Dallas Heritage Village hosts its 6^th Annual Farina Lecture Series featuring Author Drew Sanders on Tuesday, October 23, with a reception at 6:30 p.m.; lecture at 7 p.m. 

This event is free with no admission charge.

Join author Drew Sanders as he discusses his book The Garden of Eden. Tucked in a bend of the Trinity River a few minutes from downtown Fort Worth, the Garden of Eden neighborhood has endured for well over a century as a home place for freed African American slaves and their descendants. Some of the earliest inhabitants in the Garden, Major and Malinda Cheney assembled over 200 acres of productive farmland on which they raised crops and cattle, built a substantial home for their children, and weathered a series of family crises that ranged from a false accusation of rape and attempted lynching, to the murder of their eldest son. Major and Malinda Cheney’s great-great-grandson, Drew Sanders, recounts engaging tales of the family’s life against the backdrop of Fort Worth and Tarrant County history.

The Nancy Farina Lecture Series honors Farina, who was a 20-year employee of Dallas Heritage Village. She served as vice president for development and capital giving for much of her tenure, which ended with her death in 2012.

Dallas Heritage Village is located at 1515 S. Harwood, Dallas, 75215.  For more information, call 214-421-5141

DJ Jennifer Miller mixed 1950s favorites while guests enjoyed punch bowl cocktails, dancing, sock hop fare and live and silent auctions –– all benefiting programs at Dallas Heritage Village

 “Oh What a Night!” The rains came on September 21 but did not dampen the spirits of the guests arriving at the Artists’ Quarter at the historic South Side on Lamar for the 6^th Annual History with a Twist: Sock Hop, a 1950s-style cocktail party, benefiting Dallas Heritage Village.  Dressed in 1950s chic, from rolled up jeans and leather jackets to poodle skirts and saddle shoes, guests enjoyed punch bowl cocktails, sock hop fare, soda shop sweets, and dance lessons by The Rhythm Room to popular ‘50s tunes spun by DJ Jennifer Miller. 

Honorary Chairs Mona and Bill Graue and Event Chair Trey Pugh and Tracey Pugh greeted sponsors and guests as they made their way down long tables of silent auction items and a variety of cocktail punches, served by members of Spirit-Elite Conceptual Beverages.  The Live Auction “Fund a Need” not only secured funding for hay to feed the Village’s beloved Mammoth Jack Donkeys Nip and Tuck and Willie and Waylon but also raised funds to support educational programming.

Guests included host committee members Stacey and Charles Angel, Jr., Nicole Barrett, Barbara and Don Baynham, Lael and Peter Brodsky, Samuel Childers, Jr., Jeff Hemphill, Yudy and Rob Jackson, Sue and Phil John, Casey McManemin, and Renee Contreras and Jose Nino.

Sponsors included Kelly and Paul Dybala, Mona and Bill Graue, Jolene and Mark Masur, Phoenix/Restoration & Construction, Ltd., Brian O’Reilly, and Texas Brand Bank.

Edibl Envy provided sock hop fare served from neon-lit trays and multiple food stations. Guests dined on hot dogs and sliders with all the fixin’s, mac ‘n’ cheese bites, deconstructed turkey TV dinners, Sandy’s Dreamcycle Cupcakes, Danny’s Banana Pudding, and Highland Park Scotch Granitas.

Event partners included: Advantage Valet, Dallas Theater Center, Marquee Event Rentals, Murad Auctions, Murray Media, Reed Creative Group, Robert Fox Design, Shag Carpet Prop Rentals, South Side on Lamar, Spirit-Elite Conceptual Beverages as well as Punch Bowl Cocktail Sponsors: Brugal Rum, Partida Tequila, Highland Park Scotch, ROXOR Artisan Gin, Sociologie Wine and SweetBeat Vodka. 

Media and marketing sponsors were Cedars Neighborhood Association, CultureMap, Good Life Family Magazine, Oh So Cynthia, Park Cities News, and Downtown Dallas, Inc.

History with a Twist raises important proceeds to support learning opportunities for students and adults at Dallas Heritage Village. Visit www.dallasheritagevillage.org.

Put on your red, white, and blue; pack a picnic; come enjoy historic games, the annual carnival, and patriotic crafts; participate in the annual parade around the village; and make special memories with your family

Deck the family out in red, white, and blue, grab your picnic basket and little red wagon and come celebrate the nation’s past at Dallas Heritage Village’s Old Fashioned Fourth, Wednesday, July 4, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., (parade at noon), 1515 S. Harwood, Dallas, Texas  75215-1273.

Kids may decorate their wagons and bikes at the craft station for the popular patriotic parade around the village at noon, or they may decorate themselves and march in the parade.  The Junior Historians, teen volunteers at Dallas Heritage Village with a passion for history, will run the popular annual carnival which includes pick a duck, “go fishing” for prizes, bean bag toss, and the famous annual stick pony race for ages 3-11.  Additional activities include historic games such as horseshoes, graces, and checkers. Guests may pose for patriotic pictures with Mammoth Jack Donkeys Nip and Tuck and Waylon and Willie.  Throughout the village, musical performances will keep toes tapping. 

July 4 will be the last day for the Junior Historian’s preservation photography exhibit in Browder Springs Hall. The exhibit, titled “The Path of Preservation,” challenged each Junior Historian to take a look at preservation efforts in their own neighborhoods and choose a historic area to study and photograph for this new exhibit. Four Junior Historians participated: Kabilan Murugan, 14, featured Nash Farm in Grapevine; Lydia Radke, 15, featured the Music Room in Duncanville; Sarah Rutherford, 17, featured Old Frankford Church; and Kara Simmons, 14, featured Opal Lawrence Homestead.

“Don’t miss seeing this wonderful exhibit on its last day,” said Melissa Prycer, president and executive director, Dallas Heritage Village. “They have done a fantastic job and learned that it is essential, not only in big cities, but also in the small communities surrounding them, to keep the past alive so that all may learn from it. Show your children a little about the past at our Old Fashioned Fourth festivities!”

All of the historic buildings will be open for touring, and costumed interpreters will be on hand to visit about what life in North Texas from 1840 to 1910. The Parlor, the Village’s exciting new early childhood learning space, will also be open for young ones to explore. The saloon is a popular afternoon spot for a cold root beer and a game of cards or dominoes. The Dallas Heritage Village Guild will be selling popcorn, cotton candy, and water bottles at the popcorn wagon.

“Old Fashioned Fourth features lots of fun activities for families and is an exciting time to come to Dallas Heritage Village,” said Melissa Prycer, president and executive director.  “Where else can you test your modern skills against a variety of Victorian era games, including the Junior Historian Carnival and its famous stick pony race? For many, this beloved annual event is a family tradition!  So come make some special memories with your family and see what’s new at Dallas Heritage Village.”

Admission is $5 for ages 13 and older.  Those 12 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased at the gate.  Don’t forget to bring a little extra cash for carnival fun.  Tickets for carnival games are 25 cents each or 5 for $1. For more information call (214) 421-5141 or visit www.dallasheritagevillage.org.

The new exhibit at Dallas Heritage Village, which features Nash Farm in Grapevine, The Music Room in Duncanville, Frankford Church in Dallas, and the Opal Lawrence Farmstead in Mesquite, will remain open through July 4

Dallas Heritage Village Junior Historians Kabilan Murugan, 14; Lydia Radke, 15; Sarah Rutherford, 17; and Kara Simmons, 14, recently installed a new photography exhibit in Browder Springs Hall, at Dallas Heritage Village, 1515 S. Harwood St. in Dallas. The exhibit, titled “The Path of Preservation,” challenged each Junior Historian – teen volunteers at Dallas Heritage Village with a passion for history – to take a look at preservation efforts in their own neighborhoods and choose a historic area to study and photograph for this new exhibit.

“Our Junior Historian program has enabled our teen volunteers to help preserve our history with a specific focus on the history of the buildings at Dallas Heritage Village,” said Melissa Prycer, president and executive director, Dallas Heritage Village. “We thought it would be fun for this year’s project to have them turn their gaze to preservation efforts in their own neighborhoods, allowing them to see that preservation is close to home.  We hope they have learned that it is essential, not only in big cities, but also in the small communities surrounding them, to keep the past alive so that all may learn from it.”

Kabilan Murugan, 14, of Lewisville, selected Nash Farm in Grapevine for his project. In 1859, Thomas Jefferson Nash and his wife, Elizabeth Mouser Nash, bought 450 acres of land in what is now Grapevine, and set up a farm. In 1869, they began building the main farmhouse, which still stands today, as does the barn which was first built in 1907. Mr. Nash died in 1906, but the house remained in the Nash family until the 1920s, when John William Nash sold it. In the 1940s, Edwin Pierce Williamson bought the homeplace portion of the farm and modernized it. In 2000, the Grapevine Heritage Foundation bought the 5.2 acre farmstead, including the main house, barn, and cemetery, and restored it to its previous state. It is still run as a farm to teach others about agricultural heritage.

“I enjoyed learning all about Nash Farm and was excited to see how this entire exhibit came together,” said Kabilan Murugan.  “It was fun exploring a project outside of Dallas Heritage Village, and it showed me the importance of history and preserving our past. It’s interesting to learn the stories of buildings and places that surround us.”

Lydia Radke, 15, lives in Duncanville and selected the Music Room, built circa 1890 to serve as a music classroom.  It was a separate building from the schoolhouse, allowing students to practice the piano without disturbing the children studying in the school. One of Duncanville’s only preserved historical buildings, the Music Room symbolizes the importance of education, history, and preservation.

“The Music Room is located at a park that I go to every week, and when I was little I loved to visit it,” said Lydia Radke.  “It is boarded up, and I always wanted to go inside.  Researching the building’s history and working on this exhibit was my way of ‘going inside.’”

Radke utilized newspaper articles found on the Internet as well as a book titled The History of Duncanville, Texas, published in 1976.  Additionally she spoke with the City Parks Superintendent about current and future preservation efforts.

“I enjoyed seeing all the old photos of my city that I found through my research,” added Radke. “Duncanville has come a long way.  It is amazing to think that the school music program started out with a small music room, and now there is a huge Duncanville High School Marching Band that has won many awards.  It was also interesting to learn about how much work needs to be put into preserving a building.” 

Sarah Rutherford, a resident of Dallas, selected Frankford Church for her focus.

“While working on the Junior Historian Project at Renner Schoolhouse several years ago, I ended up going to Frankford Cemetery for research,” said Rutherford. “The nearby Frankford Church intrigued me, and I was glad to have a chance to learn more about it.”

Frankford Church was built on a site that was part of the Shawnee Trail, a Native American path. Its use dates back to the 1400s. The location initially attracted migrating settlers due to the nearby freshwater springs, but it was not until 1852 that Captain W. C. McKamy founded the town of Frankford at the location. In 1892, as the settlement grew, he commissioned the Frankford Church building to be constructed by Philip Bethea Hamer in the Prairie Gothic Style to replace an earlier building that was destroyed. More than 100 years after its completion, Frankford Church is a visible reminder of the heritage left by early Texans and their commitment to their community.

“I learned a lot about the stories that historic buildings can tell. One of my favorite stories is about how Lionel Simpson used to put his feet up on the railing when he was at church meetings, and there are marks there today that are said to have been made by his boot spurs,” added Rutherford. “Little stories like that really made Frankford Church come alive.”

Kara C. Simmons, a resident of Mesquite, selected the Opal Lawrence Homestead for her project.

Stephen Decatur Lawrence founded the farm in 1874. He lived there with one wife who passed away, but he remarried. He had a total of 11 surviving children. His children continued to run the farm after his death. The last of his living daughters, Opal & Onyx Lawrence, donated the house and two acres of land to the city on their deaths in 1995. The city then purchased 11 additional acres of land to include the barn and outbuildings in order to show Mesquite's heritage. The architecture is considered Texas Prairie Vernacular style, and the home is an example of a house that grows with a family.     

“The Opal Lawrence Farmstead is a community icon and just recently opened,” said Kara Simmons. “Presently they are working on preservation of the wash house and curing shed/root cellar, and I enjoyed meeting with their historic preservationist Ron Siebler. When I visited the farmstead, he gave me an amazing tour of the preservation work and taught me a lot about preservation efforts.”

“We are so impressed with the work of these Junior Historians and thrilled they learned so much and enjoyed their research of the various projects,” added Prycer. “Sarah Rutherford had commented that, ‘Even if these buildings do not turn into museums, they are still indicators of our past and inspirations for our future.’ I could not agree more. We must continue to learn and understand the importance of preserving our past. Bring your family out to Dallas Heritage Village, see this amazing exhibit and learn what life was like back in the nineteenth century.”

The exhibit will remain open through the Village’s Old Fashioned Fourth event on July 4.  The exhibit is free with regular admission rates, $9 adults; $7 seniors (65+), and $5 children, ages 4-12.  Under age 4, children are free.  Admission to Old Fashioned Fourth is $5, and kids 12 and under are free.

Dallas Heritage Village is an immersive history landscape that features a wide variety of authentic 19^th century pioneer and Victorian homes and commercial buildings in Texas.  The Village is set on 20 acres with over 25 historic structures depicting life in Dallas from 1840-1910.  Dallas Heritage Village is one of only 5 nationally accredited museums in the Dallas area.  The Village showcases a Victorian Main Street, a railroad complex, a log cabin, a pre-Civil war home, an 1860’s farmstead with livestock, a 19^th century church, schoolhouse and more.  Dallas Heritage Village has been recognized for multiple awards.  It is located at 1515 South Harwood, in the Cedars area with urban living and restaurants, near downtown Dallas and the popular Farmer’s Market complex.  Hours of operation are Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.  The Village is closed the months of January and August.  General Admission is $9 for adults, $7 for seniors 65+ and $5 for children ages 4 through 12 years.  Children under 4 and members of Dallas Heritage Village are admitted free of charge.  There is special pricing for groups of 15 or more people.  For more information call 214-421-5141, email info@dallasheritagevillage.org, or visit www.DallasHeritageVillage.org.

Dallas Heritage Village invites families to share in a fun day exploring architecture at this year’s History Quest: “We Built This City” on Saturday, May 5, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., 1515 S. Harwood Street.  This event will also feature the opening of a preservation photography exhibit by four of Dallas Heritage Village’s Junior Historians.

“It is not uncommon for our visitors to comment about the unique visual of the historic buildings at the Village with the modern skyline in the background,” said Melissa Prycer, president and executive director, Dallas Heritage Village. “This year we thought it would be fun to focus on architectural elements and give our guests the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities, giving them a glimpse into what is involved in becoming architects.”

Stations throughout the Village will allow guests to participate in hands-on activities related to architecture. Activity stations will focus on style, materials, structure, ornaments, and livability: Style: character and appearance - create your own 2-D building by pasting various architectural styles together; Materials: matter and substances - touch and learn about different materials; Structure: weight supporting building elements - create your own or help build a community structure with toilet/paper towel rolls; Ornaments: decoration and details - touch and learn about different ornamentals, design your own; and Livability: health, safety, accessibility and wellness information station including details on greenhouses/gardening.

In Browder Springs Hall, the Village will showcase various architectural pieces from the museum’s collection as well as a preservation photography exhibit put together by four of Dallas Heritage Village’s Junior Historians. The historians selected preservation efforts in their own neighborhoods as the subjects of their photos:  Sarah Rutherford of Dallas photographed Old Frankford Church; Lydia Radke of Duncanville photographed The Music Room; Kara Simmons of Mesquite photographed the Opal Lawrence Home; and Kabilan Murugan of Lewisville photographed Nash Farm.  The photography exhibit will remain open at Dallas Heritage Village through July 4.

“We are so proud of our historians and their hard work on their individual photography projects,” added Prycer. “We hope you can join us for a fun day of learning, exploring, designing and appreciating architecture and preservation efforts across the area.”

History Quest discount tickets ($5 each) are available online through May 2. At the gate prices are $10/adult, $6/child and $8/senior, 65+.