Few American architects have had the opportunity to design an entire city. In the early 1940s, Alden B. Dow joined their ranks when Dow Chemical expanded its Freeport plant, prompting the construction of a new town for plant employees: Lake Jackson. Dow designed Lake Jackson as a city in a park, with streets winding through woods and lakes. In addition to model home designs, he produced plans for schools, churches, a movie theater and commercial buildings. His city plan and modern building designs formed the basis for the area’s growth in the decades that followed.
In After Alden, the latest publication from Houston Mod, Marty Merritt tells the architectural story of the Freeport and Lake Jackson area in the years after Dow’s pioneering wartime projects. Focusing on the 1950s and ’60s, the book identifies every major architect who did significant work in the region and highlights several remarkable owner-designed homes. As part of Preservation Houston’s History in Print author series, Merritt will discuss some of these projects in a lecture illustrated with new images by architectural photographer Benjamin Hill.
Merritt will sign copies of After Aldenafter the presentation. The book will be available for $35 at the event.
Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the program will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Proler Chapel at Congregation Emanu El, 1500 Sunset Boulevard.
Admission to History in Print is free for Preservation Houston/Pier & Beam members, Houston Mod members and members of Congregation Emanu El. Admission is $5 per person for the general public.
Free parking is available in the garage located behind the synagogue (enter from Sunset Boulevard using the east driveway, closest to Main Street). Congregation Emanu El is also a short walk from the Hermann Park/Rice University station on MetroRail's Red Line.
If you have any questions, please e-mail or call (713) 510-3990.
History in Print is part of the Bart Truxillo Program Series, which honors the memory of pioneer preservationist and Preservation Houston co-founder Bart Truxillo. The Bart Truxillo Program Series is made possible by the generous contributions of Preservation Houston's members and friends.