BAKER FAMILY PLAYHOUSE

A test of time

Saving grand homes and monumental buildings is important for preserving a city’s history. But one miniature Greek Revival house in Sam Houston Park shows even the smallest structures have big stories to tell.

Surviving six moves, devastating hurricanes, and a pool cabana renovation, the Baker Family Playhouse is now safely part of The Heritage Society’s collection of 10 historic buildings and 23,000 artifacts documenting Houston life from the 1800s to the mid-1900s.

Built by notable lawyer Captain James A. Baker in 1893 for his daughter Alice, the playhouse featured two shuttered windows, a full-sized front door, and a quaint porch with two wooden columns.

When the Bakers moved ten years later, a four-wheeled cart pulled by horses carried the beloved children’s retreat to the new home. Another eight years later, the playhouse moved with the family again, this time towed by a Model-T. Following the Baker family for over 50 years, the playhouse today is filled with memories of games of chase, tea parties, and lots of giggles from multiple generations.

In 2010, the little abode made a final move to The Heritage Society, where it was restored to its original charm. The keynote speaker at the luncheon honoring the society’s newest addition was the 61st US Secretary of State James A. Baker, III, who shared with the audience his fond childhood memories of running around the playhouse his grandfather had built. Now, the 130-year-old playhouse continues to entertain little Houstonians just two miles from its original location.

TIP: Look for your own family playhouse at Rainbow Play System’s showroom.