Davis House
a.k.a. "House Beautiful"
704 Parkland Circle, SE, Albuquerque, NMThe "House Beautiful" at 704 Parkland Circle la an excellent example of building technology and a popular building style of the year 1928. According to a contemporary report "the home represents the combined skills of Albuquerque's leading builders and artisans and when completed—will prove to be one of the show places of the Southwest.... It Is probably the most carefully constructed homes In Albuquerque." (Albuquerque Journal. February 5, 1928). The home was designed by A. W. Boehning, a local architect who first worked with the Albuquerque office of Trost and Trost, and then opened his own office. City buildings he designed Include St. Charles church, the Skinner Building at 8th and Central and the Valliant Printing Co. building.
The house was a Joint venture of the real estate firm of Anderman, Balcomb and Glasebrook, then developing the Parkland Hills Addition, and the Albuquerque Journal.which covered to the last detail the construction and opening of their "House Beautiful."Bach aspect of Its construction from the Chamberlin Metal Weatherstripping to the Lesher Mohair wall hangings was handled by an Individual firm, each carefully listed In the newspaper reports. The finished house, complete with an "orthophonic” In the radio room, an official automobile (a Buick) and a special hostess chosen In a widely publicized contest,was opened in late May, 1928. Thousands of people toured the house during the next eight days. Then the house was put up for sale; It was advertised as being worth $30,000 completely furnished.It was bought by Dr. C. C. Davis, a specialist In diseases of the chest. The Davises lived there until 1937, although by that year Mrs. Davis, the former Anna Shannon, widow of a Forest Service employee, was living there by herself. Dr. Davis had died the previous year. Mrs. Davis had two daughters by her first marriage, Betty and Phyllis. She was a teacher at John Marshall Elementary School.
The house had a succession of residents until the early 1940's when It was bought by Otto Beck, the manager of the Coca Cola bottling company. The Becks lived there until the mid-60's: the present owners bought the house In 1968.
The house was been well maintained. A few changes have been made to the exterior but It Is essentially the 1928 House Beautiful In appearance and construction.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.