This multi is designed to introduce you to the architectual style of Clifford D. Hutsell, who designed and built 50 houses in the Lakewood area of Dallas, the first in 1926. Inspired by a trip to California where he saw the Spanish Colonial home of Tom Mix (a very popular cowboy movie star of the day), he returned to Dallas with a new vision and began building his own version of this home style in Lakewood. Some have described it as kitschy, but I love it! Some call it Spanish Eclectic. A "Hutsell House" typically features a multicolored tile roof, arching stained glass windows, a balcony featuring wooden railings, and a walled courtyard at the front entrance. Since many were built during Prohibition, most "Hutsells" contained secret compartments in the kitchen or dining area where the homeowner could conceal away his own private stash of moonshine liquor. I was privileged to interview his daughter in 2007, who at the time was over 90 years old. I was collaborating with a photographer who planned to photograph all the "Hutsells" for a coffee-table book. She provided lots of details that I have not been able to find on the internet. Internet sources say he built houses in Lakewood until 1941, but also say that he died in 1952. However, she told me that he would always walk home for lunch, and that he died of a heart attack suddenly one day while on a job site in the neighborhood. Unfortunately, the interview was never published, as the photographer abandoned the project before finishing it. All that information still resides on my old laptop, and I cannot definitively verify the details from memory. If I can unearth it, I'll post it here.
In the meantime, if you want to do more research, you can visit http://significanthomes.com/architect/clifford-d-hutsell/ - that will give you a taste. If you would like to see the home that Clifford Hutsell built for himself and his young family, you can find it a few blocks away at 7035 Lakewood Blvd (at the NW corner of the intersection with Winstead at N 32 49.320 W 096 44.172 - those coords will get you onto Lakewood Blvd. in front of the house). The stained glass window is the largest he installed, and features a Spanish galleon. By the way, it's for sale as this cache page is being written. The neighborhood is studded with "Hutsells" so take a drive around a few blocks and see if you can spot them!
Now for the cache. Coordinates to the final are N 32 49.ABC, W 096 44.DEF.
At stage 1 you will find a sign identifying the name of the park. Stand behind it. If you look straight ahead, across the intersection you will see a stunning example of a "Hutsell House." Isn't she a beauty?! Then for the North coordinates ABC, look to the left of the sign. For the West Coordinates DEF, look to the right of the sign. Then punch them in and scurry off to the final. Enjoy!