Sterling-Berry House
Also known as: Stem Associates
Why it's listed
Built in 1916 in Houston's Rossmoyne neighborhood, this two-story red-brick house on Yoakum Boulevard combines a hipped clay-tile roof and bracketed eaves reminiscent of an Italian villa with an unusually bold reinforced concrete front porch. Architect Alfred C. Finn added the porch in 1919 for the first occupants, Ross S. Sterling and his wife. It features a very wide opening, rotund columns, a porte-cochere, and Art Nouveau cast-stone ornament, a rare treatment for a Houston residence. The house is attributed to the Russell Brown Company. Sterling, a founder-era leader of the Humble Oil companies, developed Rossmoyne and later served as Texas governor. Later owner Joel H. Berry, a banker and lawyer, remodeled the house in the 1930s. After decades as a single-family home, it was rehabilitated in 1981, the exterior was restored to its 1919 appearance, and it now serves as offices. It is regarded as the neighborhood's most notable landmark.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an extraordinarily detailed work of domestic architecture, notable for its wide-span reinforced concrete porch and Art Nouveau cast-stone ornament, which is rare in Houston houses. It is also tied to Ross S. Sterling, an oil executive, banker, and later Texas governor, who developed Rossmoyne. It is described as the most outstanding work of architecture and most notable landmark in the neighborhood.
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 83004479, listed July 14, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 4515 Yoakum Blvd., Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | July 14, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004479 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Alfred C. Finn, architect (1919 porch); Russell Brown Company, builder/contractor (attributed, 1916) |
| Architectural style | Progressive early 20th-century architecture with Art Nouveau ornament and Italian/Mediterranean villa influence |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Partially rehabilitated in 1981 and now used as offices, with plans for a residential apartment in part of the upper floor; the exterior and principal rooms are largely unaltered. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 29.73245, -95.39202 (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 83004479.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001043
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.