Johnson, Morris and Mary, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1920, this one-story wood-frame cottage at 3818 Spencer in Houston sits on a small parcel that was once part of the Sessums Fourteen Acre Tract beside White Oak Bayou. It has an L-plan form, a hip roof with three cross gables, painted beveled wood siding, and a wraparound porch with tapered columns. Morris Johnson, who worked at the Southern Pacific Railroad shops, bought the land in 1914, and he and his wife Mary lived here until the early 1950s. The house is considered significant for its architecture. It shows the move from late 19th-century building traditions toward early 20th-century trends, and its detailing suggests a skilled carpenter. It was also one of the most substantial homes in the area for an African-American family, reflecting prosperity linked to the railroads. Alterations in 1986 changed the porch bases and east side, but the house was judged to retain its integrity.
Significance in brief: The house is a representative example of a vernacular L-plan cottage, showing the shift from late 19th-century building forms to early 20th-century popular trends. It was built for an African-American family and reflects the growing financial independence of Black railroad workers in the area. It was among the most substantial houses in its neighborhood.
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 97000541, listed June 4, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 3818 Spencer St., Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | June 4, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000541 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c.1920 |
| Architect / builder | UNKNOWN |
| Architectural style | L-plan Vernacular Cottage |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition but vacant, with some weather deterioration; 1986 alterations included porch column veneer and east-side French doors and deck. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.77534, -95.39966 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 97000541.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002194
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.