Preservation Dallas Summer Institute

Preservation Dallas now offers their 2008 Summer Preservation Institute. Find out more about how green historic buildings can be, the history of nearby Fair Park and how to follow code enforcement for historic properties.
Deep Ellum has a high density of Historic Landmark buildings, including the Knights of the Pythias, Sons of Hermann Hall, Continental Gin and many more.

Highlights below and the full list of classes here.

A History of Fair Park
Sally Rodriguez, City of Dallas Parks and Recreation Department
Tuesday, July 15; 6–8 p.m.

Since 1886, Fair Park has been transformed from cotton fields and hog wallows to a National Historic Landmark and a jewel of the Dallas Park System. Sally Rodriguez will take a tour from the beginnings through the 1936 Centennial Exposition, and on through current initiatives.

It’s Easy Being Green: Environmental Sustainability and the Historic House
Steve Kline, AIA
Thursday, July 17; 6–8 p.m.
Location: Center for Community Cooperation, 2900 Live Oak (between Liberty & Oak Streets)

It’s a myth that historic homes are not environmentally green. That’s according to Steve Kline, the Regional Historic Preservation Officer of the General Services Administration’s Southwest Region and a Board Member of Historic Fort Worth. Hear how historic homes are greener than you think and learn tips to make your house more sustainable.

An Insider’s Guide to Historic Enforcement
Bob Curry, City of Dallas Code Enforcement
Tuesday, July 22; 6–8 p.m.

The tips and tricks of helping your area through the enforcement of code and historic ordinances. Learn about tools available to you, and how to use them effectively to achieve the objectives of your neighborhood.

Preservation Dallas 2008 Most Endangered

In 2007, Preservation Dallas listed Deep Ellum as one of their 11 "Most Endangered Historic Places".

They are now requesting submissions for the 2008 list. You can download the form for the Preservation Dallas 2008 Most Endangered Nominations. Send to:

ATTN: 2008 Endangered List Committee · 2922 Swiss Avenue · Dallas, Texas 75204-5928 Phone 821.3290 / Fax 214.821.3573

Property types you can nominate:
*any kind of building
*roadside structures/signs
*engineering sites (i.e. bridges)
*public art (i.e. monuments)
*historic, cultural landscapes
*archaeological sites


From Preservation Dallas:
"SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATION FOR THE 2008 MOST ENDANGERED HISTORIC PROPERTIES LIST

Each year the city of Dallas loses historic buildings, sites and places that are significant to its past. Historic and architectural resources are irreplaceable community assets that tell the story of the city’s development. As part of National Historic Preservation Month in May, Preservation Dallas will announce its annual list of endangered places.

Submit your nomination to the 2008 Most Endangered Historic Properties List by completing and returning the attached form by April 30. Instructions for submissions are included on the form." - Preservation Dallas

See the Landmark Commission's suggestion for the next designated Deep Ellum history. The 2500 Elm/2509-13 Main block is the former Gypsy Tea Room/Ball Room now the Door/Prophet Bar block. "The last remaining portion of the original African American Deep Ellum."

Find already designated Deep Ellum structures here.

Deep Ellum on Preservation Dallas - Most Endangered Historic Places

Preservation Dallas, housed in the Historic Wilson District of Dallas, placed Deep Ellum on their 2007 "Most Endangered Historic Places" list. It's not a list we want to continue to make.

The quote on Deep Ellum from their site:
" It is the city’s largest collection of early 20th century commercial storefronts, reflecting what was the center for Texas blues and jazz in the 1920s and 30s. With multiple businesses closing in recent years, increased development pressure spurred by the construction of the new Dallas Area Rapid Transit rail station, and no city historic overlay in place, Deep Ellum is ripe for demolition. While historic district designations have been drafted, property owners have declined designation. Currently zoning allows for much larger buildings as much as 15-stories tall to replace the 1 and 2-story buildings that characterize much of the area. Property owners are encouraged to reinitiate historical designation or seek other appropriate sources of protection." - Preservation Dallas

Katherine Seale, Director of Preservation Dallas, has been a great friend of Deep Ellum and the neighborhood's history.

Sons of Hermann Hall * Est. 1911

Oh, how I love Sons of Hermann Hall. Jo Nicodemus might be the sweetest southern lady that Deep Ellum has ever known. She's done a phenomenal job of working to preserve this historic fraternal order, which dates back to early New York, and further back still to Germany. She, along with Mike Snider of AllGood Cafe, have been keeping authentic music, food and themed events (Lolliprom was a blast) in this charming space. Built in 1911, it once housed a bowling alley. Way back in the day, horses used to be the way to get to the Sons. Oh, and they have great (friendly) ghost stories....

Check out more on historic Sons of Hermann Hall here. Don't miss Swing Dancing on Wednesdays. And check out their "who's played here" list.

Sons won the 2006 Dallas Observer Best Live Music Venue.

A Knight's Tale in the Dallas Observer

If there is a building that everyone in Deep Ellum really, really cares about right now, it's the Beaux Arts style architecture of the Knights of the Pythias (later Union Bankers).

Check out Robert Wilonsky's Dallas Observer article on the history of the Knights of the Pythias building. Built by Sidney Pittman, son-in-law of Booker T. Washington, it was a social home to the early Dallas black doctors, lawyers and professionals. The early use of this building defines much of what resonates to so many as the historic strength of Deep Ellum.

In Robert's article, Katherine Seale of Preservation Dallas, described it as an early days "social institution for Dallas' African-American community and also as the center of Dallas' blues scene". Worth protecting and respecting indeed.

The Knights of the Pythias history goes back to Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War, and attempts to heal a divided nation. Check out more on the organization here.

Alan Govenar's Deep Ellum and Central Track

Alan Govenar has preserved some truly thorough history of Deep Ellum, back to the origins of it's jazz and blues heydays, with legends Blind Lemon Jefferson, Robert Cowens and Leadbelly. His musical on Blind Lemon Jefferson, "Blind Lemon Blues", has performed in NY and Europe. Check out the shows in the Netherlands and Belgium.....

Alan's company, Documentary Arts, is housed "Near Ellum" as Alan calls it, in another historic landmark fire station. If you'd like to order a copy of Alan's book, contact Alison at the Deep Ellum Association.

See a review here of his book, Deep Ellum and Central Track, covering the long social and musical history of Deep Ellum.

Documentary Arts also houses the TAAP - Texas African American Photography Archive.

Continental Gin Artists Open Studios coming soon

I heard a rumor that the next Continental Gin Open Studios is around the corner. It's an experience worth the twice a year wait: "For over two decades artists have occupied the 120 year-old Continental Gin, making it one of the oldest creative communities. in Dallas."

Go here for more on the Continental Gin studios. Check out the view of downtown from the upstairs patio, the old 40's style gas pump on the lower level, the old historic freight elevators and the great old Michelob signs in the artist studios;)