Upchurch House
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Why it's listed
This one-story frame cottage at 301 East 14th Street in the Houston Heights was built in 1906. It has clapboard walls, an L-shaped plan, and a hipped roof with a projecting gable-end bay. The attached porch rests on turned posts with cutwork brackets and has no balustrade. Long, narrow windows are covered by shutters, and a brick chimney rises from the center of the house. Later changes include a modified porch roof and front windows replaced with multiple-light sash. The house was built for Robert Upchurch, a one-time streetcar driver who bought the property from O. M. Carter in 1906 for $326. It is described as a typical example of the simple cottages built as the Heights developed into a distinctly middle-class suburb of Houston, and it is significant locally for its architecture. It sits on a large corner lot, less than one acre, enclosed by a picket fence, with several outbuildings in a residential neighborhood. It was recorded in 1980 as still occupied by the original owner's family.
Significance in brief: It is presented as a typical example of the simple cottages built as the Heights developed into a distinctly middle-class suburb of Houston. The area of significance is architecture, at the local level. The house was built for a one-time streetcar driver who bought the lot in 1906.
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 83004482, listed June 22, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 301 E. 14th St., Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | June 22, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004482 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-- |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne influence |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recorded in good physical condition and in use as a residence; the yard is described as kept very well. Alterations include a modified porch roof and front windows changed to multiple lights. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.79598, -95.39539 (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 83004482.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002124
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.