Countryman House
Why it's listed
Built in 1907-08 for Ransom Vick, this one-story raised frame cottage at 402 East 9th Street is a well-kept example of a house type that was not especially common in the Houston Heights. It has clapboard walls, a composition roof with a pitched profile, and a projecting front gable bay with a window in the gable. An attached porch rests on Doric columns with square balusters, and the single front door has a transom. Windows are one-over-one, and the house stands on extremely high brick piers with latticework between them. The design shows some Queen Anne influence. The only noted alteration is the replacement of window frames with metal ones. The house sits on a corner lot of less than one acre, fenced with chain link and shaded by large trees, in a residential neighborhood. It was listed for its local architectural significance as a fine surviving raised cottage. The Countryman family has lived there since about 1915, and it remains a residence.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a fine, well-kept example of the raised cottage type in the Heights, where that form was not particularly common. It is recognized locally for its architecture. The Countryman family has occupied the house since about 1915.
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 83004431, listed June 22, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 402 E. 9th St., Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | June 22, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004431 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-- |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne influence |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Physical condition is described as good; the house is still used as a residence and sits on a well-kept corner lot. Alterations are limited to metal window frames. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.78735, -95.39395 (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 83004431.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002160
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.