Winnetka Heights, Dallas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Winnetka Heights
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Country | United States |
State | Texas |
Counties | Dallas |
City | Dallas |
Area | Oak Cliff |
Elevation | 545 ft (166 m) |
ZIP code |
75208
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Area code(s) | 214, 469, 972 |
Winnetka Heights is a historic neighborhood in Dallas, Texas, USA. It is one of the oldest and largest historic areas in the Oak Cliff part of the city. The neighborhood was started in 1910.
Winnetka Heights is known for its beautiful old homes. Most of these houses were built in the early 1900s. They are often two-story "Four-square" homes or single-story "Prairie style" houses. The area is bordered by Davis Street ( SH 180) to the north and 12th Street to the south. Willomet Avenue is on its east side, and Rosemont Avenue is on its west side.
Contents
A Look at Winnetka Heights History
Winnetka Heights was once a very rich neighborhood in Oak Cliff. However, in the 1960s, it faced tough times. Many large homes were split into smaller apartments. City services also became harder to find.
Bringing the Neighborhood Back to Life
In the mid-1970s, people started to get interested in living in city areas again. This led to a big effort to restore Winnetka Heights. A group from the Old Oak Cliff Conservation League worked hard. They wanted the neighborhood to be recognized as a historic place.
They succeeded in getting three historic titles for the area. These titles came from the city, the state, and the nation. At that time, Winnetka Heights was thought to be the largest neighborhood in the country with all three historic titles. Today, it is a lively and diverse community.
Winnetka Heights Location and Size
The Winnetka Heights Historic District is about two miles from downtown Dallas. It is located south of the Trinity River. With more than 600 houses, it is the second largest historic district in Dallas. It is also one of the biggest in the state of Texas.
The neighborhood was first planned as part of the Midway Addition. It was then developed as Winnetka Heights starting in 1908. Many of its original Craftsman style bungalows and Four-square Prairie houses are now over 100 years old.
How Winnetka Heights Was Developed
J.P. Blake, R.S. Waldron, T.S. Miller Jr., and Leslie Stemmons started developing Winnetka Heights in 1910. Early ads for the neighborhood talked about three important things for modern home life.
First, Winnetka Heights was built on high ground. This gave it great views of the countryside and downtown Dallas. Second, it had modern features. These included artesian water, sewers, telephones, and electric lines. It also had paved streets with curbs and rules about building. Third, it was close to downtown and easy to reach by streetcar.
Today, people living in Winnetka Heights still enjoy these benefits. The homes have a similar style, and there are many old trees. The neighborhood has modern city services and is still close to the city center.
Homes of the Developers
Some of the grandest houses in Dallas were built in Winnetka Heights. This included the homes of its developers. The Stemmons house, located at Rosemont and Jefferson, was later torn down. The Salvation Army building now stands there. Waldron's Craftsman house was at Rosemont and Davis. It is now an apartment complex.
Walking through the streets of Winnetka Heights feels like stepping back in time. The large front porches, old trees, and well-built houses remind us of nearly a century ago. This was when Dallas was growing into a major city. Winnetka Heights still looks and feels like an early American suburb. This makes it one of Dallas’ most desired historic neighborhoods.
Important Historic Buildings
Winnetka Heights is home to several important historic buildings.
- The Southland Ice Company started selling eggs and milk in 1927. Their store was at 12th and Edgefield. This store eventually became known as 7-Eleven, the first convenience store. This specific 7-Eleven building is a historical landmark. It stopped being a store in the late 1990s. It is now an office for LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens).
- The Miller house at 101 N. Montclair is still standing. The Blake house is also still there. It is now called the Turner House and is home to the Oak Cliff Society of Fine Arts.
- Many important people lived in Winnetka Heights early on. These included J.P. Blake, a Texas oilman and developer, who lived at 401 N. Rosemont. Thomas Jefferson Hubbert, who was appointed by President Grover Cleveland as the U.S. Pension Examiner for Texas, lived at 137 S. Montclair. Ellis Cockrell, a famous cattle rancher, lived at 201 N. Montclair.