Douglas, John B. and Ketura (Kettie), House
Also known as: Douglas-Holland-Pollard House
Why it's listed
Built around 1873 on what was then the edge of Tyler, this wood frame house at 318 South Fannin Avenue was home to merchant John B. Douglas and his wife Ketura, known as Kettie. The dwelling rises one, two and three stories beneath a complex roof of intersecting gables and a three-story mansard tower. Its walls carry patterned shingles, carved and pierced brackets, friezes and porch posts. The Douglases enlarged and reconfigured the house in stages, reaching its present massing by about 1907. The nomination identifies it as Tyler's only known example of High Victorian residential design that combines Italianate and Second Empire features. It also records John Douglas's role in the city's business, church, civic and fraternal life before his death in 1893, and Kettie's management of the property until 1912. Later owners made modest changes and a long rehabilitation, while the exterior keeps a high degree of integrity. A small servant's dwelling and a capped well also contribute.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the house as the only identified example in Tyler of High Victorian residential design combining Italianate and Second Empire elements. It also ties the house to John Douglas, a merchant and civic leader in post-Civil War Tyler, and to Kettie Douglas, who managed the property and expanded the house until 1912. The exterior is described as retaining a very high degree of integrity.
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 96001565, listed January 9, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 318 S. Fannin Ave., Tyler |
|---|---|
| County | Smith County |
| Listed | January 9, 1997 |
| Reference number | 96001565 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1873-1912 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Italianate/Second Empire |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Function listings show current use as a single dwelling and secondary structure, along with a 'vacant/not in use' entry; the text describes ongoing owner rehabilitation since 1975. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.34705, -95.29816 (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 96001565.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107321039
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.