Gillette House
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Why it's listed
Built in 1904 at 301-303 East 15th Street, this one-story frame cottage is part of the early development of the Houston Heights. It has clapboard walls and a composition roof. The roof is hipped with a later gable, and a detailed gable-end bay projects at the front with a window. An attached porch with turned posts, flat balusters and two single doors wraps around the bay to the end of the east wing. Windows have one-over-one lights. The house sits on a corner lot lined with large trees along Cortland, with a large yard on the west side. It was recorded as a good example of the simple cottages built for the Heights' rising middle-class population. Its original owner, James Gillette, was an attorney. The side ell gives the house an unusual layout and appears to be original or very early. Originally a residence, it is now a duplex, and no alterations are known.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a good example of the simple cottages built in the early years of the Heights for a rising middle-class population. Its original owner, James Gillette, was an attorney. The house also has an unusual configuration, with a side ell that appears to be original or added very early.
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 84001764, listed May 14, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 301-303 E. 15th St., Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | May 14, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84001764 |
| 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 listed as good, with no known alterations; the building is used as a residence-duplex. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.79797, -95.39544 (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 84001764.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5562158
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.