Dugout to Deco: Building in West Texas, 1880-1930

Rating:
Summary: A BIT OF TEXAS HISTORY
Review:
Those who share Elizabeth Sasser's affinity for architecture and love for the wide arid spaces of West Texas will revel in this beautiful tribute to an age and an area.

From strip houses and bunkhouses dotting ranchman to prayer worn chapels and historic mansions, this superbly photographed volume reveals an uncommon heritage laced with a brave pioneer spirit.

The text is a well documented accompaniment that contains some unforgettable reminiscences. Of special interest may be the section titled "The 1920s: Bungalows and Eclectic Borrowings," which presents, among others, arresting studies of hotels and theaters.

Concluding with a glossary of architectural terms that is most helpful for a lay reader, Dugout to Deco is a valuable addition to the archives of Texas history.

- Gail Cooke