Historic Highland Park Neoclassical Mansion Designed by Hal Thomson

We are over the moon with excitement because this gorgeous historic Highland Park neoclassical mansion at 3800 Beverly Drive is back on the market and was just listed by Compass Real Estate’s Jonathan Rosen. It’s one of our favorite homes in Dallas.

Designed by architect Henry B. (Hal) Thomson at 8,938 square feet, it is decidedly a family home, as well as one created for entertaining. Thomson was widely regarded as one of the architects of choice in the 1920s, and it’s easy to see why the moment you cast your eyes on this neoclassic mansion.

“It’s an iconic house,” Rosen said. “The architecture, the detail, even the color all attribute to that icon status. There are very few homes of this age, at this level, that are available and move-in ready.”

The three-story neoclassical mansion sits on almost an acre at the corner of Beverly and Eton with four bedrooms, five bathrooms, three powder baths, and no lack of fireplaces — we counted five! It’s evident that throughout the lifespan of the home, it has been beautifully maintained and continually updated with grace and in keeping with its provenance. (Candy wrote about it in 2014 so check out her post for all the juicy details.)

This home is a prime example of what you do not tear down in this city. As we see homes razed left, right, and center in Dallas, we are often asked what styles will last, if any. In general, you can take your cues from Dallas’ iconic architects and in particular, Hal Thomson.

The neoclassical mansion was created for Freeman Hall, an attorney for the Murphy-Bolanz Land & Loan Company. One of our favorite resources on all things Park Cities is Great American Suburbs: The Homes of The Park Cities, Dallas by Virginia Savage McAlester, Willis Cecil Winters, and Prudence Mackintosh. They offer the following on 3800 Beverly:

The Hall house, completed in 1919, was another in a long line of Highland Park residences influenced by colonial prototypes such as Mount Vernon, a trait that exhibited superiority in style and good breeding, according to the editors of American Architect and Building News.

Thomson’s gracious reinterpretation of Mount Vernon included a spacious portico supported by slender round columns with quasi-Egyptian capitals. In comparing this house with Goodwin & Tatum’s Mount Vernon-inspired residence for George Ray on Armstrong Parkway, one can admire Thomson’s finer sense of proportion and allegiance to proper detailing.

Thomson’s classic lines and elegant use of materials have continued to resonate with buyers for generations. To put it simply, he got it right.

If you are lucky enough to snag this neoclassical mansion, you are purchasing a piece of Dallas architectural history. And at a bargain. Remember, you could never build a home of this caliber for $12.955 million today!

Karen Eubank is the owner of Eubank Staging and Design. She has been an award-winning professional home stager for more than 25 years and a professional writer for 20 years. Karen is the mother of a son who’s studying music at The University of Miami. An ardent animal lover, she doesn’t mind one bit if your fur baby jumps right into her lap. Find Karen at www.eubankstaging.com