Harper House Plaque

Envision a house built from a dream, ordered straight from the pages of a catalog. This, my friends, is the Harper House. The Harper House plaque commemorates a unique piece of Houston history. It stands as a testament to a family’s ambition and an architect’s vision. The Harper House story begins in 1905. Benjamin and Bertie Harper, along with their two children, dreamt of a beautiful home. They chose a design, not from a local architect, but from a mail-order catalog. The architect? George Barber of Tennessee. His “Suburban Beauty” design, number 234 in an 1899 issue of *American Homes*, caught their eye. The house became a reality on Hawthorne Street, nestled within the Westmoreland Historic District. Benjamin, owner of Union Iron Works, Inc. and vice-president of the Harris County Bank and Trust Company, clearly had an eye for quality. The Harper House showcases the elegance of the late Queen Anne style. Imagine a wraparound porch, perfect for warm Houston evenings. Picture the decorative gable, the projecting bays, and the sturdy Doric columns, all adding to the house’s charm. The Harper House is a tangible piece of architectural history. It reminds us of a time when dreams of a beautiful home could arrive in the mail.