Elmwood (Dallas)

Last updated

Elmwood is a residential neighborhood in central Oak Cliff, within Dallas, Texas, composed of tudor cottages, craftsman bungalows and ranch-style homes built mostly in the 1920s through the 1950s surrounding a central greenbelt along the limestone banks of Cedar Creek (Texas).

Contents

Elmwood Parkway Trail Dedication June 9, 2012 Trail Dedication in Elmwood Park June 9.jpeg
Elmwood Parkway Trail Dedication June 9, 2012

Elmwood Parkway is a focal point of the neighborhood. The 16-acre linear park follows Cedar Creek on the northern edge of the neighborhood and continues south along Elmwood Branch through the center. Founded in 1945, the park is filled with mature pecan, oak, elm, and hackberry trees and is home to a variety of birds and wildlife. It has play equipment and open spaces for sports and is a popular place for walking dogs and jogging. Elmwood has in recent years added to a network of walking trails that meander through the park as well as a crossing bridge and monarch butterfly waystation.

Conveniently walkable to two Dallas Area Rapid Transit light rail stations, Elmwood surrounds a small business district along Edgefield Avenue. "Downtown Elmwood" features a collection of small commercial buildings, professional offices, a Masonic Hall, an elementary school and churches. In 1988, this location was used to film the Main Street sequences in the 1989 movie Born on the Fourth of July starring Tom Cruise. [1] Centered on Edgefield and Ferndale avenues, the business district has seen a modest resurgence in the 2010s as gentrification spreads from the popular Bishop Arts District, neighborhoods like Winnetka Heights, Dallas and other areas of North Oak Cliff. Starting with a concentrated effort by the neighborhood, murals, festivals and a monthly pop-up dog park have been organized as part of a concerted revitalization. The Elmwood Neighborhood Association is currently working on plans to establish the dog park, Elmwoof, as a permanent feature of Downtown Elmwood.

Pre-war History

Elmwood began as the Tennessee Dairy founded by Lindsley Waters in 1907. With just 20 cows and covering 640 acres (2.6 km2), the dairy was a corporate operation and a modern facility that was the first in Dallas to deliver pasteurized milk in glass bottles, [2] even winning "most sanitary dairy farm" at the 1908 State Fair of Texas. [3] Remnants of the farm exist to this day, including a house on Brunner Avenue reputed to be the dairy foreman's quarters and portions of an old stone wall that divided the farm, which are visible along the 1700 block of S. Edgefield, near Elmwood Blvd. After a fire destroyed the farm in 1919, Mr. Waters moved production to Deep Ellum, Dallas, desiring a near-downtown location in order to expedite deliveries. [4] In 1924, real estate developer Frank G. Jester purchased the land from Southwest National Bank and platted the Elmwood Addition, selling quality homes in a "park-like" and "restful" setting just outside the southern boundary of Oak Cliff at the time. Construction slowed during the Great Depression but boomed in the post-war years, continuing until the 1950s when a much larger residential and retail development, Wynnewood, Dallas, opened to the east.

A 1920s Dallas Morning News advertisement for Elmwood Addition describes it as an ideal place for raising children. Elmwood Addition 1924.jpg
A 1920s Dallas Morning News advertisement for Elmwood Addition describes it as an ideal place for raising children.

The neighborhood opened its only school – later named after beloved Irish-immigrant teacher Margaret B. Henderson – in 1929. It was the first Dallas school named after a living Dallasite. [5] In less than 10 years, however, the wood frame building was so obsolete that a Dallas Morning News story quoted several residents from Lansford Ave, Melbourne Ave and Brunner Ave calling it "an impossible condition," "a disgrace to the Dallas school system" and "the worst school in all Dallas." [6] A modern brick structure with an iconic frieze opened in 1941, four years before the entirety of Elmwood was annexed by Dallas as part of a seven-square-mile annexation vote. [7] Perhaps the most active civic group in Elmwood was the Elmwood Dads Club made up of fathers of Margaret B. Henderson pupils. They sponsored an annual picnic at Kiest Park, advocated for neighborhood improvements and hosted an achievement night in May 1950 to celebrate the neighborhood's progress over the previous six years. [8]

Post-war to Present Day

The late 1950s and early 1960s were a time of great prosperity for most of Oak Cliff, with many businesses catering to the new Baby Boomer generation. One such business, Austin's Bar-B-Cue on the corner of Hampton Rd and Illinois Ave,reigned as the destination of choice for thousands of diners with its sliced beef sandwiches, fries, coleslaw, beans, ribs, steaks and "to-die-for" burgers. Police officer J. D. Tippit moonlighted at Austin’s, working security on weekends. Austin's closed in July 2000 when it was replaced by an Eckerd pharmacy.

In November 1988, Downtown Elmwood was the filming location for a number of scenes in the movie Born on the Fourth of July starring Tom Cruise. Margaret B. Henderson was used for Ron Kovic's high school and Edgefield Ave was transformed for two parade sequences set in Massapequa, Long Island. Faux storefronts for ice cream shops, jewelers and insurance agencies lined the movie set. [9] Tom Cruise later paid for a half-page advertisement in the Oak Cliff Tribune to thank Oak Cliff for its hospitality. [10]

The same month, neighbors became aware of plans by food packaging manufacturer Dixie Wax Paper Company, later Dixico Inc. – an Elmwood-area business since 1932 – to request regulatory state and EPA approval for burning hazardous solvents, alcohols, inks and other liquid wastes at its plant at 1300 S. Polk St. [11] The company insisted that its incineration methods were environmentally sound, but neighbors pushed back by organizing the group "Individuals & Residents Against Toxic Emissions" (IRATE). A year-long battle culminated in 400 people attending a public hearing; Dixico ultimately withdrew its application, citing too much time wasted on the effort. [12] In 1996 Dixico sold the building to Delta Industries – which refurbished automotive air conditioners on-site until January 2015 – and in 2016 the building became Tyler Station: a light-manufacturing space, "co-working village" and brewery.

Notable residents

Brunner Clarence Barnes (1917-1985) attended Winnetka Elementary school (later renamed W.E. Greiner Junior High) and graduated from Sunset High School (Texas) in 1935 and Texas A&M University in 1940. He retired as a Major in World War II, where he had served in army chemical warfare, then returned to Dallas and worked as a chemical engineer for the Magnolia Oil Company until 1960 when he co-founded Barnes & Click Engineering, later acquired by R. W. Beck, Inc. [13] Brunner Ave in Elmwood is named after Brunner Barnes from when he was a childhood friend of John Collier, the son of an original Elmwood developer responsible for naming and designing streets in the early days of the neighborhood.

Dallas Police Department Sergeant Samuel Quinton Bellah (1926-2008) lived in 2219 Wilbur for several years in the 1960s. On November 22, 1963 he was part of the advance presidential motorcade along with Glen C. McBride and J.B. Garrick assigned to cut off Stemmons Freeway traffic well ahead of the main motorcade escorting the presidential limousine on its way to the Dallas Trade Mart. [14] [15] He is mentioned in the Warren Commission Report and several other documents examining the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Boundaries & Accessibility

The neighborhood is bounded on the north by the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Red Line, on the south by Illinois Avenue, on the east by Polk Street and on the west by Hampton Road. It is walking distance to Hampton station (DART) and Tyler/Vernon station and a less than five-minute drive to Interstate 35 via Illinois Ave. In 2016, a trail extension opened connecting Elmwood Parkway to the 263-acre Kiest Park to the south. Funding from the 2017 municipal bond program will extend the trail northeast along Cedar Creek.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oak Cliff</span> Neighborhood of Dallas, Texas, U.S.

Oak Cliff is an area of Dallas, Texas, United States that was formerly a separate town in Dallas County; Dallas annexed Oak Cliff on April 4, 1903. It has since retained a distinct neighborhood identity as one of Dallas' older established neighborhoods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illinois station (DART)</span> DART light rail station in Dallas, Texas

Illinois station or Illinois Avenue station is a DART light rail station in Dallas, Texas. It is located in the Oak Cliff neighborhood on Denley Drive, north of Illinois Avenue. It opened on June 14, 1996, and is a station on the DART Blue Line, serving nearby residences and businesses, featuring bus service to Mountain View College, Fair Park, the Dallas VA Medical Center, and Paul Quinn College. This was the initial southern terminus for the Blue Line until it was extended to Ledbetter in May 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kiest station</span> DART light rail station in Dallas, Texas

Kiest station is a DART light rail station in Dallas, Texas. It serves the Oak Cliff neighborhood on Kiest Boulevard and Lancaster Road. It opened on May 31, 1997, and is a station on the Blue Line, serving nearby residences and businesses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oak Lawn, Dallas</span> Place in Texas, United States

Oak Lawn is a neighborhood in Dallas, Texas, defined in Dallas City Ordinance 21859 as Planned Development District No. 193, the Oak Lawn Special Purpose DistrictArchived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine. The unofficial boundaries are Turtle Creek Boulevard, Central Expressway, the City of Highland Park, Inwood Road, and Harry Hines Boulevard. It is over 12 square miles (31 km2) in area. Officially it is bounded by the City of Highland Park, the North Central Expressway, Stemmons Freeway, Woodall Rodgers Freeway, and other roads. The district is within the boundary defined by the City of Dallas law, excluding any existing planned development districts within.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Junius Heights, Dallas</span> Neighborhood of Dallas, Texas, USA

Junius Heights is Dallas' largest historic district, a neighborhood of more than 800 homes in East Dallas, Texas (USA) situated east of Munger Place, south of Swiss Avenue and southwest of Lakewood. It is relatively rectangular, bounded roughly by Gaston Avenue on the NW, Paulus Avenue on the NE, Reiger Avenue on the SE, and Henderson Avenue on the SW.

Winnetka Heights is one of the oldest and largest historical districts in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas, Texas (USA). The district is bounded by Davis Street on the north, 12th Street on the south, Willomet Avenue on the east and Rosemont Avenue on the west. Established in 1910, Winnetka Heights consists of early 20th century wood-frame houses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vickery Place, Dallas</span>

Vickery Place is a historic neighborhood in East Dallas, Texas, bounded on the north by Goodwin Avenue, on the west by North Central Expressway and Henderson, on the south by Belmont, and on the east by Greenville Avenue. Although Vickery Place is considered by some to be part of the M Streets area, it is strictly speaking not as it is south of the Greenland Hills subdivision. Vickery Place has seen much improvement and property value growth over the past several years due to its close proximity to Downtown Dallas and Uptown, and its location bordering the vibrant Lower Greenville Avenue and Knox-Henderson entertainment and shopping districts.

South Oak Cliff High School is a public secondary school located in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas, Texas, United States. South Oak Cliff High School enrolls students in grades 9-12 and is a part of the Dallas Independent School District (DISD).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Dallas</span> Place in Texas, United States

West Dallas is an area consisting of many communities and neighborhoods in Dallas, Texas, United States. West Dallas is the area bounded by Interstate 30 on the south, the Trinity River on the east and north, and the Trinity River's West Fork on the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dallas Public Library</span> Public library system in Texas, USA

The Dallas Public Library (DPL) is a public library system in the city of Dallas, Texas, United States. With more than 4 million items and 30 locations, the Dallas Public Library is the largest public library system in North Texas.

Dallas is a city in Texas, United States.

L.O. Daniel is a neighborhood in northern Oak Cliff, Dallas, Texas (USA). It is named for Lark Owen Daniel.

Casa View is a residential neighborhood in Dallas, Texas, United States, located near White Rock Lake in the northeastern portion of the city. According to the Greater Casa View Alliance, the Greater Casa View area is bordered by Buckner Boulevard, Garland Road, I-635 and Oates to the city line of neighboring Mesquite. The area has traditionally been nearly synonymous with the adjoining Casa Linda neighborhood but is gaining momentum in its own right and was named by D Magazine as one of "5 Neighborhoods on the Rise" in its July 2016 issue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uptown, Dallas</span> Place in Texas, United States

Uptown is a PID and a dense neighborhood in Dallas, Texas. Uptown is north of and adjacent to downtown Dallas, and is bordered by US 75 on the east, N Haskell Avenue on the northeast, the Katy Trail on the northwest, Bookhout Street and Cedar Springs Road on the west, N Akard Street on the southwest and Spur 366 on the south.

East Dallas, also referred to by the East Dallas Chamber of Commerce as the Lake & Garden District, is an expansive area of numerous communities and neighborhoods in Dallas, Texas, United States that border nearby suburban cities to the east such as Garland, Mesquite and Balch Springs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Downtown Dallas</span> Central business district and residential area in Texas, United States

Downtown Dallas is the central business district (CBD) of Dallas, Texas, United States, located in the geographic center of the city. It is the second-largest business district in the state of Texas. The area termed "Downtown" has traditionally been defined as bounded by the downtown freeway loop, bounded on the east by I-345 (although known and signed as the northern terminus of I-45 and the southern terminus of US 75, on the west by I-35E, on the south by I-30, and on the north by Woodall Rodgers Freeway.

Kiest Park is a 263-acre (106 ha) park in southern Dallas, Texas, United States, established in 1931 by Edwin John Kiest, publisher of the Dallas Times Herald and a member of the Dallas Park Board in the 1930s who donated the land for the park. Named in memory of Kiest's late wife, artist Elizabeth Patterson Kiest, it is the largest City of Dallas Park in Oak Cliff and features hike-and-bike trails, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, playgrounds, picnic tables and several Works Progress Administration-era structures, including stone gates at three entrances to the park, a stone picnic shelter and a stone field house. The WPA also built a formal garden at the heart of Kiest Park. A pergola was built at the head of the garden in 1934 with WPA funds but fell into ruin and was cleared away. The nonprofit organization Friends of Oak Cliff Parks restored the historic garden and the City of Dallas rebuilt the pergola in 2014 based on the original plans, using $2 million in bond funds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tenth Street Freedman's Town</span> United States historic place

The Tenth Street Freedman's Town is a historic African American community in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas, Texas. A freedmen's town is a community settled by formerly enslaved people who were emancipated during and after the American Civil War. The freedmen's town that became known as Tenth Street began near the confluence of Cedar Creek and Cedar Creek Branch, at the foot of an African American burial ground dating back to 1846. The name "Tenth Street" became associated with the community in 1887, when John Scarborough Armstrong and Thomas Lafayette Marsalis platted the town of Oak Cliff.

Keitz and Herndon was an American television production company that made cartoons, advertisements, short educational films, and commercials founded in 1952 in Oak Cliff neighborhood in Dallas, Texas. Most notably they created the "Frito Kid" mascot for Fritos; and the animated television series, JOT.

References

  1. ↑ Dillon, David (November 30, 1988). "Oak Cliff Meets Long Island". The Dallas Morning News.
  2. ↑ "Tennessee Dairies Gets New President". The Dallas Morning News. November 9, 1952.
  3. ↑ Cox, Howard (Fall 2009). "Dallas Dairies". Legacies: A History Journal for Dallas and North Central Texas. 21: 16 – via The Portal to Texas History.
  4. ↑ "News of Milk Plants, Creameries, Condenseries, Cheeseries, Dried Milk, Ice Cream and Allied Trades Factories". The Creamery and Milk Plant Monthly. IX: 76. October 1920 – via Google Books.
  5. ↑ "New School Building Tribute to Mrs. Margaret B. Henderson".
  6. ↑ "Elmwood declares its school a disgrace, demands new one". The Dallas Morning News.
  7. ↑ "Dallas Annexes Seven Areas, 7 Square Miles". April 12, 1945.
  8. ↑ "Elmwood Neighborhood Will Celebrate Friday". May 1950.
  9. ↑ TEGNA. "North Texas films: 'Born on the Fourth of July'". WFAA. Retrieved 2017-06-01.
  10. ↑ "This Cruise Missile No Tom Foolery". November 17, 1988.
  11. ↑ Tomsho, Robert (November 20, 1988). "NIGHTMARE IN ELMWOOD". The Dallas Morning News.
  12. ↑ Stahl, Lori (October 21, 1989). "Dixico scraps Oak Cliff waste plan; neighbors hail decision". The Dallas Morning News.
  13. ↑ "R.W. Beck Continues Expansion". Puget Sound Business Journal. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  14. ↑ Lardner Jr., George (March 26, 2001). "Study Backs Theory of 'Grassy Knoll'". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  15. ↑ Vaughan, Todd Wayne (1993). Presidential Motorcade Schematic Listing. Dallas, Texas.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.