The mere mention of “the house with the wrap-around porch” automatically brings to mind a very special Lake Highlands home in the Oak Highlands neighborhood. This country charmer is the home of Hal and Amy Hillman and their three children: Trip, age 12; Chris, age 9; and Emily, age 6. The stately porch is a perfect play area for these children and their friends, and the large corner lot makes every day game day.
When they were looking for their family home, Hal knew right away that this one would be a perfect fit. “This was the house I would have built in the country,” he says. But when asked why he didn’t move back to the country, he points to Amy.
The wood slatted porch leads into the downstairs hardwood floors and to the stairway, which you know children have bounded up and down. The sconces, from entryway to the stairway and mounted on a backdrop of yellow walls, are like candles reminiscent of the days before electricity, adding a warm glow to any evening. And the charm doesn’t stop at the doorway.
Hal, a native of Arkansas, was raised on a farm. Over the years, he became an avid collector of western memorabilia. Upon entering the house, the first room on the left was originally built for a study. Hal staked his claim on it and has decorated this room with his extensive western collection. Spurs, old books, tooled leather (including a saddle), and complete, authentic western attire is a sampling of what you will find. He says that on Halloween, he’s been known to dress up like a cowboy and greet the trick-or-treaters with a tip of the hat and a “howdy.” Many personal items also live among Hal’s collectibles, like his father’s duck decoys and the spurs that are featured in the first book ever written about spurs.
Hal takes the hunt for western memorabilia one step further as he has “outfitted” conference rooms for businessmen who also appreciate the western flair.
Amy first took a liking to this house because it had a lot of usable space and it could accommodate their growing family. There are four bedrooms and a game room upstairs. The two boys share a bathroom between their rooms and Emily, who came soon after they moved in, has her own bath. A footed bathtub, original to the house, also resides upstairs.
Strolling through, one notices interesting antique pieces such as the coffee mill in the kitchen that Hal actually uses to grind his morning coffee. Amy says the kitchen is large enough to “meet, eat and greet.” The six foot square butcher block island is perfect for preparing meals, a school project, or just sitting around chatting over a cup of coffee. A screened-in back porch off the kitchen is a peacful place to hear birds chirping and enjoy those cool morning breezes. The only thing missing is the tire swing that was lost when the native pecan tree had to be removed. Not only were Hal and Amy sad to see this tree go, but so were the neighborhood children who were encouraged to stop by and swing.
Just as the sign above the front door reads “Welcome,” the house with the wrap around porch beckons to all to remember a time of lazy afternoons, rocking on the porch, and perhaps, just for a moment, watching time stand still.
