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;)

Deep Ellum, Expo Park and Near Ellum Historic Legacies

Deep Ellum & Expo Park City Designated landmark structures:
http://www.dallascityhall.com/historic/html/designated_landmark_structures.html

*Knights of the Pythias - 1st black owned, built and financed Dallas building
*Adam Hat Lofts - former Ford/Model T plant
*Boyd Hotel - musician's hotel, one of few remaining old hotels, one of the few cast iron
*2200 Canton Lofts - former Furniture and clothing Co.s
*Dallas Tent & Awning (now Lofts) - once the largest Southern tent awning co.
*Mitchell Building - formerly Cotton Gin and WWII materials
*Sons of Hermann Hall - "Probably the last remaining wood frame commercial building in
Downtown"
*Old Tige - Exposition Park - Oldest remaining fire station in Dallas
*La France Building - La France Fire Engine Co showroom

PROPOSED (not guaranteed) Deep Ellum historic status:
http://www.dallascityhall.com/historic/html/proposed_landmark_structures.html

"The last remaining portion of the original African American Deep Ellum"
This is basically all of The Door on both sides (main and elm), the Prophet Bar and Pawn Gallery block, and then the Pythias (protected block) across the street.

Landmark Districts of and Near Deep Ellum:
http://www.dallascityhall.com/historic/html/landmark_districts.html

Continental Gin - Munger's Cotton Gin works area
Fair Park - 1940's Art Deco Architecture - TX Archaeological Landmark
"Largest Historical Landmark in TX" - Dart.org/fairpark and
"Largest collection of Art Deco bldgs in the country" - Dart
Eastside Warehouse District - Chevy Motor Co./Lincoln Paint - near Murray
Wilson Block - near Deep Ellum on Swiss, near Meadows and Baylor
On National Register - drive by and read the "La Reunion" references too....