence amid similar houses.
Significance in brief: The house is significant as one of the few gable-front houses in the Heights. Although the type was common in the early 20th century, few were built there. Its unusually good condition adds to its importance, and it is another house the builder constructed for his own use.
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 87002245, listed January 15, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 925 Arlington, Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | January 15, 1988 |
| Reference number | 87002245 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900 - |
| Architect / builder | Austin Copeland |
| Architectural style | Vernacular with Shingle influence |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Physical condition is listed as excellent; the house is still used as a residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.78806, -95.39438 (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 87002245.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001051
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.