Atkinson-Morris House
Why it's listed
This 2½-story wood-frame house at 802 Fitzhugh in Paris, Texas, was built around 1890-1891 for J.D. Atkinson, a shoe manufacturer and capitalist. It is finished in Queen Anne and Eastlake styles, with a pyramidal roof broken by chimneys and lateral gables, a conical tower at the southwest corner, and a wraparound porch with Doric columns. The west gable is unusual, with brackets and finials, and the tower's second floor is clad in staggered-butt shingles. Inside, the original parquet floors, woodwork, shutters and light fixtures survive. In 1910 the house was sold to dentist Eugene Felder Morris, and it was saved from a fire in 1916. Its design is reminiscent of the pattern-book houses of George Barber. The porch over the front door has been replaced and plate glass inserted in the tower windows, but these changes do not mar its integrity. It was recognized as one of the most substantial local examples of its styles and remains a residence on a large lot.
Significance in brief: The house is considered one of the most substantial local examples of the Queen Anne and Eastlake styles. Its design recalls the pattern-book houses of George Barber. Alterations to the porch and tower windows are judged not to harm its integrity. It is significant at the local level for 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 88001914, listed October 26, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 802 Fitzhugh, Paris |
|---|---|
| County | Lamar County |
| Listed | October 26, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88001914 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne/Eastlake |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Physical condition is good; the house is still used as a residence, and original parquet floors, woodwork, shutters and light fixtures remain. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.66069, -101.49292 (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 88001914.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107321977
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.