Historic Preservation
Home is where memories are made and milestones are marked. We are forever connected to the first home we remember. When architect Joe Forest Bourn built his family a lovely Midcentury Ranch at 4311 Skillman Street in 1952, he made sure it would serve them well and stand the test of time. Joe knew what…
Read MoreIf anyone knows historic homes — especially on Swiss Avenue — it’s Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s Realtor Elizabeth Mast. She told me this Italianate Mission mansion would move quickly because it’s not only beautiful but also in flawless condition. It’s been on the Swiss Avenue Mother’s Day Home Tour, was named one of D Magazine’s 10…
Read MoreCandysdirt.com readers are the best! Last week I asked for help solving a couple of mysteries surrounding Villa Vista, a beautiful Tudor Revival on Rio Vista in East Kessler Park. Boy, did y’all come through! DCAD was offering a build date I knew was wrong, but I had to prove it. Finding the architect’s name…
Read MoreNow this is an estate. But not really an estate estate if we have Google weigh in. I’m reporting this in real time because Google, get your act together. Off the bat there are three contradicting definitions. Since one serves my purpose the most, we’ll go with it compliments of lawinsider.com: An estate home means…
Read MoreRarely am I unable to uncover almost every detail of a home, but this East Kessler estate has been a test for me and all of my preservation resources and contacts. Maybe you can help us! What we do know is this estate has records dating back to 1940. Although there were reports of a…
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