And Just Like That, The Mushroom House Is Gone
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A year after news broke that auto mogul Clay Cooley and his wife, Lisa, quietly assembled three architecturally significant Park Cities properties, demolition has begun on the most distinctive of them all — Highland Park’s so-called Mushroom House. We all knew demolition was imminent, just not how imminent.
I realized this week it had been a year since I broke the story of the Cooleys’ purchase: two homes on Armstrong Parkway and a third on Bordeaux, which backs up to one of their Armstrong purchases. We knew the Mushroom House’s days were numbered, so I drove over to see what was going on.
The house was still standing, but the bulldozers were out and digging up the backyard. And while contractors I spoke to couldn’t confirm a timeline, or wouldn’t, it was clear the clock was running out.
By about 3 p.m. Wednesday, we had confirmation that the legendary Mushroom House was being razed. By the end of the day, it was a memory.
The Mushroom House was architect Tom Workman’s dream. When finished in the late 1990s, neighbors loudly disapproved and predicted their property values would drop because of the so-called monstrosity. Workman, a gentle and quiet man, was unfazed. He finally had his fairytale Gnome House and lived happily here with his wife for decades.
The two endangered historic homes are a Tudor at 4209 Bordeaux by Thomson & Swain, designed by James R. Bower (who was also in the auto business), and a 1926 Tudor at 4208 Armstrong Parkway designed by Anton Korn for Harry S. Moss.
We expected this, but it’s still heartbreaking. What was once called a monstrosity became an eclectic Highland Park curiosity. It grew on us, and many feel sad it’s gone.
The Cooleys permitted some salvage, but much more could have been saved. Unfortunately, the unique copper roof and exterior windows were not salvaged. However, time marches on, and without preservation protections in the Park Cities, any buyer is free to do what they want with their property.
With luxury builder John Sebastian heading up the project, there is no doubt the Cooleys will create a spectacular home. You can see the plans below.
The Mushroom House was one-of-a-kind. It won’t be forgotten.
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I will never forget knocking on the Workman’s door one winter day when I was an editorr at DHome. They were so gracious, and agreed to a story. It was the first one ever written about the house. We kept in touch, and from time to time I’d stop by to see Jayne Ann’s latest art creation. Was sad to hear of her pre-mature death — she was way too young. A beautiful woman of impeccable elegance. her funeral was at the Meyerson. I’ve been in touch with his children now (theirs was a second marriage, so Tom had an earlier family) , who claim he is being held against his will at a home in Plano, Texas. Perhaps we shall hear more on that saga… anyone know what the situation is?
Karen, do we know for certain whether the Bordeaux property and 4208 Armstrong will be completely demolished? Or will parts of them be spared and incorporated into the new build? It’s difficult to tell from the drawings what will occur.
“Cooleys will create a spectacular home.”
It may be “spectacular” but will probably end up looking like one of his car dealerships
Thanks for mentioning the roof. Not sure who could salvage those materials but they were surely valuable!
KP , From the looks of it, the roof shingles are off and I cannot see it being spared but I have no insider info. Look at the plans. I loaded a new photo that might be easier to see details
Peter I have a great deal of respect for Sebastian. They are known to have built some of the most beautiful new homes in Dallas, in other words no McModerns : ).
Wow, this is like destroying a fine painting and thinking one can do it better. Can’t wait to see what kind of bleached-white kindergarten architecture they plop down.
4209 Bordeaux and 4208 Armstrong Parkway are classic homes that set the tone for that area. It will be a shame to lose them.
In Charlevoix Michigan there are several of these “mushroom” style homes which were “designed and built by Charlevoix native and legend Earl Young, the Mushroom Houses are over 26 of the most fascinating stone structures ever built.” They are beautiful. I have trouble understanding why HP & PC don’t have preservation protections in place.
Yes, I noted that in my original story. Amazing structures and yes they provided inspiration for Tom.
Turn of the century Pittsburgh architect Frederick Scheibler built a number of homes and apartment buildings that are incredibly close to the aesthetic of the Workman house. The first time I saw the Dallas house I assumed it was circa 1900 because it looked so much like Scheibler’s work. Other Pittsburghers have seen the resemblance and find it hard to believe that Scheibler wasn’t also an influence. Regardless, I am sorry it’s gone. It was a lovely homage to Arts and Crafts architecture for anyone who knew the history of architecture. No one with that understanding seems to live in the Park Cities.
It’s really a shame that rich people don’t care about salvaging anything. Not that the whole property needed to be saved but like you said, there was likely a lot that could have been reused and people will come and take stuff if you offer it for free. It’s kind of like the least you can do to pay things forward.
I know a dealership that I will never step foot on. Some people just have too much money and get bored after they have been to the country club and shopping all over Europe. Maybe the property will be haunted
Karen can you share photos of his work
“I have a great deal of respect for Sebastian. They are known to have built some of the most beautiful new homes in Dallas”
seeing is believing
from what i’ve seen built in the Park Cities they look like lego buildings all straight lines and no soul
Just Google Sebastian Construction and you can see his portfolio.
Another one-of-a-kind architectural structure lost. It is very sad. Love it or hate it, that home was unique and special. In a world that is becoming more and more generic, it is a loss for our city. It will live on in our memories.
It was an “unofficial tourist site”…sad to see it go. On another note, Clay must be really rolling in the dough
Probably the real loss remains whatever was razed for the formless mushroom house with its very 90s windows.
So sad that the family chose to sell the property $$$$. I live in Far NW Tarrant County. It seems as if once the elders pass away, the younger generation sell all of their acreage to the highest bidding home builder! $$$$! New subdivisions are popping up everywhere in the Bonds Ranch/ Morris-Dido Road. vicinity. I am sure that their forefathers are rolling over in their graves as we speak!
I do hope that the WALSH FAMILY will keep their Lake acreage WILD and untouched on Morris-Dido Rd.
The Cooley’s are not exactely the “younger generation” lol.
I went to school with Tom’s daughter’s. Hearing about CC buying 3 properties never dawned on me who it belonged to until his daughters started a FB page. If you go to Whitepages.com it shows I.B. who also lived there. Whitepages shows Tom was a Registered Agent since 1981 as a Firearms dealer. His daughter told me he never owned a gun. When Googled, it comes up differently, but firearms related. When I google the address….it’s just so happens to be in the same Turtle Creek apts, that Ann use to live in. There was old money, money from royalties, a Trust, etc. Ann was encouraged to divorce Tom. Then IB is shown as living there. Upgrades needed, then placed out of the home and relocated 0.7 miles from IB and his wife. Is Tom living in a Group type home with IB’s disabled adult son in his 20’s….My guess yes. Daughters spent 300K and no communication with his daughters. They lived out of town as this unfolded. To find out the home the C’s have wanted belonged to a friend’s father and the info found online doesn’t add up. It’s worse than Elder Abuse, it’s wrong. Oh the person on the Trust, Removed……………..by one of CC’s attorneys that fights his car lawsuits. Conflict of Interest or SHADY AS […]! I see it more as a plan that played out. Tom has been in Plano, for 2-3 yrs at his New Family’s house without contact with his daughters, missing milestones in all their lives. His daughter’s have spent 300k while millions have been taken…..per his daughter. […]