Architect Charles Barnett of Dallas designed this house for James B. Baker in 1928. Mr. Baker was president of Baker Brothers Co., nurserymen and florists. Baker’s company grew flowers in several large greenhouses in Riverside and maintained two hundred acres east of Fort Worth for the general nursery business. Mr. Baker’s descendants operate the company today. Architect Barnett was married to Mr. Baker’s daughter, Dorris. This large, two-story house exhibits an eclectic combination of Mediterranean and Georgian styles. The house has a Spanish red tile roof and a symmetrical Georgian Revival facade with a central entry flanked by banks of four double hung-windows. The main entrance portico consists of a large swan’s-neck pediment set on a classical frieze reminiscent of an eighteenth century Virginia plantation house. Tuscan columns support the portico and stone quoins line the doorway. The house has large end chimneys with corbelled brick chimney caps. Two gabled side wings connect with the main block. The house has not been altered since it was constructed, and remained in the Baker family until 1984. It may be eligible for the National Register with further research.
