McDonald House
Why it's listed
Built in 1907 at 1801 Ashland Street, this two-story frame house in the Houston Heights was the home of John E. McDonald, a real estate investor active in the neighborhood. He bought the lot from O. M. Carter and built to meet deed restrictions that prohibited buildings costing less than $2000. The house has a combination roof with a projecting gable bay, a double gallery that curves to both sides on fluted columns, squared balusters, a double French door opening to the upstairs gallery, and a three-sided bay window on the lower gallery. Its windows have one-over-one lights, and the style shows Colonial Revival influence. It occupies a major corner lot near 19th and Ashland, which was already the commercial center of the Heights, so it held a prime location from the start. Alterations are minor, and the building now serves as a restaurant and delicatessen. It was recognized for its architecture at the local level.
Significance in brief: It was the home of John E. McDonald, a real estate investor in the Heights, who built it after buying the lot from O. M. Carter in 1907. The house met deed restrictions that barred buildings costing less than $2000. It sits near 19th and Ashland, already the commercial center of the Heights. The reviewer accepted it under criterion C, noting it shows features characteristic of houses common around the turn of the century.
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 83004473, listed June 22, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1801 Ashland St., Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | June 22, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004473 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-- |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival influence |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent with minor alterations (cloth awning over the front entrance, partial enclosure of the side gallery); present use is a restaurant and delicatessen. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.80180, -95.40298 (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 83004473.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.