Sewall, Cleveland Harding, House
historic place
The Sewall, Cleveland Harding, House, located in Houston, Harris County, was completed in 1926. It was built for William Cleveland Sewall and his wife, Blanche Harding Sewall. The house was designed by Ralph Adams Cram, a nationally recognized architect. It represented an unusual example of the Spanish Revival style. Blanche Harding Sewall, an artist and philanthropist, was inspired by the architecture of Rice University and traveled to Spain to gather design elements for their home. William Cleveland Sewall was president of the family grocery business, Gordon Sewall & Company. Blanche Sewall was also a founding member of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and later funded the construction of Sewall Hall at Rice University. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and designated a City of Houston Protected Landmark in 2009. Despite its historic designations, the Cleveland Sewall House was ultimately demolished in 2021. This site illustrates the evolving preservation challenges faced by historic properties.