300 Amarillo Street- Farris House

Farris was an early business leader in Denton as a lumber merchant by 1918, shipping lumber to Denton via railroad box cars. He owned the Farris Lumber Company for about 25 years while engaged in farming, ranching, and the cotton business in Denton, and lumber, hardware business in Oklahoma.

A native of Denton, Farris was one of the first students at the North Texas Normal College, earning a certificate in business. He married Sallie Glenn Robinson in Denton on October 21, 1896. In 1913, he became the original homeowner of 610 West Oak Street designed as a Prairie style bungalow. In 1924, he built his next home at 818 West Oak Street as a Craftsman style brick bungalow. His third home was at 300 Amarillo Street where he and his wife resided and where Sallie operated a childcare facility.

Minimal Traditional style houses are a creation of modern American design. They reflect traditional Eclectic styles, without decorative detailing, to accommodate the economic depression and storage of building supplies. Roof pitches are moderate or low. Eaves and overhangs are minimal. Typical for this style is a front facing gable accompanied with a large chimney. Common in design to Tudor style, the difference is a more compact, one-story cottage style with lower roof lines and without decorations. Combinations of wood, brick or stone create the façade. There are 27 Minimal Traditional homes in the District built between 1935 and 1949. The earliest example was constructed in 1935 at 300 Amarillo and the last constructed in 1949 at 718 Egan.