Kleinhaus House
Why it's listed
Built around 1907 at 803 Yale Street, this two-and-a-half-story frame house sits on a prominent corner lot in the Houston Heights. It has a square plan, a high pyramidal roof, and a front dormer with three windows and a decorative gable. A one-story porch wraps around to the side on fluted Ionic columns that rest on pressed concrete blocks. Other features include a bay window at the southwest corner, one-over-one windows, clapboard walls, and an interior brick chimney. The style shows Colonial Revival influence. The house has remained in a single family since 1907. Its first resident, Bernard W. Kleinhaus, worked as a bookkeeper, and the household represents the white-collar residents who lived in the Heights. The house is larger and more elaborate than most of its neighbors, and it was recognized locally for its architecture. It is still a residence, and the survey records no visible alterations. The architect and builder are unknown.
Significance in brief: The house has stayed in the same family since 1907. Its first resident, Bernard W. Kleinhaus, was a bookkeeper, and the family is typical of the white-collar residents of the Heights. The house is larger and more elaborate than most others in the area. Its significance is recorded as architectural and local.
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 83004467, listed June 22, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 803 Yale St., Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | June 22, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004467 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-- |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival influence |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a residence, its original use. Physical condition is recorded as fair on one form and poor on the continuation sheet. No alterations are visible. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.78545, -95.39918 (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 83004467.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001035
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.