Dillingham, O. D. and Ada, House
Also known as: 5037
Why it's listed
Built about 1927 or 1928 in Abilene's Belmont Addition, this two-story house at 1625 Belmont shows the influence of Prairie School design. It has a low-pitched hipped roof with a hipped dormer, brick-veneer walls, and a long front porch that turns along the south side to form a porte cochere. Short tapered columns rest on heavy square brick piers joined by a brick balustrade with concrete coping. A garage and apartment southeast of the house repeats the main building's detailing. The house was built for O.D. and Ada Dillingham; he owned Banner Dairy, later bought by Foremost Dairies. It was listed for its architecture. Although other houses in the neighborhood have similar details, none matches its craftsmanship, and it is considered one of the city's least altered Prairie School-influenced homes. The builder and architect are unknown, and the property remains in good condition with its original character largely intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an outstanding local example of Prairie School-inspired residential architecture and one of Abilene's least altered houses of that type. It is noted for its masonry work, especially the porch, and for its architectural detailing and craftsmanship compared with similar houses in the Belmont Addition.
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 92000199, listed March 23, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1625 Belmont, Abilene |
|---|---|
| County | Taylor County |
| Listed | March 23, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000199 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1927-1928 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Prairie School |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and retaining its integrity; still used as a single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.42914, -99.73705 (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 92000199.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107320270
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.