Knittel House
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Why it's listed
Built in 1918-19 at 1601 Ashland in the Houston Heights, this square, two-story frame house was constructed by Dr. Paul Knittel, a local dentist and prominent member of the community. It has a pyramidal roof with a small front gable to one side, clapboard walls and an asphalt roof. A double gallery runs across the front and south side, with flat balusters on both floors. The original porch supports were replaced with two-story square brick columns, while round half-columns on brick piers also appear on the ground-floor porch. The main entrance has a triple bay, with windows on each side of a door framed by sidelights and a transom holding good leaded glass. Windows have one-over-one lights, and an interior brick chimney rises through the house. The property sits on a well-kept, prominent corner lot in a residential part of the Heights. It is noted for its architecture and because it remains in the hands of the builder's family, still serving as a residence.
Significance in brief: The house is noted for its architecture at a local level. It has remained owned and occupied by the family of its builder, Dr. Paul Knittel, a dentist in the Heights and a prominent community member.
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 83004468, listed June 22, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1601 Ashland St., Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | June 22, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004468 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-- |
| Architect / builder | Paul W. Knittel - builder |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a residence, owned and occupied by the builder's family; condition described as good (fair/good on the earlier survey sheet). |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.79990, -95.40294 (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 83004468.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001037
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.