H.H. Highhouse House

H.H. HIGHHOUSE HOUSE
160 Sunset Way

Designated Miami Springs Historic Site (2009)

In1925, when the Florida land boom was in full swing, this house was built by B.L. Smith as one of two back-to-back identical small homes. This type of home was already being built in Country Club Estates to attract workers and retirees to the area, although it was not platted until 1927. The first inhabitant of record was N.R. Field, who resold the house to Smith in 1930, who then sold the house to Glenn Curtiss Properties. In 1934, the property was purchased by H.H. Highhouse.

Mr. Highhouse, a racing enthusiast, constructed a horse stable for two horses and a pony for his family behind the house. He also owned a kennel for racing greyhounds which was located on the west side of Red Road (Curtiss Parkway), south of 36th Street where the Miami International Airport now is. It is interesting to note that nearby Hialeah Race Track only raced greyhounds from 1923 until 1933, when horse racing was added. Livestock was permitted in Miami Springs until 1947, when the airport operations expanded further west and the post-war building boom created a need for more space for housing. At that time, the Highhouse family relocated with their animals to 400 North Royal Poinciana Boulevard, now the site of the Saratoga Springs Apartments.

This lovely little home was constructed in the rough textured stucco Pueblo Revival style as seen in other early buildings in Country Club Estates, complete with battered parapets, rounded corners to simulate a hand-molded look, wooden log vigas and an entrance porch with arched openings. It featured two bedrooms, one bathroom and a porte-cochere in front of the garage for protection against sun and rain. Later occupants enclosed the porte-cochere and made some interior modifications. With the exception of this enclosure and the removal of two windows, this historic home remains very close to its original appearance.