DALLAS HERITAGE VILLAGE AND DALLAS HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESENT A FREE LECTURE:

Rosa Walston Latimer, author of Harvey Houses of Texas:

Historic Hospitality from the Gulf Coast to the Panhandle

  Dallas Heritage Village, in partnership with the Dallas Historical Society, presents Author Rosa Walston Latimer who will speak on her book Harvey Houses of Texas: Historic Hospitality from the Gulf Coast to the Panhandle on Thursday, November 13, 6 p.m. (doors open); 6:30 p.m. presentation, followed by a Q&A and book signing, in Browder Springs Hall, at Dallas Heritage Village, 1515 S. Harwood, Dallas, Texas 75215.  Latimer, also a playwright and an award-winning photographer,  will share stories of the Harvey Houses of the early 20^th century, which adjoined local depots in Texas towns providing not only food and hotels for travelers but often serving as the only commercial outlet for nearby communities.  Because her grandmother was a Harvey Girl, she became interested in preserving women’s history and writing this book.

“As a teenager I learned that my grandmother had been a Harvey Girl,” said Rosa Walston Latimer.  “At that time I had no idea what a Harvey Girl was. As I began to learn more about these adventuresome young women, I realized many of their stories had not been told.  I interviewed and corresponded with over 25 Texas Harvey Girls and their families for this book. The history of the Fred Harvey Company and each Texas Harvey House location is interesting; however, it is the personal stories of the Harvey Girls that I love. ”

Latimer first wrote about Texas Harvey Houses in an article for Texas Highways. Later she wrote a play, “The Harvey Girls,” based on the true story of how her grandmother and grandfather met at a Harvey House. Two of the ten performances of the play were in the original lunchroom of the restored Harvey House in Slaton, Texas.  She also has plans to develop a fictional series about Harvey Girls.

In her first book, Harvey Houses of Texas: Historic Hospitality from the Gulf Coast to the Panhandle, she explains that on the eve of the 20^th century, small-town Texas was still wild country lacking in the commodities and cultural centers of larger cities. This changed, however, with the arrival of the Santa Fe Rail Line, followed quickly by the Harvey House. Established in Kansas by English immigrant Fred Harvey, Harvey Houses, found throughout the Southwest, adjoined local depots in 16 Texas towns. Found in every corner of the state, Harvey Houses were not just restaurants and hotels for weary, hungry travelers but were also bustling social centers and often the only commercial outlet for the communities that developed around them.  Latimer tells the history of hospitality the “Fred Harvey way,” woven from personal stories of the famous “Harvey Girls” and other employees of Texas Harvey Houses.

Latimer owns an independent bookstore in a two-story historic building in Post, Texas, where she lives upstairs.  She has written for national and regional magazines and newspapers and was news editor of a print and an online newspaper and supervising director of a nationally syndicated television program. She is actively involved in the arts and historical preservation of her community and features regional artists in the gallery space in her store.  She is currently writing a play about women who were the real “Rosie the Riveters” and researching a book about female ranchers.  

“We are thrilled to feature the multi-talented Rosa Walston Latimer in another great partnership event with Dallas Historical Society,” said Melissa Prycer, president and executive director, Dallas Heritage Village.  “These lectures provide wonderful and unique evenings of entertainment and education.  Because Rosa is connected to this history through her grandparents she can truly bring it to life for those in attendance.”

Light refreshments and beverages will be served the event, which is free and open to the public.    Event is free but reservations are requested at dallasheritagevillage.org or by calling 214-413-3674.  For more information, visit www.dallasheritagevillage.org. 

“The Dallas Historical Society is excited to continue an ongoing partnership with Dallas Heritage Village,” said Jack Bunning, DHS Executive Director.  “We are delighted to be a part of this program by Rosa Walston Latimer and another fascinating part of Texas history.”

# # #

Dallas Heritage Village, located at Old City Park, is a nationally accredited history museum, depicting life in Dallas from 1840-1910. It is one of only five museums in the Dallas area to have this distinction. The grounds showcase 38 historic structures, including log cabins, the pre-Civil War Millermore home, a Victorian Main Street, a railroad complex, an 1860s farmstead with livestock, a 19^th century church, school and more.  Visitors discover how crops were grown, animals cared for and how family living progressed from log cabins to grand manors and Victorian homes.  Dallas Heritage Village is supported, in part, by the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs and the Texas Commission on the Arts as well as individual and group donations. Dallas Heritage Village was nominated in 2011 and 2012 by D Magazine as one of the top Dallas-area family attractions.  It is located at 1515 South Harwood, one block south of Farmers Market in Downtown Dallas. Hours of operation are Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday, noon – 4 p.m. The Village is closed the months of January and August. Regular admission is $9 for adults, $7 for seniors 65+ and $5 for children ages 4-12.  Children under 4 and members of Dallas Heritage Village are admitted free of charge. For more information call 214-421-5141 or visit www.DallasHeritageVillage.org

The Dallas Historical Society

The stories of Dallas are shared each day at the Dallas Historical Society through the three million items that comprise our archives and artifact collections. Established in 1922, the Dallas Historical Society collects, preserves, and exhibits the unique heritage of Dallas and Texas to educate and inspire future generations. Housed at the Hall of State in Fair Park since 1938, DHS presents these collections through education programs, exhibitions, tours, access to research materials and workshops.  Among the three million historical artifacts at DHS are such treasures as Sam Houston’s hand written account of the Battle of San Jacinto, the original Juneteenth document, James Fannin’s watch, and Santa Anna’s spurs. The DHS collection houses over 10,000 bound volumes, and receives more than 1,500 research requests annually.

Each year, the Dallas Historical Society is visited by over 160,000 people and serves more than 20,000 students through guided tours and educational programming at the Hall of State, as well as outreach programs at school locations. www.dallashistory.org

Victoria Wilcox, 2014 Georgia Author of the Year in the First Novel Category, to discuss her second book “Gone West” from her trilogy of books featuring the legendary Doc Holliday

Dallas Heritage Village in partnership with the Dallas Historical Society presents the second annual Nancy Farina Lecture Series, a FREE event, honoring the late Farina, a 20-year employee of Dallas Heritage Village.  This year’s lecture features award-winning author and Doc Holliday expert Victoria Wilcox on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 6 p.m. (doors open); 6:30 p.m. presentation, followed by a Q&A and book signing, in Browder Springs Hall, at Dallas Heritage Village, 1515 S. Harwood, Dallas, Texas 75215.  Wilcox will share stories of the Western legend’s Texas career from her second book, Doc Holliday: Gone West to Texas.

Wilcox is the award-winning author of the historical novel trilogy, Southern Son: The Saga of Doc Holliday. Although the name Doc Holliday conjures images of Tombstone, Arizona, and a shootout at the OK Corral, before he was a Western legend he was a Southern son, born in the last days of the Old South with family ties to Gone With the Wind.  The Southern Son saga follows his life from his youth in Georgia during the Civil War and Reconstruction to the last days of the Wild West.  The first book in the trilogy, Inheritance , was released in 2013 and honored Wilcox as Georgia Author of the Year.  The newly released second book in the trilogy, Gone West, tells the story of Doc Holliday’s Texas years, starting with his troubled life in 1870’s Dallas.

“Dallas was where Doc Holliday’s legend really began,” says Wilcox, “the place where he left his gentlemanly life behind and became an outlaw.  And it was as an outlaw that he met a lawman named Wyatt Earp in the Texas frontier town of Fort Griffin.  The story of Doc’s Texas years is largely untold, but full of the action and drama that Western readers love.”

Wilcox, a member of the Western Writers of America, spent 18 years researching the life of Doc Holliday after founding the Holliday-Dorsey-Fife House Museum in Georgia, the antebellum home of Doc’s medical doctor uncle. 

“I had never imagined Doc Holliday in a white-columned house that looked like it was right out of Gone With the Wind, but there he was, a young boy during the Civil War,” added Wilcox.  “His life story is epic, sweeping from the Old South to the Wild West.  It’s a truly American story, and Dallas is at the very heart of it.”

Wilcox refers to the trilogy as biographical historical fiction, dramatizing the actual events of real historical figures.  Her books have been written to appeal to a broader audience beyond history buffs and have been compared to the bestsellers “Gettysburg” and “Killing Lincoln.”

“We are thrilled to feature the charming Victoria Wilcox as our second Nancy Farina lecture and look forward to a wonderful evening,” said Melissa Prycer, president and executive director, Dallas Heritage Village.  “We also appreciate our partnership with Dallas Historical Society and know that Nancy Farina would be pleased.   After her passing, many of her friends, colleagues, and family members made contributions in her memory to Dallas Heritage Village, and we decided that the most appropriate use of these funds would be to establish an annual author lecture and reception in her name.” 

Light refreshments and beverages will be served the event, which is free and open to the public.  Barnes & Noble will have copies of the author’s books, Inheritance and Gone West, for sale after the talk.  Reservations are requested at dallasheritagevillage.org or by calling 214-413-3674.  Copies of the book may also be pre-ordered online. For more information, visit www.dallasheritagevillage.org.  Visit the author’s website at www.victoriawilcoxbooks.com.

“The Dallas Historical Society is excited to continue an ongoing partnership with Dallas Heritage Village,” said Jack Bunning, DHS Executive Director.  “We are delighted to be a part of this program by Victoria Wilcox and another fascinating part of Dallas history.”

# # #

Dallas Heritage Village, located at Old City Park, is a nationally accredited history museum, depicting life in Dallas from 1840-1910. It is one of only five museums in the Dallas area to have this distinction. The grounds showcase 38 historic structures, including log cabins, the pre-Civil War Millermore home, a Victorian Main Street, a railroad complex, an 1860s farmstead with livestock, a 19^th century church, school and more.  Visitors discover how crops were grown, animals cared for and how family living progressed from log cabins to grand manors and Victorian homes.  Dallas Heritage Village is supported, in part, by the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs and the Texas Commission on the Arts as well as individual and group donations. Dallas Heritage Village was nominated in 2011 and 2012 by D Magazine as one of the top Dallas-area family attractions.  It is located at 1515 South Harwood, one block south of Farmers Market in Downtown Dallas. Hours of operation are Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday, noon – 4 p.m. The Village is closed the months of January and August. Regular admission is $9 for adults, $7 for seniors 65+ and $5 for children ages 4-12.  Children under 4 and members of Dallas Heritage Village are admitted free of charge. For more information call 214-421-5141 or visit www.DallasHeritageVillage.org

The Dallas Historical Society

The stories of Dallas are shared each day at the Dallas Historical Society through the three million items that comprise our archives and artifact collections. Established in 1922, the Dallas Historical Society collects, preserves, and exhibits the unique heritage of Dallas and Texas to educate and inspire future generations. Housed at the Hall of State in Fair Park since 1938, DHS presents these collections through education programs, exhibitions, tours, access to research materials and workshops.  Among the three million historical artifacts at DHS are such treasures as Sam Houston’s hand written account of the Battle of San Jacinto, the original Juneteenth document, James Fannin’s watch, and Santa Anna’s spurs. The DHS collection houses over 10,000 bound volumes, and receives more than 1,500 research requests annually.

Each year, the Dallas Historical Society is visited by over 160,000 people and serves more than 20,000 students through guided tours and educational programming at the Hall of State, as well as outreach programs at school locations. www.dallashistory.org

Play games at a circus-themed carnival; bring a wagon to decorate on site for the parade; pack a picnic; and make crafts, ice cream and 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 and “Greatest Little Carnival on Earth” Friday, July 4, from 11 – 3 p.m., 1515 S. Harwood, Dallas, Texas  75215-1273.

Kids may decorate their wagons at the craft station for the patriotic parade at noon around the village, or if they don’t have a wagon, they may decorate themselves and march in the parade.  Nip and Tuck, the beloved Village donkeys, will be offering wagon rides around the village in the morning prior to the parade.  The Dallas Heritage Village Junior Historians will host a variety of games at “The Greatest Little Carnival on Earth,” including pick a duck, “go fishing” for prizes, bean bag toss, and the famous annual stick pony race for ages 3-11.   Get your face painted with a mustache and see how many mustaches you can spot around the village.  This year’s patriotic crafts will include making Yankee Doodle red, white, and blue macaroni necklaces and patriotic or friendship bracelets.  Additionally there will be newspaper hat making complete with a feather on each.  Pose for a patriotic picture with Nip and Tuck in the afternoon.  Activities will be available throughout the day.

The whole family can play historic games like horseshoes and graces and, new this year, play a round or two in a mini checkers tournament with an opportunity to win prizes.   All of the historic buildings will be open for touring, and costumed characters will be on hand to visit about what life was like during this time period.  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. Lemonade will also be available for sale.

“Each year, we look forward to this day, which has become a family tradition for so many,” said Melissa Prycer, president and executive director, Dallas Heritage Village.  “It’s great to see all the families picnicking and enjoying quality time together.  We offer our special thanks to the Junior Historians for all of their hard work and creativity with the carnival games, which are always a big hit with the kids.  So come grab your “stache” and join the bash!”

Admission is $10 for adults and free for 12 and under.  Children under 4 and members of Dallas Heritage Village are admitted free of charge. 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 214-413-3674 or visit www.dallasheritagevillage.org.

# # #

Dallas Heritage Village, located at Old City Park, is a nationally accredited history museum, depicting life in Dallas from 1840-1910. It is one of only five museums in the Dallas area to have this distinction. The grounds showcase 38 historic structures, including log cabins, the pre-Civil War Millermore home, a Victorian Main Street, a railroad complex, an 1860s farmstead with livestock, a 19^th century church, school and more.  Visitors discover how crops were grown, animals cared for and how family living progressed from log cabins to grand manors and Victorian homes.  Dallas Heritage Village is supported, in part, by the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs and the Texas Commission on the Arts as well as individual and group donations. Dallas Heritage Village was nominated in 2011 and 2012 by D Magazine as one of the top Dallas-area family attractions.  It is located at 1515 South Harwood, one block south of Farmers Market in Downtown Dallas. Hours of operation are Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday, noon – 4 p.m. The Village is closed the months of January and August. Regular admission is $9 for adults, $7 for seniors 65+ and $5 for children ages 4-12.  Children under 4 and members of Dallas Heritage Village are admitted free of charge. For more information call 214-421-5141 or visit www.DallasHeritageVillage.org

10 bluegrass bands will perform on historic Millermore home’s front porch,

competing for cash prizes – winners chosen by the audience

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Bluegrass Band to perform following the contest

Dallas Heritage Village and the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation will present the Front Porch Showdown, Saturday, May 31, at Dallas Heritage Village, 1515 S. Harwood, Dallas, 75215.  Gates open at noon and all historic buildings will be open for touring until the showdown begins at 4 p.m.   Ten bluegrass bands will perform on the front porch of the historic Millermore home until 6:30 p.m., competing for cash prizes.  Each audience member with a paid admission will receive a ballot at the entrance to vote for their favorite band.  Following the contest, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Bluegrass Band takes the porch from 7:15-8:30 p.m., presenting an evening of classic Beatles music with an acoustic/bluegrass bent. Food trucks will be on site, and picnics, blankets, and lawn chairs are welcome.   Children are invited to participate in a craft activity of making musical instruments to play along with the bands.

“We couldn’t be more excited about this new partnership with the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation and are excited to bring this type of musical event to Dallas Heritage Village,” said Melissa Prycer, president and executive director, Dallas Heritage Village.  “We encourage you to bring the family, come early to explore the historic buildings, and stay late to enjoy the music!  You will not want to miss the amazing Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Bluegrass Band who will perform later in the evening.  This talented four-piece group performs all over North Texas.”

The performing bands are Philip Ferguson & Texas True; Bluestem; Trinity River Mountain Boys; Nickelville Road; The Sowell Family Pickers; Bobby Giles and Music Mountain; Blue Valley Tradition; In Achordance; and the Lonesome Ridge Bluegrass Band. Each band will have 15 minutes to take the front porch, play a couple of songs, and entertain the crowd before the next band begins.  All bands play only acoustic instruments into a microphone.

“What a fantastic setting to enjoy a family-friendly day of acoustic music and fun!” said Alan Tompkins, president of the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation.  “We are thrilled to be a part of this new event.  We’ve got a great lineup of bands coming from all over Texas (and Louisiana!) to play in the contest, and we expect to have hundreds of bluegrass musicians jamming all around Dallas Heritage Village.  Bring your fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin, Dobro, or upright bass and join the fun.  Then settle in and enjoy Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Bluegrass Band.  You won’t be disappointed!” 

Kids 12 and under free with parent or guardian.  Advance tickets are $10 at dallasheritagevillage.org or by calling 214-413-3674, and tickets at the gate are $12.  Event sponsors are Ann Phy and Bill and Gail Plummer.  Contest winners will be announced at 6:30 p.m.

For more information on the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation: www.bluegrassheritage.org 
For more information on Sergeant Peppers: www.sgtpepperslbb.com
Or. . . watch a video on the band in action:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWK1XVBi9GY

# # #

Dallas Heritage Village, located at Old City Park, is a nationally accredited history museum, depicting life in Dallas from 1840-1910. It is one of only five museums in the Dallas area to have this distinction. The grounds showcase 38 historic structures, including log cabins, the pre-Civil War Millermore home, a Victorian Main Street, a railroad complex, an 1860s farmstead with livestock, a 19^th century church, school and more.  Visitors discover how crops were grown, animals cared for and how family living progressed from log cabins to grand manors and Victorian homes.  Dallas Heritage Village is supported, in part, by the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs and the Texas Commission on the Arts as well as individual and group donations. Dallas Heritage Village was nominated in 2011 and 2012 by D Magazine as one of the top Dallas-area family attractions.  It is located at 1515 South Harwood, one block south of Farmers Market in Downtown Dallas. Hours of operation are Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday, noon – 4 p.m. The Village is closed the months of January and August. Regular admission is $9 for adults, $7 for seniors 65+ and $5 for children ages 4-12.  Children under 4 and members of Dallas Heritage Village are admitted free of charge. For more information call 214-421-5141 or visit www.DallasHeritageVillage.org

The Bluegrass Heritage Foundation preserves and promotes the heritage of bluegrass music in America, with a focus on promoting bluegrass music in Texas.  The Foundation seeks to educate the public about this distinctly American form of music with roots in Irish, Scottish, and English traditional music through educational programs and workshops, public performances of bluegrass music, historic preservation efforts, and other similar programs.  The Bluegrass Heritage Foundation is a non-profit corporation organized under Texas law and recognized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. For more information call 214-918-0010 or visit www.bluegrassheritage.org.

2nd Annual event to feature historically inspired cocktails created by Dallas Mixologist Michael Martensen, music by Singapore Slingers, vintage attire and car show, auction, silent movies and more

You never know what might inspire a great idea!   Last year, Dallas Heritage Village came up with a new twist for their annual fundraiser, which supports historical learning opportunities for students and adults at Dallas Heritage Village.  After seeing a Prohibition cocktail menu at noted Dallas Mixologist Michael Martensen’s Cedars Social, which is just around the corner from the Village, staff began thinking of something that could be different and fun.

“When we met with Michael, we discovered his great love of history in general and how he has parlayed that into his job as a ‘mixologist’ of classic cocktails,” said Melissa Prycer, President and Executive Director, Dallas Heritage Village. “And you might say the rest is history!  Michael came on board last year to create the cocktails for our historical cocktail party, and it was a great success.  This year will be our 2^nd Annual History with a Twist-a Celebration of the American Cocktail.”

Martensen is mixing things up again for the event,  presented this year by Sidley Austin, LLP, on Saturday, April 26, 7-11 p.m., on Main Street at Dallas Heritage Village, 1515 S. Harwood, Dallas, 75215.   Guests will step back in time as they stroll down Dallas Heritage Village’s historic Main Street sampling a variety of unique creations of Martensen’s at numerous cocktail stations as well as food by Wendy Krispin Catering throughout the evening.  Additionally, beer and wine will be available.  There will be a vintage car show, jazz music provided by the Singapore Slingers, and a unique silent auction with dining and wine packages, along with some experiences only found through the Village. Guests are encouraged to come in their own vintage attire from Prohibition and the early 20^th century. A selection of costume items will be for sale that evening for those who want to accessorize as well as a photo booth to document the occasion.

“If you came last year, then you know this event is so much fun and nothing like any other event in Dallas,” said Melissa Prycer, President and Executive Director, Dallas Heritage Village.  “We are excited to bring back a favorite cocktail of the evening last year called ‘The Heritage,’ and, of course, Michael is creating some new ones to be unveiled.  Additionally there will be dancing and lots of fun things to do.”

“I’ve already started thinking about some new cocktail creations this year,” added Michael Martensen.  “It’s great to be a part of something that will benefit such an outstanding nationally accredited history museum in Dallas.  Spread the word and come on out for a fun evening and a great cause!”

Sponsors to date include:  Presenting Sponsor ($10,000) Sidley Austin; ($5,000) Thompson & Knight; ($3,500) Sue and Phil John, Frost Bank; ($1,000) Susan and Linc Eldredge, Sandy and Mark Singer; ($500) Eastfield College.

“History with a Twist is not only a fun way to benefit Dallas Heritage Village, but also a fun way to see its beautiful grounds and historic structures,” said Don Baynham, chairman of the board.  “Thousands of school kids and families as well as individuals visit Dallas Heritage Village every week, exploring history by touring our 38 historic structures, participating in interactive exhibits and attending special programs.  We are honored to have Michael on board and grateful for his enthusiasm and partnership again this year!”

Cost is $75 for individuals or $125 for couples and includes cocktail samples, heavy hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine, and valet parking. Sponsorships are available.

For event information and tickets contact Lisa Simpson, 214-413-3662, lsimpson@dallasheritagevillage.org or visit www.dallasheritagevillage.org.

# # #

Dallas Heritage Village, located at Old City Park, is a nationally accredited history museum, depicting life in Dallas from 1840-1910. It is one of only five museums in the Dallas area to have this distinction. The grounds showcase 38 historic structures, including log cabins, the pre-Civil War Millermore home, a Victorian Main Street, a railroad complex, an 1860s farmstead with livestock, a 19^th century church, school and more.  Visitors discover how crops were grown, animals cared for and how family living progressed from log cabins to grand manors and Victorian homes.  Dallas Heritage Village is supported, in part, by the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs and the Texas Commission on the Arts as well as individual and group donations. Dallas Heritage Village was nominated in 2011 and 2012 by D Magazine as one of the top Dallas-area family attractions.  It is located at 1515 South Harwood, one block south of Farmers Market in Downtown Dallas. Hours of operation are Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday, noon – 4 p.m. The Village is closed the months of January and August. Regular admission is $9 for adults, $7 for seniors 65+ and $5 for children ages 4-12.  Children under 4 and members of Dallas Heritage Village are admitted free of charge. For more information call 214-421-5141 or visit www.DallasHeritageVillage.org