Woodward House
Why it's listed
Built in 1918 on Heights Boulevard in Houston, this two-story frame house is finished in stucco and reflects a Mediterranean style that the survey described as unusual for the area. It has a combination roof with clipped gables, an attached porch carried on heavy stucco piers, and an archway over the steps ornamented with a cast-stone cartouche. Windows have many lights, and three windows fill the large front bay on the second floor. The original front doorway was converted to a large window, and the entrance now sits on the side of the porch. The first owner, Emerson F. Woodward, was involved in the Houston-area oil boom as vice president of Republican Petroleum Company and president of Federal Petroleum Company. He represented the upper-class residents who settled along Heights Boulevard. The lot once held much more land than it does now, and the house remains well preserved with a large yard. Its significance is recorded in architecture and industry, at the local level.
Significance in brief: The form calls the house a unique style for the area and very well preserved. Its original owner, Emerson F. Woodward, took part in the Houston-area oil boom as vice president of Republican Petroleum Company and president of Federal Petroleum Company. He was typical of the upper-class residents who settled on Heights Boulevard.
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 83004486, listed June 22, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1605 Heights Blvd., Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | June 22, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004486 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-- |
| Architect / builder | Alfred Finn |
| Architectural style | Mediterranean |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and well preserved; used as a rental residence, with a large, well-kept yard. The original entrance doorway was converted to a large window and the entrance is now on the side of the porch. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.80008, -95.39849 (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 83004486.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001023
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.