Perry-Swilley House
Why it's listed
Built in 1901 at 1101 Heights Boulevard in Houston Heights, this one-and-a-half-story raised frame cottage occupies a prominent corner lot across from the Milroy House. It has clapboard walls, intersecting gables, diamond-shaped composition shingles and an interior chimney. A porch wraps around both sides, with turned posts and flat balusters, and the floor is an unusual concrete surface. Windows have one-over-one lights, and a single front door has a transom. An enclosed sleeping porch was added in the front gable at an early date. The house was built essentially as a wedding present for Ava Sumbardo when she married Philo Perry. Her father, C. L. Sumbardo, a dealer in farm real estate, also lived there. It later became the home of William Swilley, another real estate agent prominent in the Heights, whose son continues in that business in the neighborhood. The house is listed for its local architectural significance and remains a residence.
Significance in brief: The house is recorded for its local architectural significance as a raised frame cottage with a wraparound porch and an early sleeping porch addition. It is also tied to local figures: it was built as a wedding present for Ava Sumbardo and Philo Perry, and later was the home of real estate agent William Swilley.
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 83004477, listed June 22, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1101 Heights Blvd., Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | June 22, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004477 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-- |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Physical condition is described as good; the house is still used as a residence and the site is original. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.79088, -95.39827 (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 83004477.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002144
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.