Shiels, Thomas, House

The Thomas Shiels House at 4602 Reiger Avenue exhibits a noteworthy combination of late 19th- and early 20th-century architectural styles and includes Queen Anne, Craftsman, and Prairie School features. The house was built ca. 1906 and dates from the earliest years of East Dallas' most prolific period of residential construction (1903-1929). It is one of the most intact early dwellings that has survived subsequent redevelopment efforts in the area, insensitive alteration, or substantial deterioration. It is nominated to the National Register under Criterion C in the area of Architecture and associated with the historic context, The Development of East and South Dallas: 1872-1945.

An invigorated local economy that followed nearly a decade (1893-1903) of economic and construction stagnation in Dallas, prompted renewed real estate and streetcar development throughout the city, particularly in East Dallas. In its initial development period (1879-1893) the eastern section of old East Dallas was subdivided into large, half-, and quarter-block estates for elegant country homes. When the economy began to revive in the first years of the 20th century, East Dallas experienced intense building activity. By 1906, impressive Classical Revival houses lined Swiss and Ross avenues, while in the southern reaches of the region, along Elm and Alcalde streets, modest frame cottages were erected for working-class families. Between the two extremes, along Victor, Reiger, Junius, and Worth streets, scores of 1 1/2- and 2-story frame houses, such as the Shiels House, were constructed for middle-class families. The Shiels House is an excellent example of the type of single-family residence that marked the second phase of East Dallas' development when many elaborate old Victorian estates were replaced with less ostentatious, yet substantial dwellings.

Thomas Shiels was typical of the residents of Reiger Avenue in the first two decades of the 20th century. He was vice-president of Citizens Planing Mill, which produced custom woodwork, doors, sash and interior finish, in ca. 1906, the year his house was built. By 1920, Shiels and his brother formed their own company, Shiels-Stacy-Shiels, and they advertised themselves in the Dallas city directory as manufacturers of high-grade millwork and interior finish. In fact, a number of builders and architectural craftsmen constructed homes for themselves in East Dallas in the 1910s and 1920s that reflected the architectural styles and practices of their day. Shiels' neighbors on Reiger Avenue included Didaco Bianchi (4503 Reiger), a partner in an architectural cast stone company, and John Knott (4502 Reiger), a building contractor. Both houses are extant. Shiels probably contracted or oversaw the construction of his own house.

One of the earliest houses on Reiger Avenue, the Shiels House is also one of the most intact and best-maintained. The house stands today as an exceptional example of an eclectic East Dallas house whose builder's skill, and dedication to quality construction and craftsmanship is evident in its current condition and appeal. The Shiels House is indicative of the change that took place in domestic architectural tastes during the early 20th century. It features asymmetrical massing and Queen Anne style detailing that was popular during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. On the other hand, the porch incorporates elements of the Prairie School and Craftsman architecture, that were beginning to gain widespread acceptance in Dallas and much of the rest of the state and nation during the early 20th century. Research has not been able to confirm if the porch is original; however, Sanborn maps of 1922 reveal a porch with the same configuration. Consequently, if the porch is an alteration, it is significant and is considered to be part of the building's physical and architectural evolution. Today, the Shiels House retains much of its historic integrity and character.