Before there was Perry Heights, there was Cedar Springs. Drive down Cedar Springs Road today and it’s easy to forget that the name describes something that was actually here. Long before Perry Heights was established in 1922, natural springs and streams helped define this part of Dallas. By the 1840s, a small settlement called Cedar …
Author Archives: Tom Morrow
Perry Heights Halloween Gallery 2025
A video tour of Perry Heights Halloween Decorations 2025
4311 Hall: 103 Years, Two Families
On the 4300 block of Hall Street stands a home that has quietly witnessed some of the most compelling personal stories in Perry Heights. From an All-America football player who defied physical limitations, to a mid-century Dallas matriarch, to a devoted bond between two men that lasted over forty years — 4311 Hall reflects the …
The People Behind the Houses
In the early 1920’s, Perry Heights was promoted as a modern Dallas neighborhood – orderly, efficient, and comfortable. Its houses featured new electrical systems, planned layouts, and carefully designed streets meant to signal stability and progress. But the daily life inside those houses did not run on architecture alone. From the neighborhoods’s earliest years through …
Dallas Steps Into the Future at the House Beautiful “Electric Paradise” Home
On Sunday, October 1, 1922, Dallas residents gathered in extraordinary numbers at 4319 North Hall Street to witness what was being heralded as the home of tomorrow. Known as the House Beautiful “Electric Paradise” Home, the Tudor-style cottage in the newly developing Perry Heights neighborhood opened its doors to the public amid great anticipation, long …
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Brick by Brick, The Faith, Family, and Food Legacy of 4317 Rawlins
A beautiful example of Colonial Revival architecture, built in 1925 by Oak Lawn Methodist Church for $25,000, the residence at 4317 Rawlins Street served as a parsonage for the church’s pastor and his family. Over the years, it became a cherished site for small weddings and elegant afternoon receptions tied to church life. The first …
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The Story of Hollow Tile
Perry Heights was developed with strict building restrictions: only single-family residences were permitted—no apartments, no stores. Additionally, construction was limited to materials such as brick, hollow tile, or stucco. What is Hollow Tile? Hollow tile, also known as hollow clay tile, was a popular building material in the 1920s. Made from fired clay, these hollow …
Ice Cream Castle
This stunning colonial revival home at 4322 Rawlins was built in 1923. The first residents were the Smith family who were the owners of The Smith Ice Cream Company. of Dallas. Charles Winston Smith and his wife Jinnie May and their three children, C. Russell Jr., J. Louis, and Helen lived in the house until …
The Sound of Music, Goldfish not included
J. Wesley Hubbell and his wife purchased the lot at 4310 Rawlins in 1925 and knew exactly what house they needed to build. J. Wesley was a locally famous tenor. He taught voice at the Bush Temple of Music at 307 Elm St. He also lectured and directed while performing in productions and on radio …
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A Second Chance at Love for George and Hallie May
In 1920, George Washington Wesley Swor was thriving in Dallas, Texas. A seasoned real estate agent, he built a successful career in the city’s booming property market and secured a prestigious role as head of the rental department at Robinson-Styron Realty Company on Field Street downtown. At home, he enjoyed a stable family life with …
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