Survival of the fittest is a phrase we don’t often apply to historic homes, but we should. This 1914 Oak Lawn Prairie home is a charming example of a historic survivor.
If you’ve been in Dallas for a few decades, you’ve seen the devastating historic losses in this neighborhood. Although Perry Heights has protection, the rest of Oak Lawn does not. When the once iconic Art Deco Esquire theater was razed in 1985, the writing was on the wall. That location has been a parking lot next to Eatzi’s for decades.
Oak Lawn’s Hann & Kendall
This wonderful pocket of Oak Lawn is known as Hann & Kendall. J.S. Kendall was president of the Dallas Investment Company. He was on the cutting edge of spec home concepts and providing financing to builders. It’s not surprising he co-founded the real estate firm of Hann & Kendall, which worked with the most prominent residential developments of the era.
There was a time when Oak Lawn was filled with these two-story Prairie homes and cute Craftsman Bungalows. President and Co-Fouder of The Dallas Way, Rob Emery, filled me in on some interesting details.
“That wonderful neighborhood of Bowser down to Reagan, Throckmorton, Holland, and Gilbert had the most glorious honeymoon bungalows in the 1970s, all built between 1905 and 1920,” he said.
Emery said when The Dallas Buyers Club was filming in New Orleans in 2012, they contacted him to ask what part of New Orleans would most closely resemble 1980s Oak Lawn.
“We sent them photos of these remaining Prairie and Craftsman Bungalows,” Emery said. It makes you wonder, had the neighborhood been fully intact, would The Dallas Buyers Club actually have been filmed in Dallas? Attracting filmmakers is one of the many opportunities we lose when we destroy our historic homes.
Those homes that survive like this flawless Oak Lawn Prairie are standouts in the neighborhood. They have been loved, maintained, updated, and, most importantly, owned by those that understand their value. Remember, this is one of the few indigenous American architectural styles. Now that they are few and far between, these historic homes are even more sought after.
You understand when you step inside one. It’s a transformative experience. It becomes clear why character and historic architecture matter.
These homes were sited taking sunrise and sunset into consideration. Spacious front porches with large overhangs to shield owners from sun and rain were designed as a place to relax, have a tall glass of lemonade, and chat with neighbors walking home. Rooms were purposely spacious to take advantage of airflow because air conditioning did not exist. Dining rooms were grand because families were large, and entertaining at home was the only option. Country clubs were just being developed, so engagement parties and weddings happened at home.
It was an era of gracious living, and we can still find these beautiful homes and enjoy the lifestyle they offer today. It will be a truly lucky buyer that gets to call this Oak Lawn Prairie home.
Compass Real Estate listing agent Crystal Gonzales has 3900 Bowser Ave. offered for $1.8 million.
