Ponton, Dr. Arvel and Faye, House
Why it's listed
Perched on a bluff above the Clear Fork of the Trinity River, this house at 1208 Mistletoe Drive in Fort Worth was built around 1920 and designed by local architect Joseph R. Pelich. A two-story block with one-story wings, it is clad in pale pink stucco over hollow clay tile and topped with red clay tile. Arched multi-light windows, a decorative entrance surround with twisted columns, a small balconet and an iron window grille mark it as Spanish Eclectic. Inside, wrought iron fixtures, arched niches, tiled floors and a clay kiva oven in the kitchen survive. It was built for Dr. Arvel Ponton, a physician who helped found local hospitals and a clinic, and his wife Faye. The house is considered an excellent local example of its style and a work of Pelich, and few Southside houses match its detail. Stone terrace walls from the 1930s also contribute; a 2000 garage and an arbor do not.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an excellent local example of the Spanish Eclectic style in South Fort Worth, with its stucco walls, clay tile roofs, arched windows and embellished entrance surround. It is also significant as the work of prominent Fort Worth architect Joseph R. Pelich. It is among a small number of early 20th century two-story Spanish Eclectic houses on the Southside.
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 06001085, listed November 29, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1208 Mistletoe Dr., Fort Worth |
|---|---|
| County | Tarrant County |
| Listed | November 29, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06001085 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1920 - c. 1935 |
| Architect / builder | Pelich, Joseph R., architect; Hull Historical Restoration (2000 garage, deck and kitchen rehab) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Mission/Spanish Colonial Revival (Spanish Eclectic) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently in use as a single dwelling; the form says it retains a high degree of integrity with minimal alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.73074, -97.35653 (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 06001085.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002655
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.