BlockBefore
Photograph of The Kell House
Photograph by Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.

Frank Kell House

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

From the record

“Kell House Museum, also known as The Kell House, is a historic house museum in Wichita Falls, Texas, United States. The house was occupied from 1909 until 1980 by members of the family of Frank Kell, who made a fortune in railroads, flour milling and oil.”

Wikipedia article Kell House Museum, CC BY-SA 4.0.

One of 14 National Register listings published here for Wichita County · listed in 1978 · category: Building.

Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service

The listing

  • What is counted as historic. The nomination lists 1 building as contributing to the listing.
  • Listed as. Kell, Frank, House - the National Register files a house under its owner's surname.
  • Address. 900 Bluff St., Wichita Falls, 76301
  • When was it listed? November 1978
  • Category. building
  • Census division. Wichita Falls
  • Architectural style. Neoclassical architecture
  • Architect. Jones and Orlopp
  • National Register reference number. 78003378 - the number the National Park Service assigned this property when it was listed, and the key its nomination file is catalogued under at the National Archives.

Fires near this property

435 since 2005

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 435 fires within 5 miles of Frank Kell House between 2005 and 2020, burning about 4,934 acres in total. 2 started naturally. 16 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined230
Debris and open burning100
Power generation/transmission/distribution27
Smoking22
Equipment and vehicle use22
Arson/incendiarism16
Recreation and ceremony6
Misuse of fire by a minor6
Natural2
Railroad operations and maintenance2
Other causes1
Fireworks1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
9 September 2012Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreTexas A & M Forest Service401 MLK
8 September 2012Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreTexas A & M Forest Service1908 WILSON
7 September 2008Equipment and vehicle use10 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named
26 September 2013Smokingunder an acreTexas A & M Forest ServiceCENTRAL FWY @ BACON SWITCH
24 September 2012Power generation/transmission/distributionunder an acreTexas A & M Forest Service3011 CUMBERLAND
22 September 2015Debris and open burning1.0 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceSUE LANE GRASS FIRE
18 September 2013Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreTexas A & M Forest Service1613 POLK
13 September 2013Naturalunder an acreTexas A & M Forest Service2700 TAFT

Every fire recorded in Wichita County

Storms near this property

60 of 305 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Wichita Falls, the town this property stands in, in 305 storm reports between 1993 and 2026: 188 hail, 92 thunderstorm wind, 11 flash flood, 7 lightning. The reports record 2 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
July 2000WildfireWichita Falls2 hurt, $40,000A wildfire developed just outside the city limits of Wichita Falls on the east side near Harding Street, and started when a resident in the area began to burn trash in his back yard. The dry conditions and strong winds allowed the fire to spread rapidly northward up a hill toward Mesa Street. Dozens of acres of pasture burned, along with 13, old, unoccupied homes, outbuildings, sheds, and 2 vehicles. Several hours were required to gain control of the fire which received assistance from 14 volunteer fire departments. Two firefighters sufferred heat stroke and were taken to a local hospital for treatment.
March 2004Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$750,000Roof and structural damage was reported on the west side of the city, with three homes destroyed. Many power poles and lines were downed. Many trees were also uprooted and snapped. A semi hauling an empty trailer was also overturned on the southbound overhead freeway near Holliday Road. The roof of a portable classroom at Rider High School was ripped off. Fowler Elementary also lost a corner of its roof.
June 1996LightningWichita Falls$750,000no account filed
May 2000HailWichita Falls$600,000no account filed
June 2004Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$250,000A damage path about 60 yards wide was reported in the area of the Kickapoo Airpark on the south side of the city. Six hangars were destroyed at the airport. These hangars were made of sheet metal and were old. Two aircraft were also damaged. Several power poles were downed with a few pulled out of the ground.
May 2000HailWichita Falls$250,000no account filed
April 2001Tornado (F1)Wichita Falls$150,000This tornado developed on the south side of Wichita Falls, a short distance from Lake Wichita. Most of the damage was minor, consisting of downed trees, fences and signs, however near the junction of US Highway 281 and US Highway 287, a machine shop composed of sheet metal sustained significant damage to the walls and frame when the roof was pushed upward, allowing the walls to cave in slightly. Also nearby, about 10 utility poles were snapped near the top with debris falling on fences and other sheet metal buildings. The maximum F-scale rating is F1, however most damage was rated F0.
May 1997Flash FloodWichita Falls$150,000Portions of Wichita Falls received up to 5 inches of rain in less than one hour, resulting in widespread flash flooding throughout the city. As many as 100 homes in the Faith Village area and off of Jacksboro Highway in south Wichita Falls reported some sort of flooding. Numerous roads in and around Wichita Falls were closed due to high water, some for over 12 hours. With water up to 6 feet deep, several cars became stranded and were washed away. In one instance an ambulance on its way to rescue a wheelchair-confined man from his flooding house stalled in water that rose to the depth of the ambulance's windshield. (The handicapped man was helped safely from his house by his neighbors.)
August 2023Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$100,000Numerous images/videos showing significant damage to a strip mall. This included full roof removal of a large section of the building, causing interior walls to collapse. A large educational building across the street from this location also had significant roof damage, including a portion of its roof removed. Time is radar estimated.
July 1997LightningWichita Falls$75,000Ligtning struck and set fire to a house, completely destroying the home and its contents.
April 1999Flash FloodWichita Falls$60,000High water from heavy rain flooded several homes at the corner of Stevens and Featherston Avenues. Several people had to be rescued by boat.
August 2023Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$50,000The corner of an apartment building had its roof removed and partial wall collapse of second floor unit. Time is radar estimated.
July 1995Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$50,000Severe thunderstorms produced damaging winds across Wichita and northern Clay Counties during the evening of the 20th. At Sheppard Air Force Base (SPS) in Wichita County, wind gusts reached as high as 106 mph, and a single-engine aircraft that had been tied down was flipped over. Almost one hour later, wind speeds in Wichita Falls were measured at 61 to 78 mph at a local TV station. Damage in Wichita Falls from the evening's storms included eight inch branches down, outbuildings damaged, shingles blown off houses, a tree felled onto a car, and heavy metal awnings blown over. In Clay County in Charlie, winds up to 65 mph knocked out power to Charlie and Dean.
May 1995Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$50,000no account filed
July 2000Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$42,000Significant damage was sustained to the roof of City View High School, and a large tree was uprooted, falling on a gazebo.
August 2023Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$40,000Relayed image showing a large (500-foot tall) radio tower collapsed. Time is radar estimated.
August 1998Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$30,000no account filed
July 1997LightningWichita Falls$25,000According to witnesses, lightning struck an antenna on a house, sending a fireball into the air which landed on a nearby apartment and set the apartment building on fire.
June 2007Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$20,000Several power lines and large trees were downed throughout town. A roof was blown off a mobile home on the north side of town. Monetary damages were estimated.
June 1997Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$20,000Severe thunderstorm winds moved through the Wichita Falls area, downing trees, limbs, and power poles. One tree near a house fell onto a power line, causing an electrical surge that set the kitchen of the house on fire. A furniture warehouse was also destroyed when severe winds tore the back wall and roof off of the building. At Sheppard Air Force Base, winds up to 70 mph tore countless limbs from trees and knocked out windows on some base housing units.
September 2007Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$16,000Six power poles were blown down by an apparent microburst just west of intersection of FM 171 road and Rogers Lane. Monetary damages were estimated.
August 2003Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$15,000Power poles were downed in the northwest portion of town. The steel roof of a business was peeled back. An air conditioning unit was also blown off the roof of an auto shop where it fell on top of a car, damaging the windshield and denting the hood. Some minor roof damage to some buildings was also reported.
April 2001Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$15,000Straight-line winds blew a carport off a house, which then struck a nearby house, causing a portion of the roof to rip off.
August 1998Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$15,000no account filed
March 2000Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$12,000The roof of a gas station and electrical equipment inside the store were damaged.
August 2023Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$10,000Relayed image showing large garage doors of a metal building blown inward. Time is radar estimated.
August 2023Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$10,000Overturned semi-trailer on Interstate 44 near Old Iowa Park road. Time is radar estimated.
August 2023Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$10,000Power poles blown down on Old Iowa Park Road between Loop 11 and Central Freeway. Time is radar estimated.
May 2005HailWichita Falls$10,000Hail caused damage on the southeast side of the city to automobile windshields and a few broken windows in homes.
August 2005Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$10,000Damage occurred on the south side of the city around the Kickapoo Airport. Roofs and hanger doors were damaged at the airport. A residential garage was also damaged within a mile of the airport.
June 1999Flash FloodWichita Falls$10,000no account filed
August 1998Flash FloodWichita Falls$6,000no account filed
May 2023Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$5,000Canopy blown down at Clinics of North Texas building. Time estimated via radar.
April 2016Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$5,000Winds blew over a 12-inch diameter tree and snapped 10 power poles.
June 2014Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$5,000Measured at Kickapoo airport. Several trees downed in Wichita Falls.
June 2004Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$5,000Power lines were reported down.
May 2001Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$5,000Windows were blown out of buildings in downtown.
May 1994Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$5,000no account filed
February 1994Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$5,000no account filed
December 2004Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$3,500Power poles were downed at Southwest Parkway and Kemp Boulevard.
May 2015Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$3,000Power lines down at Holiday and Jacksboro intersection.
May 2010Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$3,000Several large tree limbs were downed by the high winds. Monetary damages were estimated.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$2,000Eight inch tree fell on house on Wyoming St.
December 2018Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$2,000Roof blown off of a small extension on the west side of a building near KFDX studio.
June 2014Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$2,000Large tree reported down at Sondra Drive off Callfield. Reported via KFDX.
September 1999LightningWichita Falls$2,000Lightning struck a large distribution transformer knocking out power for a short period of time.
June 1996Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$1,500no account filed
April 2016Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$1,000Gas station sign was destroyed.
September 2010Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$1,000The wind gust was reported near the intersection of US Highway 287 and Loop 11. Small tree limbs, mostly less than 2 inches in diameter, were downed around town. Monetary damages were estimated.
May 2007LightningWichita Falls$1,000A large tree was downed by a lightning strike. The tree was located at Elmwood Avenue near Maplewood Avenue. Monetary damages were estimated.
June 1998LightningWichita Falls$1,000Lightning struck a house, setting fire to the attic. The fire was contained and damage was estimated at $1,000.
May 1997Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$1,000Winds of around 70 mph downed small trees and destroyed part of the fence at the stadium sports complex on the southwest side of town.
May 1997Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$500A small metal shed was blown about 75 feet and limbs were blown down.
May 2001LightningWichita Falls$300Lightning struck a shed in the 5110 block of Bahama causing a large fire.
May 2000Thunderstorm WindWichita Falls$200Trees were downed.
April 2026HailWichita Falls-The location is approximate.
April 2026HailWichita Falls-The report was relayed through mPING.
April 2026HailWichita Falls-The report was relayed through mPING.
April 2026HailWichita Falls-The report was relayed through mPING.
April 2026HailWichita Falls-The location is approximate.

Every storm recorded in Wichita County

Map coverage status

No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.

Listed places nearby

6 within 8 miles

Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.

Sources for this property

National Archives recordThe nomination case file for reference 78003378 in Record Group 79.
Wikipedia articleCommunity-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA.
Wichita CountyAll 14 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

  • Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
  • Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
  • How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.