“My parents bought the home when I was a teenager in 1954, clearly impressed by the porch, its shade, the protection from rain and snow, and of course the pearl-white columns.
My brother and I looked at the columns and saw something they missed: a ready nighttime escape route from our bedroom just above the porch. A stealthy lifting of our North window and freedom was ours.
Temporarily, that is, for that’s when we learned that our parents had once been teenagers themselves.
When we returned from our nocturnal adventure, we found the bedroom window closed and locked along with the rest of the potential entrances to the house. That’s when we discovered the real purpose of the porch: an extra bedroom. For one night.”
Ben Harrison is the husband of The Dallas Woman’s Forum member, Tamara Harrison.
About Porch Stories
The series, Porch Stories, brings to life the homes and histories of the members and friends of The Dallas Woman’s Forum. We celebrate the memories of family moments, special occasions, and lazy summers made possible by the beloved porches on our homes.
Read more here about the porches of The Alexander Mansion in Dallas, Texas and our efforts to restore them.