Dale Bellamah Homes Records
Collection
Identifier: MSS -646 -BC
Scope and Content
This is a small collection of advertising brochures for Dale Bellamah Homes, 1954-1959. The brochures list design features, show floor plans, and highlight neighborhood improvements. Also included are a few articles about Bellamah, a plat map for an Albuquerque subdivision, and warrantee certificates.
Dates
- 1954-1959
Language of Materials
English.
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution.
Historical Background
Dale Bellamah, residential real estate developer, began building homes in Albuquerque in 1947. Aggressive advertising and a booming post-war housing market led to his success. His company, Dale Bellamah Homes, ultimately developed subdivisions in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Hobbs, Alamogordo, Las Vegas, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, as well as El Paso, Texas.
Bellamah's signature development was the Princess Jeanne subdivision in Albuquerque, which opened in 1954. Located in the northeast heights, the area featured a central park, community swimming pool, tennis courts, and curvilinear streets. Advertisements touted the modern conveniences built into each home such as an attached garage or car port and a garbage disposal. Higher priced homes also offered such touches as a copper range hood, sunken living room, island planter wall, and an intercom system. These homes were designed to appeal to median income couples with children. Brochures promised a "wife-planned" house with conveniences to save her from the "drudgery of household chores" and free her time for family, self-development, and community activities.
Advertising high quality construction at a value price, Bellamah began offering a money back guarantee on all home sales. By 1959, features such as air conditioning and mahogany cabinets were added. The Solar Queen design included a 600 square foot "outdoor living room" to take advantage of the mild New Mexico weather. These homes were meant to be domestic retreats for working class and middle class families, and Bellamah had no trouble selling them.
Bellamah's signature development was the Princess Jeanne subdivision in Albuquerque, which opened in 1954. Located in the northeast heights, the area featured a central park, community swimming pool, tennis courts, and curvilinear streets. Advertisements touted the modern conveniences built into each home such as an attached garage or car port and a garbage disposal. Higher priced homes also offered such touches as a copper range hood, sunken living room, island planter wall, and an intercom system. These homes were designed to appeal to median income couples with children. Brochures promised a "wife-planned" house with conveniences to save her from the "drudgery of household chores" and free her time for family, self-development, and community activities.
Advertising high quality construction at a value price, Bellamah began offering a money back guarantee on all home sales. By 1959, features such as air conditioning and mahogany cabinets were added. The Solar Queen design included a 600 square foot "outdoor living room" to take advantage of the mild New Mexico weather. These homes were meant to be domestic retreats for working class and middle class families, and Bellamah had no trouble selling them.
Extent
1 box ( 0.2 cu. ft. )
- Alamogordo (N.M.) -- Architecture
- Albuquerque (N.M.) -- Architecture
- Architecture, Domestic -- New Mexico
- Buildings -- New Mexico -- Alamogordo
- Buildings -- New Mexico -- Albuquerque
- Buildings -- New Mexico -- Las Cruces
- Buildings-- New Mexico -- Hobbs
- Hobbs (N.M.) -- Architecture
- Las Cruces (N.M.) -- Architecture
- Princess Jeanne Park (Albuquerque, N.M.)
- Title
- Finding Aid of the Dale Bellamah Homes Records, 1954-1959
- Status
- For Approval
- Author
- Processed by K. Ferris
- Date
- ©2000
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- June 28, 2004: PUBLIC "-//University of New Mexico::Center for Southwest Research//TEXT (US::NmU::MSS 646 BC::Dale Bellamah Homes Records)//EN" "nmu1mss646bc.sgml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).
- Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.
Repository Details
Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository
Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
cswrref@unm.edu
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
cswrref@unm.edu