This Highland Park home was built in 1918 by Hal B. Thomson. In 1922, Peter Mansbendel was engaged by Hal Thomson and Frank Swain to provide carvings and other decor items for the Dallas home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank L. Blankenship. Mrs. (Ella Par) Blankenship was a well know voice teacher at the Hockaday School girls school in Dallas.
For her studio he executed portrait busts of her favorite composers: Beethoven and Liszt (~15″ in Redwood). He also carved a chandelier, molding, built-in cabinets and corbels in this room. Elsewhere in the house, may be found a limestone fireplace mantel, a door with circular lotus carved insert and other carved and painted elements all simply but attractively carved. Outside, the front entrance is guarded by a pair of mildly outrageous gargoyles.