Jons-Gilvin House
Also known as: Jons-Danner-Gilvin House
Why it's listed
Built in 1907 at 1500 South Buchanan Street in Amarillo, this 2 1/2-story frame house follows an American Four Square plan with a low hipped roof, weatherboard siding and a cast concrete block foundation. A wide one-story porch wraps from the east front to the north side, carried by grouped Doric columns, with a pediment over the entrance and gable dormers with fanlight windows. Inside, the house keeps an elaborate stairway, fine tracery and detailed fireplace mantels. William F. and Mary Jons, a realty company owner and his wife, had it built, and Otho G. Roquemore designed it, with William C. Townes as contractor. Roquemore was one of Amarillo's first established architects. The house reflects the move from Victorian ornament toward simpler early twentieth-century design, blending Prairie School horizontality with modest classical details. Later owners included John B. Gilvin, a real estate developer involved in reviving the Tri-State Fair, whose family held the house until 1962.
Significance in brief: The house is significant locally under Criterion C in the area of Architecture as a well-crafted American Four Square dwelling with Prairie School and Classical Revival influences. It reflects the early 20th-century shift away from Victorian design and the vernacular Prairie School trend in Amarillo. It also has ties to the work of early Amarillo architect Otho G. Roquemore and to later owner John B. Gilvin, a prominent local real estate figure.
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 92000983, listed August 14, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1500 S. Buchanan St., Amarillo |
|---|---|
| County | Potter County |
| Listed | August 14, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000983 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1907 |
| Architect / builder | Roquemore, Otho G. (architect); Townes, William C. (contractor) |
| Architectural style | Other: American Four Square; Prairie School; Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition, retaining a high degree of integrity, with no major alterations; still used as a single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 35.19750, -101.83396 (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 92000983.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107320591
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.