Mellinger, Marguerite Meachum & John S., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1931 in the Country Club Estates section of River Oaks, this two-story Colonial Revival house at 3452 Del Monte Drive sits deep on a one-acre double lot in Houston. Architect John F. Staub designed it with a formal, symmetrical brick front and a more picturesque, shingled rear and east wing, drawing on eighteenth-century New England models for its carved entrance portals. A.A. Bertelsen built it. In 1941 landscape architect Ruth London, the first to establish a permanent practice in Houston, laid out a pastoral lawn, a formal garden room and a cutting garden. A garden house with greenhouse and original gates also survive. A 1982 wing, based on Staub's own later plans, is the main change. The property was listed for architecture because it shows the interwar suburban country house type and the skill of its architect, with house, grounds and interiors designed as a consistent whole.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an outstanding example of the interwar eclectic suburban country house and a masterful work by architect John F. Staub, with high artistic values in its design and craftsmanship. It integrates architecture, landscape architecture and interior design in the Colonial Revival style favored by Houston's elite in the 1920s and 1930s. It meets Criterion C in architecture.
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 12000351, listed June 20, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3452 Del Monte Dr., Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | June 20, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000351 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1931, 1941 |
| Architect / builder | Staub, John F. (architect) / London, Ruth (landscape architect); Bertelsen, A.A. (builder) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals/Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition, with one major alteration (a 1982 addition based on the original architect's plans); still used as a single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 29.75294, -95.43314 (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 12000351.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002724
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.