Dorrance, John M., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1913-14 at 9 Courtlandt Place in Houston, this two-story stuccoed brick house is one of 18 prominent residences on a tree-lined, divided boulevard laid out in 1906 as an exclusive neighborhood. Designed by the firm Sanguinet, Staats & Barnes, it shows Mediterranean influence, with a U-shaped front facade, arched windows with fanlights, an iron balcony and a low-pitched tile roof with wide eaves. Inside, a large oak-paneled receiving room serves as the main space for entertaining. The grounds include a garage and servants' quarters with horse stalls. It is the only house on the street with this Mediterranean character. It was the home of John M. Dorrance, a Massachusetts-born cotton broker who founded Dorrance and Co., one of the city's oldest and largest cotton firms, and who died there in 1935. The street's restrictive covenants have helped preserve its residential character.
Significance in brief: It is the only house on Courtlandt Place showing Mediterranean ("California Style") influence, and it reflects the architectural quality of one of Houston's earliest and most exclusive subdivisions. It is also a historical link to J. M. Dorrance, a prominent early 20th-century cotton broker and exporter. The nomination also highlights its architects, a firm that designed many notable Houston buildings.
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 79002960, listed June 14, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 9 Courtlandt Pl., Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | June 14, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002960 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1913-14 |
| Architect / builder | Sanguinet, Staats & Barnes |
| Architectural style | Mediterranean ("California Style") |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition, unaltered, occupied and used as a private residence at the time of nomination. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Courtlandt Place Historic District |
| Coordinates | 29.74290, -95.38276 (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 79002960.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000992
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.