Park Place Drive is a lovely circular loop nestled in the corner of Texas Avenue and Masonic Drive. This development called the Park Place Addition came on to the residential housing scene in 1938 and was advertised as the only exclusive residential addition in the city of Alexandria. The area was zoned for no commercial and no multi-family properties as well as having a minimum building cost of $5000 for each residence. (According to the inflation calculator on www.dollartimes.com, $5000 would be equal to $87,233.68 today.)
At Park Place, a restricted home building addition, no homes costing less than $5,000 may be constructed and no business houses or apartments are allowed. It is strictly a residential section.
FROM Weekly Town Talk Alexandria, Louisiana 15 Oct 1938, Sat • Page
L.M. Coco is building a six-room home that, according to the plans, will be just about as modern and convenient as it is possible for a home to be. Mr Coco not only furnished the ideas for the many new features, but is doing his own supervision of construction. The home will cost close to $5,500.
FROM Weekly Town Talk Alexandria, Louisiana 15 Oct 1938, Sat • Page 4
The Lamar Polk home, costing approximately $10,000, is nearing completion…
FROM Weekly Town Talk Alexandria, Louisiana 15 Oct 1938, Sat • Page 4
The story of 111 Park Place begins in 1940 when Dayton Ball, Sr., a dry goods salesman from Louisiana, and his wife Lucille purchased the lot upon which he would build the house in which they would live for the next 50 some years.
The Ball family had two children; Dayton Fitch Ball, Jr born in 1930 and Virginia Ann Ball born in 1933.
The Ball family were members of Emmanuel Baptist Church and hosted many parties at their home for church activities, bridal showers, and more. When the children grew up, Mrs. Lucille began working as a saleswoman at Alma’s Children Shop located inside the Hotel Bentley.
The children both attended college; Dayton, Jr. graduating from Northeast Louisiana University, Monroe and Virginia Ann attending Northwestern State College, Natchitoches. Dayton, Jr. also joined the US Air Force and would serve in the Korean War.
Charming historic home in the lovely setting of Park Place Drive. The home recently had FRESH PAINT and HARDWOOD floors redone to shine. SOLAR PANELS, INSULATED WINDOWS, and an ENERGY EFFICIENT air conditioning system make this home efficient. Plumbing and wiring has been updated to code. The architectural shingle ROOF is only 2 years old. Check out the backyard PERGOLA and water feature for entertaining. Two car COVERED PARKING available.
I knew the Balls. Dayton was one of the greeters. When I met him he was selling shoes at Kay’s Shoes in MacArthur Village. He was a grand ole fellow that always was jolly and friendly. I believe his son was living in Washington state.