Preservation Park Cities Launches Its New Book The Houses of the Park Cities

Preservation Park Cities Launches Its New Book The Houses of the Park Cities: An Architectural Guide to the Historic Houses of Highland Park and University Park Texas by R. Lawrence “Larry” Good

(Featured photo: Amy Beale, 2023-2024 President, PPC; Larry Good, author.)

It was an exciting evening as Preservation Park Cities celebrated the launch of its new book The Houses of the Park Cities: An Architectural Guide to the Historic Houses of Highland Park and University Park Texas with an appearance and book signing by the author, R. Lawrence “Larry” Good at an event graciously hosted by Richard Levin in his Highland Park home.       

As guests enjoyed sumptuous passed hors d’oeuvres, wines and cocktails, Amy Beale, 2023-2024 president, welcomed everyone and thanked Richard for his generosity in hosting the event and turned the conversation over to Larry.       

Larry gave a brief overview of the home which was designed in the 1930s and restored in 1990, saying the home was a wonderful example of how a homeowner can make changes in a historic home to make it more livable and still maintain its historical integrity. It is included in the book as one of the 100 most architecturally important homes in the Park Cities and is actually in the Top 10. Read more about the book in the description below.      

After a brief Q & A period, Larry reminded everyone that the Oral Histories of the Park Cities video interviews are online, thanking Al McClendon for his time compiling that project which interviews long-standing and influential members of the community highlighting how the history, architecture, people have shaped this unique place we call home. Find the links to the videos and more on the PPC Home Page at www.preservationparkcities.org 
        

The mission of Preservation Park Cities is to celebrate and preserve the history, architecture, aesthetics and cultural traditions of the Park Cities. Preservation Park Cities sponsors three fundraisers each year: The Historic Home tour each spring, Distinguished Speaker Series Luncheon each fall and the Park Cities Car Show, also in the fall.  Funds raised help preserve and maintain the Park Cities House at Old City Park, the archives at the University Park Library, fund landmarking initiatives, award scholarships to HPISD seniors planning to study architecture or history and fund the Distinguished Chair for History at Highland Park High School.

The Houses of the Park Cities: An Architectural Guide to the Historic Houses of Highland Park and University Park Texas

By R. Lawrence “Larry” Good

A Publication of Preservation Park Cities

The quality of the residential architecture from the first three-fourths of the twentieth century that is found in the Park Cities has few peers across the entire United States.

The period of Highland Park’s development, as well as the early years of University Park, coincided with the peak of the Garden Suburb movement in the US. Contemporary planned communities such as Beverly Hills, River Oaks (Houston), Lake Forest (Chicago), Roland Park (Baltimore) and Shaker Heights (Cleveland) boast many examples of fine residential architecture, but none surpassing, on the whole, that of the Park Cities.

And the work of the Park Cities’ leading architects, (Hal Thomson, Anton Korn, Fooshee & Cheek, and Charles Dilbeck) might be considered equal to that of the most revered country house architects practicing nationally at that time (Harrie T. Lindeberg, Bertram Goodhue, Charles Platt and Carrere & Hastings).

Following an introductory essay, the Guide divides the Park Cities into four geographic areas which serve as chapters of the book. There are three chapters covering the Town of Highland Park, while the City of University Park has a chapter to itself.

Each of these sections has a brief history of the physical planning and development of the Town and the City, followed by coverage of a similar number of houses, (170 in all), which are located on maps to facilitate easy touring. There are color photographs and a capsule description of each of the featured properties.

8½” x 8½” x 5/8”  132 pages

First Edition Limited to:

1000 Copies Clothbound   $60

1000 Copies Softbound     $35

ISBN: 979-8-218-31853-6 (Cloth)

ISBN: 979-8-218-34692-8 (Soft)

Available on Amazon.com, Interabang Books.

DEDICATION

The objective of this publication is to spread awareness of the rich architectural history and heritage of the Town of Highland Park and the City of University Park among all of its citizens, and to seek to create an Inventory of Historic Properties which is acknowledged and endorsed by the elected leaders of the Town and the City.  The publication of this book was made possible through the generous sponsorship of Preservation Park Cities.

Additional funding was provided by: Jan and Trevor Rees-Jones

And: Susan and Jim Baldwin, Amy and Evan Beale, Marla and Mike Boone, Cheryl and Sam Chantilis, Gail and Bob Clark, Joan Clark, Lindsey and Ben Doramus, Anne and Alan Feld, Meredith and Corby Ferrell, Jeffrey Fisher, Kay and Duncan Fulton, Betsy and Wilson Fuqua, Stacey and Robert Furst, Linda Gardner, Barbara and Larry Good, Margo and Bill Goodwin, Cheryl and Bill Henry, Stephanie and Mark Krog, David Lawson, Sheila and Thomas Leslie, Jay Liese and Mark Mobley, Sara and Ted Marlow, Polly and Dan McKeithen, Rebecca and Craig Melde, Anna Moss, Katherine and Bob Penn, Patricia Prentiss (in honor of Ralph Randall), Patricia Prentiss (in honor of Sherry Hayslip and in memory of Cole Smith, Sr.), Lesley and Burton Rhodes, Alisa and Clay Sell, Maureen and Bob Shearer, Barbie and The Honorable Tommy Stewart, Mersina Stubbs, Bunny and Mike Tibbals, Susan and Joel Williams, Melissa and Philip Wise, Carolyn Wittenbraker.

(Sharon Adams, Adams Communications Public Relations, is honored to represent Preservation Park Cities and post this Philanthropy Lifestyles Scene.)