Defining Neighborhoods
For Texas Independence Day Sesquicentennial, HPL (Preservation Dallas) unveiled the book I wrote, Guide to the Older Neighborhoods of Dallas. It was the first book devoted to Dallas neighborhoods — before street sign toppers existed and when neighborhoods were known as general areas rather than specifically defined places.
We marked the Sesquicentennial with a “Toast to Texas” event inviting prominent Dallas residents to offer a toast to Texas. The day was chosen to launch the book because we believed the strength of Texas begins with its neighborhoods.
I recall the late Bill Murchison of the Dallas Morning News editorial board offering a toast to Texas, preservation, and Dallas neighborhoods. Though the editorial board at the time was very conservative — as was Bill — he was a genuine advocate for preservation and Dallas neighborhoods.
The book explored both small and large neighborhoods in Old East Dallas, Oak Lawn, Highland Park, and Oak Cliff. Great care was taken not to overuse the phrase “tree-tunneled streets” when I was describing neighborhoods. By the final edit, I realized “tree-tunneled streets” was not used one time in the book. Also, home prices in neighborhoods were not used so that the book could remain relevant for 20 years. We were successful, in many ways it still feels current.
I recently bought a copy of this book at an estate sale for $12 — only a few dollars less than its original $15 price when it first rose to number two on the Dallas nonfiction bestseller list.
So here in 2026, another Toast to Texas — and to the neighborhoods that continue to shape Dallas.
@preservationdallas
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