How Much Do You Know About Highland's Bungalows?

Bungalow structures or craftsman styling make up about 51% of the total structures in Highland, totaling approximately 544 houses and apartment structures. Of these, most of the structures are one story bungalows with the roof ridge perpendicular to the street and displaying the characteristic multiple gabled roof lines. When HRA Board Members taught the fourth graders at Creswell Elementary about bungalow characteristics, they described the roofs as looking like "a big A," "an upside down V," or in one imaginative child's mind, "a rocket ship."

A few of the houses are in the "camelback" style--a one story house with a partial second story located at the rear. An example can be viewed in the Bungalow Tour Photo Gallery (in the Links section of the HRA Home Page, from Links, see Photo Galleries, select Bungalow Homes of Highland.) Still others may be basic or modified "foursquares" with bungalow porch features. And finally, there are a few fully articulated two story bungalows (one featured in Bungalow Photo Gallery.)

Regardless of the size, the Highland bungalows are generally well detailed as evidenced by the following:
* The majority are sheathed in clapboard, as viewed in Bungalow Photo Gallery (Note: some homes are been covered with siding, reducing upkeep but hiding the historic detailing.)
* Some homes feature shingles found on the front or side gables (See Bungalow Photo Gallery.)
* More rarely, some Highland bungalows are completely sheathed in shingles, in the manner of the California Bungalow (See Bungalow Photo Gallery for example).
* A few have walls that flare at the bottom of the shingled section.

However, the strongest architectural character of Highland's Bungalows is derived largely from porches and distinctive doorways. The porches feature the standard post-atop-pier configuration. Even more distinctive are the screened porches with at least 75 houses having wood screen-holding elements in a variety of geometric shapes and sizes. In Louisiana, these distinctive porches are found almost exclusively in Shreveport, and most of them are in Highland.

Distinctive doorways with designs leaning toward oriental features are prevalent in as many as 100 bungalows. There are two homes that feature the quintessential California bungalow treatment, porch piers and priminent chimneys formed of rocks and/or pebbles. Both homes exemplifying these features can be seen in the Bungalow Photo Gallery.

Neighborhood Honors Highland Heroes

Over 70 persons from the Highland neighborhood and area churches joined together on October 18 to honor Shreveport's fire fighters and police officers and to visit each other at a delicious covered dish supper.







This group found a good place for eating

Honoring Highland's Heroes Event Chair Diane Mirvis and Area Police Officers

Bungalow Living--The Spirit of Highland Was A Great Birthday Bash

Below are a few photos from Bungalow Living--The Spirit of Highland. We started with an informative program at the Meadows Museum, sampled great refreshments there, visited with each other and Mayor Glover, then on to the bungalow tour, capping eveything off with birthday cake on a lovely bungalow porch to commemorate HRA's 30th anniversary!

Garage Sale Proceeds Help Fund Fall Events

Thank you to all who contributed to the Highland Restoration Association Garage Sale Fundraiser held Septeber 29. Over $500 was raised to be used to augment funding for the upcoming Bungalow Events (See Below), with any unused monies going to the general account for day-to-day operations. Special thanks to Sarah and Howard Scott for organizing and hosting the Garage Sale.

Highlights of Community-Wide Health and Safety Fair

Flu Shots Were Available to Attendees


The Crowd Mingles with the Vendors

A Visit to the Fire Truck

Thanks to the Best of Times Radio Show for Their Remote at Health Fair

HRA Thanks RSVP Volunteers at Health Fair


Vendors Enjoyed the Day

Yoga Instructors Shared with Crowd


HRA Board President Teresa Edgerton with Board Members Vince Mathias and Matt Werner at the Health Fair

More of Our Vendors




The September 22 Community-Wide Health and Safety Fair had over 100 vendors and 500 participants, who gained knowledge about available services to enhance their health and safety. A special thank you to Gary Calligas/Best of Times and VOA Highland Center, event co-hosts, and to the following sponsors: Billedeaux Hearing Center, FreeLife International, Hospiscript Services, Humana Inc, & Snells Limbs and Braces.

Thanks to HRA Board Member and Shreveport photographer, James Eakin, who captured the sights of the Health Fair. See complete photographs of Health and Safety Fair at www.eakinphotography.com (portraits and commercial gallery).

Join HRA for Bungalow Events and Honoring Highland's Heroes in October

Bungalow Living--The Spirit of Highland
Presented by Highland Restoration Association
and the Meadows Museum of Art

Saturday--October 13, 2007

Location: Meadows Museum of Art
2911 Centenary Boulevard
Shreveport

Day's Agenda:
10:00 am-- Opening remarks
Dr. Kenneth Schwab
President, Centenary College

10:05-- Welcome
Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover

10:20-- Lecture--Bungalow Living
Guy Carwile, Professor of Architecture
Louisiana Tech University

10:45-- Tax Credits for Historic Homeowener
Alison Saunders
La. Department of Historic Preservation

11:05 -- Refreshments, Question and Answer Period

11:30-- Self-guided Driving Tour, featuring two open homes for public touring
Join us for HRA's birthday cake at the last home on tour!

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!
(EVENT SUPPORTED IN PART BY FUNDING FROM THE CITY OF SHREVEPORT, DEPARTMENT
OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, NEIGHBORHOOD INVESTMENT PROGRAM)
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ALSO: Highland Bungalow Photography Exhibit

During the month of October, an exhibit featuring photographs of Highland Bungalows, by HRA Board Member and local photographer James Eakin, and information about historic bungalows can be enjoyed at the Broadmoor Branch of the Shreve Memorial Library, located at 1212 Captain Shreve Drive, Shreveport, PHONE 869-0120.

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October 18 Honoring Highland’s Heroes
Covered dish dinner with and for the Shreveport Fire & Police Departments
Time: 6:30—8:30 pm
Place: Fire Station #7, Line and Wilkinson
Co-sponsors: First Baptist and Noel Methodist Churches

Summer 2007 Neighborhood Improvement Award Winner Announced

The Bakers' Daughter Jackie and her son Peyton pose in front of Award Winning House

Not even a fallen leaf mars the lawn and street in front of Jackie and Clenice Baker’s well-kept home at 409 Herndon Street in Shreveport’s Highland neighborhood. As one way of recognizing the Bakers’ positive contribution to the community, the Highland Restoration Association (HRA) has presented them with the HRA Neighborhood Improvement Award for Summer 2007. This award is presented quarterly to a home owner or business that serves as a role model for others.

The Bakers moved to their Highland home in 2003 from Blanchard. “I wanted to live in a historic home,” Clenice Baker said. The interior had been restored by the previous owners but the Bakers have continually enhanced the outdoor living space by adding covered parking and additional storage, and maintaining an immaculate yard.

The Bakers have also put in a bid to purchase the house next to them and the vacant lot next to that house. They want to improve their whole block.

Clenice Baker has mixed family heirlooms with bargain buys to make the interior of the home as inviting as the exterior. “I love the high ceilings and the crown molding in this house,” said Clenice Baker. “When I go into other people’s houses, I sometimes feel like the ceilings are too low and I feel closed in.”

The cottage has three bedrooms, including one for the Baker’s grandchildren who are frequent visitors to their grandparents’ house. When he isn’t caring for his lawn, Jackie Baker can often be found sitting on his porch watching his grandchildren play.

“I want the young people of this neighborhood to appreciate the history of the houses and take care of the old homes in Highland,” said Clenice Baker.

The Highland Restoration Association could not agree more.

Clean Team Event--August 4

The Highland Restoration Association joined forces with Shreveport-Bossier Community Renewal, Highland Area Partnership, Brookshires on Kings Highway, VOA Highland Center and Shreveport Police Department Weed and Seed to co-sponsor the August 4 Highland Clean Team event at Columbia Park. A trailer was loaded with cleaning supplies, i.e., paper products, hand sanitizer, and spray cleanser, that were collected for distribution to neighborhood schools.

This annual event is held in conjunction with the Shreveport-Bossier Community Renewal's Highland Neighborhood picnic, which this year featured a water slide for the children, time to explore the new Columbia Park playground equipment, cake walks for all ages and lunch for everyone.

Several HRA board members attended this event and shared their photographs of the event. The pictures tell the story of this worthy and fun-filled event.














Photo Credit: James Eakin, HRA Board Member www.eakinphotography.com

150 Dogs and Cats Receive Rabies Vaccinations

The Highland Rabies Clinic vaccinated about 150 dogs and cats during the Saturday, May 12 clinic at the VOA Highland Center This event is sponsored by the Highland Restoration Association, Caddo Paish Animal Control, and the Humane Society of NW Louisiana. Watch for information on this blog about dates for a fall clinic.

Concert in the Park Series Kicked Off in Columbia Park May 7

Highland residents of all ages and species came to Columbia Park Monday evening, May 7, to hear the Sheveport Metropolitan Band perform in SPAR's Concert in the Park Summer Series. This was the first of seven concerts scheduled for May and June in Shreveport parks. Check out SPAR's website at www.myspar.org to find out more about planned summer activities.

Highland area children are enjoying the new playground equipment recently installed at Columbia Park. Many thanks to SPAR Director Shelly Ragle and her staff for this badly needed upgrade. Check out the other park improvements including an access walkway from Rutherford Street into the park. Many Highland walkers enjoy communing with nature as they walk the paved path through the park.

Join HRA in our partnership with SPAR to continue beautification projects in Columbia Park, one of Sheveport's prettiest small parks.