Nichols Hills A Residential Community Author:Konrad Keesee, Ann Taylor Konrad Keesee, a real estate agent, and Ann Taylor, a former mayor, are listed as the book's authors. — It is the pictures, though, that make the book a treasure. In addition to pictures of homes in Nichols Hills are pictures that show the city's rich social scene, some dating to the 1930s and 40s. — Reproductions of news articles attest to the la... more »vish parties and gracious living.
Keesee, in his introduction, traces the history of Nichols Hills to its opening in 1928 and notes that it remains "a community where one could buy a first house, later move to a larger house, then downsize to a smaller house for retirement years.
He says the authors wanted a book to "remember and to explain this wonderful residential community, which represents a way of life in America during the 20th century.
Developed by Dr. G.A. Nichols, the community had 35 residents by 1931 despite the nationwide Depression. By the mid-1930s, more houses were being built, according to the book. On its 75th anniversary in 2004, the city had grown to 4,020 residents living in 1,846 homes.
Taylor writes that the Nichols Hills parks "have never had better care, and the Christmas decorations still draw hundreds of people during the holiday season. The Redbud Classic is further proof of the recognition and spirit of our lovely city.
Nichols Hills residents sometimes relocate within the community, but many families have lived in the same homes for generations. Others may live within a few blocks of where their parents or grandparents lived.
It's interesting that many of the pictures show houses when they were new or almost so and then show how they look today. Changes are more apt to be noticed in the interiors than on the outside. In some instances, large trees have made it impossible to picture a house.
One of the book's chapters pays tribute to the late Raymond Carter, a designer and homebuilder responsible for many of the community's most beautiful homes..« less