Shoaf, John H., House
Why it's listed
This one-story frame house at 2030 Arlington in Houston Heights was built around 1912. It faces west and rests on brick piers beneath a side-gabled roof. An inset, open front porch with four Doric columns shelters two of the three bays, and a shed-roof dormer with paired multi-light windows rises from the roof slope. Wood double-hung windows with 20-over-1 sashes appear throughout, and triple gables on the south side carry corner eave brackets. John H. Shoaf, a retired cotton planter from Caldwell County, Texas, bought the tract in 1910 and is believed to have built the house. In 1919 it was sold to Daisy and Charles E. Shively. The house is regarded as typical of the middle-income homes built in the Heights in the early twentieth century, with Craftsman details, some Colonial Revival influence, and careful workmanship in its flared eaves and windows. It remains a residence in good condition.
Significance in brief: The house is considered a typical example of the middle-income homes built in Houston Heights in the early 20th century. It is noteworthy for the builder's attention to detail, such as flared gable eaves, 20-over-1 windows and corner eave brackets. Its strong Craftsman details with some Colonial Revival influence add to otherwise simple domestic 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 87002258, listed January 15, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2030 Arlington, Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | January 15, 1988 |
| Reference number | 87002258 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Craftsman with Colonial Revival influence |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Physical condition is stated as good; original and present use is residence. Two front porch columns were replaced in 1968 to match the originals, and porch railings of questionable authenticity were removed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.80503, -95.39416 (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 87002258.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001063
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.