This Munger Place American Four Square is such a lovely example of why buyers are attracted to the neighborhood. There are only five streets here, and many of the historic homes are sold off-market, as this one was in 2022.
Marshall and Elizabeth Lawrence were living in Garland’s Firewheel neighborhood. They regularly visited friends in Munger Place for the infamous porch parties and neighborhood events like the Wine Walk. Unsurprisingly, they fell in love with the Prairie-influenced homes and the tight-knit community.
“We told our friends if they heard of any homes coming available to please let us know,” Marshall said.
Word of mouth works, and before they knew it, they found themselves walking through this 1922 Munger Place American Four Square that had been in the same hands for over 20 years. While it was perfect for the Lawrences, there was work to be done, as is the case with many historic homes.
“The first project was to fix the foundation,” Marshall said. “There were five beams, and four and a half had to be completely replaced. We had to add pillars to support the enclosed porch in the back. That was a massive project. Then we replaced the roof!”
Painting the staircase created a more cohesive look to the room.
When Marshall and Elizabeth finally arrived at the interior, it was, of course, reflective of what was in style two decades prior. All the pine woodwork was stained a deep brown, and the somber wall colors created an overall effect that was quite dark. They lightened everything up with Sherwin-Williams Greek Villa and painted the woodwork for a much brighter look.
One of the truly impressive characteristics of Munger Place is the care homeowners take to update these houses while maintaining historic details. This was not always the case. In fact, this home was once known as the Toothpick House because the porch supports were so skinny. It had fallen from grace in a pretty big way, becoming a boarding house for years.
Although Munger Place was considered the most desirable neighborhood in Dallas during the early 1920s, by the 1960s and early 1970s, it was at its lowest point. Many of the fine homes had been subdivided into multiple rental units or were in such a state of disrepair that they were considered a last resort for those experiencing hard times.
However, in the late 1970s, the neighborhood began to transition once more. Activists, artists, and young people with passion slowly turned it into a sought-after place to live again. Munger Place was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 and designated a Dallas Landmark District in 1988. It’s quite a success story, and as I mentioned, you generally now only find a home here through word of mouth. So it’s especially significant to see this 2,844-square-foot American Four Square hit the market.
The first reinvention of this home occurred in the mid-1980s, when it was taken to the studs. Those toothpick porch posts were replaced with more substantial and attractive columns adding an eclectic Colonial Revival touch to the home, which was actually a significant trend for American Four Square homes. In 2004, a large two-car garage was added, featuring upstairs space that can easily be converted into guest quarters. Now it is truly a move-in-ready home.
The Lawrences will miss their Munger Place American Four Square and their neighbors.
“We will especially miss the sunroom on the back,” Elizabeth said. “When it’s raining, that’s our favorite space. It was one of the spaces that sold us during our initial walk-through. Another favorite area is the balcony. We call it our tree house. We will invite friends and neighbors to come up and enjoy a glass of wine while taking in the view of the trees.”
It’s the warmth and support of the neighbors that will truly be missed. To give you a glimpse of the caring and close-knit nature of this neighborhood, the Lawrences shared a heartwarming story.
“Elizabeth had been in a car accident and broken seven ribs,” Marshall said. “She was in the hospital for three days and was going to need a recliner when she got home. I let a friend know, and three hours later, on our Ring doorbell, we saw 12 people on our porch helping out. Everyone on our block brought us meals in that first couple of weeks. The neighbors are one of the most wonderful aspects of this neighborhood.”
OPEN HOUSE: Sunday, October 5th, from 1 to 2:30 p.m.