Dr. Ben Bowden owned this Eastwood Estates midcentury modern home from the day it was built. It’s a completely custom, made-to-order home in which Bowden spared no expense.
And inside, it feels just the same as the day it was built, as this brand new listing from Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s agent Vicki White has remained practically unchanged since 1960.
But it’s where Bowden and his wife, Betty, would raise their five children (Barry, Brad, Blake, Bryan, and Beverly) and remain until just now. “The one thing you just can’t see in photos is the feeling of love in that house,” White said.
What this four-bedroom, three-full-and-one-half-bath split level definitely has going for it is sheer space. The other is an incredible terraced garden and some truly superb millwork and accents inside this 4,337-square-foot home. And while we are in love with the large lot, the well-preserved interiors, and the story behind it all.
“George Marble was the architect and developer of Forest Grove,” said listing agent Vicki White of 948 Forest Grove, who grew up in the White Rock Lake area and attended Bryan Adams High School. “The Bowdens purchased their lot from him, and he designed their house.”
That’s not all that Marble designed in this enclave of East Dallas, White said. He also designed the corner section of Casa Linda Shopping Center for an early American furniture store where Another Broken Egg is located now, she thinks. “I believe Mr. Marble also designed much of Lake Park Estates,” she added.
“I am pretty sure he developed that entire street,” said White, though we couldn’t find much on file about the purchase and construction of the area. “I believe Forest Grove was the only street around that had requirements, such as lot size.”
“Ironically, Dr. Bowden was my family doctor growing up,” White added. “My mother knew him at Hardin Simmons. I did not know my husband growing up, he is over 12 years older than me, but Dr. Bowden was his family doctor as well. Dr. Bowden’s office was always in Casa Linda area.”
That made for a short commute, as Bowden’s office was just down Garland Road in the old Doctors Hospital building, White said. He was chief of staff there in the early days, and he loved being so close to home so he could have lunch with his wife, Betty.
Though the Bowdens shared many happy years together in this tremendous home, Betty is excited about moving to a new retirement center, White said. “She had on skinny jeans and a denim shirt tied at the waist as she was packing up her large house,” White added. “She is as cute as a button and still runs up and down the stairs.”
We love the story behind this lovely 1960-built home in one of East Dallas’ quiet enclaves, Lake Park Estates. Vicki White has this beautiful time capsule of a home on a grassy, terraced .379-acre lot for $599,000. Considering how much love was poured into this home, and how well it was built and exceptionally cared for by one family in 56 years, we think that’s a wonderful bargain.
Also note that this home is located inside the award-winning Hexter Elementary attendance zone, is within a stone’s throw of Casa Linda Plaza Shopping Center, and you’re just down Poppy from White Rock Lake. Just think of how this home would look with some updates that are sensitive to the real architectural beauty and period details of this home … our imagination is running wild!
