After World War II, there was a need to build more middle class housing in Dallas.  W.W. Caruth, Jr., and William Blessing joined forces to develop land just north and east of Hillside Village, a shopping center developed by Mr. Caruth on land owned by his grandfather.  At the time, the land was being used for farming crops and raising cattle.

William Blessing and his wife Elizabeth developed the land and built many of the homes.  They lived in several with their sons until they sold and moved on to the next one.  The demand was high for well planned developments with private deed restrictions.  These covenants as they became known, outlined certain characteristics for the neighborhood such as setbacks from property lines, building materials, and required the planting of trees.

Hillside is a large collection of original homes, mostly dating from 1951 through the early 1960s.  The prevalent architectural style is the ranch style home with two or three bedrooms.  There are also a number of mid-century modern homes, typified by flatter sloped roofs and open interior areas.  All homes were built with either garages or attached carports to accommodate the growing importance of automobiles.  The residential streets were even built wider than nearby neighborhoods that were developed before the war.

The natural setting of Hillside with the trees and creeks is a real treasure, and is something all owners and visitors appreciate.  Homeowners take pride in caring for their properties, including hundreds of old growth hardwood trees.  The Briar Creek Estates subdivision also includes private lakes behind the homes.