DePelchin Faith Home

Significance

The DePelchin Faith Home was built in 1913 as the home of the orphanage founded in 1892 by Kezia Payne DePelchin, a Houston nurse, teacher and social reformer who cared for yellow fever patients and orphaned children. DePelchin began by sheltering three orphans and built the institution into one of the city's most important charities. The organization, now DePelchin Children's Center, grew into one of the largest child welfare agencies in Texas. The 1913 building on Albany Street survives as a reminder of Houston's early social welfare history and of the woman whose name it carries. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, and is a City of Houston Landmark.

Climate risks tracked

Midtown's flat terrain and aging storm drains make street flooding the building's most immediate risk; keeping the raised ground floor's vents and entries sealed against wind-driven rain matters more than any visible alteration. Mature trees nearby require care before hurricane season to protect the roof and porches. As an early 20th century frame and masonry institutional building, its wood porch elements and trim are vulnerable to Houston's humidity. Regular painting, caulking and ventilation of crawl spaces are low cost measures that preserve original fabric. Interior humidity control protects the historic woodwork that gives the building its character.

Use the preservation assistant to talk through retrofit strategies for these specific threats.

Location

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