As a long-time antique collector, I have experienced many real estate sales. They are always bittersweet. The finds are great, but ghosts lurk around every corner, reminding us of the death and decay that led to the sale. The one at Old City Park last week was no exception.
The six-day sale, which ended Saturday, is one of the last events before the Dallas County Heritage Society relinquishes control of the property, which was established in 1876 as the city's first park. For more than 50 years, the Society has overseen a living history museum on the property. Most of its buildings date from his 1840s to his 1910s and were furnished with period-appropriate artifacts.
Gradually, the business model of outdoor museums collapsed. There were too few visitors, and fewer people responded to fundraising appeals. Operating costs have increased. Some of the buildings, all of which were relocated from other locations in North Texas, fell into disrepair.
Starting May 27, the Dallas Parks and Recreation Department will be in charge and will focus on the lush green spaces surrounding the village.
On Friday, as I watched bargain hunters haul out the last of the furniture, textiles, clothing, and knick-knacks from these old buildings, I was prompted by a reminder that “everything is 50% off for the next two days.” My first thought was, this makes sense. A dignified obituary.
Instead, as I walked the village lanes and listened to the voices of those who have dedicated so much of their time to Old City Park, I decided that now was the time to remind and challenge. The property is located less than a mile south of City Hall and was formerly known as Dallas Heritage. The village remains open. As its future takes shape under the Park Service's master planning process, everyone with an interest in this park needs to have a voice.
No one loves Old City Park more than Evelyn Montgomery. Montgomery has been active in local preservation efforts for many years, including serving as its Director of Collections, Exhibitions, and Historic Preservation.
The first few women who brought this museum to life left a great legacy, Montgomery told me. “Yes, they tended to be elite white women, but they did the right thing,” she says, adding that the 1906 shotgun house was from the black state's Thomas neighborhood, then called North Dallas. The church and Hispanic heritage noted its relocation here and the park's exhibits about black people.
“But as everything ends, so will this museum,” she said. “Something else will come from the legacy of these first women.”
At first, Montgomery said it was hard to watch shoppers walk away with their artifacts. “Then I realized that people were spending money to buy things that I liked, so they would probably take good care of me.”
That's the perfect description for Colleyville resident Kathy Monier, a member of the Fort Worth Antique Doll Club, who heard about the sale through an online treasure tracker.
Old dolls are her passion and she has hundreds of dolls. However, her enthusiasm for the two items she purchased at Old City Her Park suggests that these are her first.
She gently showed off the leather body, shoes, and wig of the “Wedding Day Doll.” All of these were heavily worn but still intact. “I'll clean her up right away. Look at this veil and lace pantaloons.”
I also met Veri Kaplan Schwitzer, executive director of the Dallas Jewish Historical Society, but she couldn't name her favorite purchase because she “wasn't done shopping yet.” She already has a medical table that matches equipment used by Dallas' first Jewish doctor, and a kitchen table and icebox from the long-closed Blum House in the park, which depicts Jewish life in the 20th century. I had purchased it.
Sales were strong, leaving empty space on wall-to-wall warehouse shelves and village buildings, but shoppers on Friday left with weapons and carts full. A young man carried a children's bed with a twisted barley headboard. Another walked, stopping to carry multiple rolled up carpets and quilts. An elderly couple rolled a red wagon loaded with objects three feet high.
It was a junker's paradise. Nice electric fan and dentist cabinet. A foot toy for two people. Children's trunk and Eastlake sink. A giant bank teller table and a sad stuffed turkey.
Joining us on this field trip was historic preservationist Ron Schiebler. He has been a part of Old Town Park for almost 30 years and has worked on almost all of its buildings.
Most notably, he dressed in period costume and used vintage tools as part of the team that worked on the Pilot Grove Church, which was on the site as a restoration and public education exhibit, about 12 years ago. It happened. Mr. Schiebler has also been a conductor for the Park Yard's Christmas model train show for many years.
Since announcing the park's upcoming changes in November, Siebler has read hundreds of social media posts from people with fond memories, some dating back to elementary school field trips, who are disappointed with the current situation. did it.
“What I want to ask them is, where have you been since your last visit?” Siebler said.
Like Montgomery, Schiebler believes a new chapter is beginning, rather than the curtain ending forever. He pointed to two nearby projects that he thinks will draw attention to Old City Park: plans for a deck park across Interstate 30 and plans for the new Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.
Siebler sees Old City Park's challenge in seeing the number of people exclaiming, “I didn't know this place existed.” This constant refrain says it all. “I used to tease her [Montgomery] What we needed was to turn the Alamo Saloon into a Starbucks,” Schiebler laughed. “That would have put us on the map.”
Prior to the public sale of artifacts, Montgomery ensured that historically significant pieces were sent to the appropriate organizations, most of which went to the Texas Historical Commission and the Texas Preservation Center.
Sarah Crane, chief operating officer of the Dallas County Cultural Heritage Association, said that proceeds from the public sale will be donated to the association, which will become the Old City Park Conservancy and operate as a Friends of the Park group. Then he said. “The intent is that all funds go toward preserving the park,” she said.
Michael Meadows, interim CEO of the Heritage Association from 2022, believes the park and its managers have learned a hard lesson from what they have endured in recent years. Whether it's Old Town Park or other arts-related organizations, “just because you have a nostalgic feeling, don't assume they'll survive,” he says.
“You have to donate, you have to advocate,” Meadows said.
This pause in the park's trajectory is not a death sentence. Now is the time to decide what is best for this historic green space. We encourage you to plan your visit and then tell your City Council member or Parks and Recreation Commission representative what you would like to see here.
“With enough financial resources, this could be a great thing,” Meadows said. “This may be a sad moment, but it can also be a renaissance if we choose.”
Old Town Park is open daily from 6am to 11pm. Select buildings are open Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
