Preservation Sponsor Highland Park Village | Presenting Magazine Sponsor D Home
Preservation Park Cities (PPC) Distinguished Speaker Luncheon was a sold out affair! The Dallas Country Club was at capacity for this wonderful event featuring Christine Allison, Editor-in-Chief and CEO of D magazine speaking on “Our Forever Home - How We Fell In Love With The Park Cities.”
Chaired by Marla Boone, the luncheon’s Honorary Chairs were The Honorable Joel and Susan Williams. Season Events Honorary Chairs were Jan and Trevor Rees-Jones, Preservation Sponsor Highland Park Village and D Home was Presenting Magazine Sponsor.
Preservation Park Cities president, Tish Key, welcomed everyone and introduced Brad Cheves, Vice President for Development and External Affairs (DEA) at SMU who gave the invocation. Scott Murray, of Murray Media and emcee, thanked the sell-out crowd for their support and said the Park Cities is a very special community. He reminded everyone of the organization’s recent name change from the Park Cities Historic and Preservation Society to Preservation Park Cities and said the mission remains the same: To preserve and promote the history, architecture, aesthetics and cultural traditions of the Park Cities.
University Park architect and PPC board member Bob Clark gave insight into the history of the Elbert Williams/Rees-Jones House which is featured in the book A House for Texas, authored by Larry Good, published by Preservation Park Cities. Dubbed the most important house in Texas and a masterpiece of Texas modern regional architecture, it was saved from demolition by the Rees-Joneses, who purchased it from the original owner’s family and are also neighbors and believe in its preservation.
As luncheon was served, Christine took the stage with Peter Simek, Arts Editor, D magazine for her presentation. Christine shared the story of her husband, the late Wick Allison, founder of D magazine, who grew up in the Park Cities. They began their family in Dallas, moved to New York and then returned to Dallas and made the Park Cities their forever home. She talked about the importance of the continuity of generations in the community and said preservation is not only about the houses, it is also the people who keep it beautiful. She encouraged everyone to reflect on the history of the Park Cities and become engaged in its future.
Traditionally, Preservation Park Cities (PPC) features a Distinguished Speaker Luncheon, Historic Home Tour and Classic and Antique Car Show each spring. Due to COVID-19, the scheduling was revised. The annual Historic Home Tour happened in April 2021 and was totally virtual. It will be available to view on the website soon. The Classic and Antique Car Show will happen at a date to be determined.
The Historic Home Tour and Distinguished Speaker Luncheon are PPC’s only fundraisers each year. The proceeds are allocated to help further PPC’s mission to promote, protect and preserve the historic, architectural, cultural and aesthetic legacy of the Park Cities.
Membership in Preservation Park Cities is open to the community. Community support is vital to preserving community awareness regarding the importance of protecting and promoting visual history along with architectural and cultural legacies of the Park Cities. Find out more by visiting the website at www.preservationparkcities.org
PPC membership benefits and activities include: Three educational meetings during the year, landmarking events honoring significant homes for architectural, historical or restoration merit, PPC Annual Spring Historic Home Tour, Distinguished Speaker Luncheon, Annual Classic & Antique Car Show, July 4th Parade and booth. Funds raised help preserve and maintain The Park Cities House at Dallas Heritage Village, support the new PPC archives at the University Park Library, fund PPC’s landmarking initiatives, award scholarships to Highland Park High School graduating seniors planning to study architecture or history and fund the Distinguished Chair for History at Highland Park High School. For more information, visit www.preservationparkcities.org , email info@preservationparkcities.org or call the PPC office (214) 528-0021.
About Christine Allison:
Christine Allison first worked as D Magazine’s promotion manager in 1976, after a foiled attempt to start a newspaper for the Park Cities. After six years, she left D to create a boutique advertising agency, which served national and local clients. She sold it when she decided to move to New York with Wick Allison, with whom she now has four (remarkable) daughters.
Christine has written thirteen books. Her range is wide, from John Paul II: A Tribute in Words and Pictures to 365 Days of Gardening, and Tell Me a Story, I’ll Sing You a Song. In addition, she was a contributor to Reader’s Digest for ten years.
The Allisons moved back to Dallas in 1995 to assume ownership of D Magazine, and a few years later decided to acquire Park Cities People. Full circle, if you will. In 2000, she created D Home, and shepherded the creation of D Weddings and D’s award-winning website, Dmagazine.com.
She now has assumed the mantle of Editor-in-Chief and CEO of D Magazine Partners, and is responsible for all editorial and operations, as well as D Custom, a nationally-recognized content marketing agency.
Preservation Park Cities Overview: PPC’s mission is to preserve and promote the history, architecture, aesthetics and cultural traditions of the Park Cities. Proceeds of the Luncheon and Home Tour will be used to help preserve and maintain the Park Cities House at Dallas Heritage Village, support the new PPC archives at the University Park Library, fund PPC’s landmarking initiatives, award scholarships to Highland Park High School graduating seniors planning to study architecture or history and fund the Distinguished Chair for History at Highland Park High School. Membership in PPC is open to the public. For more information visit www.preservationparkcities.org
* Photos by Rob Wythe/Wythe Portrait Studio and Danny Campbell.