This historical house is one of the "four sister" homes built by architect Charles Dillbeck. Owned by Mary Ann Chapel, the home has been around since the early 1900s. But now, homes like these are threatened by destruction. "There were quite a few homes built and designed by Charles Dillbeck in the '30s when this part of town was developing," said Chapel. "They are all one-of-a-kind and deserve to be preserved." Photo by Augusta McKenzie
By Augusta McKenzie
Located at the intersection of Shenandoah and Douglas sit the “Dilbeck corners” or “four sister” homes, each dating back to the 1930s.
Mary Ann Chapel has lived in one of these homes since 2003. The home is one-of-a-kind, and with Chapel's help, it is renewed to its original condition.
“There were quite a few homes built and designed by Charles Dillbeck in the 30s when this part of town was developing,” Chapel said. “They are in many ways built a lot better than our new homes, and deserve to be saved. Unique things were done with the craftsmanship and building practices that are harder to do today.”
However, across the neighborhood many historical homes have been torn down over the past few decades to make way for newer, more modern houses.
“These homes have withstood the test of time,” president of Preservation Park Cities Amy Beale said. “The attributes that identify them with a particular [historical] architect are so important to have, [and the homes should] remain as pillars of our community and visual history.”
Preservation Park Cities is a local organization dedicated to preserving the history of the Park Cities, including these historical homes. They have over 100 members and have been around in some shape or form since the 1980s.
“It's important that we keep the integrity of the Park Cities through culture and history because if not, we lose the character of the city.”
“Our mission is to celebrate and promote the culture and traditions of the neighborhood, and that is [often done] by encouraging the preservation of our historic architecture,” Beale said.
Preservation Park Cities gifts plaques to historical residences, holds fundraising events, and even gives scholarships to local high school seniors interested in architecture.
“One of the projects that we're doing is the ‘Save the Top 100’ campaign,” Beale said. “We're coming out with a coffee table book. Basically, it's an educational tool and resource where we promote these homes.”
Over the two years it took to research and write the book, three of the houses featured in it were demolished. Several major factors contribute to these demolitions such as the lack of laws protecting historically significant homes, and the issue that neither Highland Park nor University Park are part of any historic district.
In other historic parts of the U.S., and Dallas, homeowners are required to get their renovations approved in advance, but none of these regulations have been sanctioned in the Park Cities, leaving historic architecture unprotected.
“It's important that we keep the integrity of the Park Cities through culture and history because if not, we lose the character of the city,” local realtor Bridgette Harrington said. “You'll notice if you go up to Frisco or Plano, there's really no character and no history. Historic districts protect these houses and keep their historical architecture intact.”
A large part of the preservation is finding an owner who appreciates the architecture. It is important to sell to a buyer who genuinely wants a classic house and understands it might need some restorations to maintain its character.
“Sometimes buyers have a vision in their head of what they wanna do with a home, and while you're under contract, you have to make sure that their vision is going to be feasible,” Harrington said. “You just have to make sure that you're getting the right information for your clients. I think [you have to] read the room, know your audience, and know what to send to certain buyers.”
"There are lots of challenges in preserving a home but there are also fun opportunities when you have an older home that has a very specific architectural style.”
It’s a hefty responsibility to preserve a historical home. Homes built at least 50 years ago were held to different legal codes and built with materials that are no longer produced. For some people, this is an unwanted difficulty, but for others, exploring the differences is enjoyable.
“There are lots of challenges in preserving a home but there are also fun opportunities when you have an older home that has a very specific architectural style,” Chapel said. “It's important that you understand those little details and the certain theme of the home.”
While preserving an older home with a specific architectural style presents a unique journey, Chapel believes the effort is worth it in the long run.
“If you buy a new home, you're going to repaint it anyway. You're going to put your own stamp on it,” Chapel said. “An older home that's been well-maintained is no more trouble to maintain than a new home, and in some ways, it's going to be more fulfilling.”
Moreover, historical homes are hard to replace and without any legal help. This means it is up to the Park Cities' culture to change and start valuing the architectural beauty and history embedded in their homes.
“Our thought is that we really need to change the culture," Beale said. "If we can't change the laws, we need to help our neighbors and friends realize that these are treasures in our community and they deserve to be saved."