Lester, L. T., House
Why it's listed
Built beginning in 1901 at 310 Eighth Street in Canyon, Texas, this wooden one-and-one-half-story house is one of the few remaining Queen Anne style buildings in the Texas Panhandle. O.G. Roquemore designed and built it for L.T. Lester, and it was the first house in Canyon built by an architect. Steep roofs, irregular massing, a cone-roofed turret, dormers, and a wraparound porch with turned balustrades give it a picturesque Victorian look. Inside are 12-foot ceilings, sliding wooden doors, and four mirrored mantels, each of a different design, bought in Kansas City. Lester was a pioneer stockman who organized the first bank in Canyon, and the meeting to bring West Texas State Normal College to town was held in the house. The home also hosted religious, social and political gatherings. Asbestos shingles added in 1961 cover the original siding, and restoration plans call for removing them.
Significance in brief: It is one of only a handful of surviving Queen Anne style buildings in the Texas Panhandle and was the first house in Canyon built by an architect. It is also tied to L.T. Lester, who organized Canyon's first bank and helped bring West Texas State Normal College to the town. The house hosted religious, social and political meetings in the early 1900s.
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 78002975, listed September 13, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 310 8th St., Canyon |
|---|---|
| County | Randall County |
| Listed | September 13, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002975 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1901 |
| Architect / builder | O.G. Roquemore |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Economics, Education, Politics/Government, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and altered; asbestos shingles added in 1961 cover original siding, and the current owners are restoring the house to its original appearance while living in it. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 34.98124, -101.93731 (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 78002975.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107320678
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.