Dawson, James A., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1910 in Houston's Westmoreland Addition, this raised 2-1/2-story frame house at 400 Emerson shows the Colonial Revival style with classical influences. A full-height, full-width porch with four colossal Ionic columns carries a deep denticulated cornice and bracketed eaves, and the low hip roof has attic dormers. Behind it, the original stable and servants' quarters survives as a garage and small apartment. The house is significant for architecture at the local level because it is a good example of the early 1900s Colonial Revival style, at a size and scale rarely repeated in the city. Alterations, including enclosed rear porches, a 1982 bath conversion and a 1983 pool, were kept to the rear and sides, so its historic character remains intact. Early residents included contractor James R. Parks, chemical company president James A. Dawson, and, from 1938, Governor James V. Allred and his wife as tenants.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house meets Criterion C in Architecture at the local level as a good example of early 1900s Colonial Revival style with Classical Revival influences. Its size and scale were rarely duplicated in Houston, and it retains its integrity because alterations were concentrated at the rear and sides. It also contributes to the varied architectural mix of the Westmoreland Addition.
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 94000248, listed March 17, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 400 Emerson Ave., Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | March 17, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000248 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1910 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic and current function is a single-family dwelling; the rear stable building now houses a small apartment and a garage, and a 1983 swimming pool is noncontributing. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.74311, -95.38587 (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 94000248.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002188
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.