By Donovan Westover
Our preview of the Heritage Oak Cliff Fall Home Tour begins in 1916 when this stately Rosemont Avenue four square was built. The house was constructed in Winnetka Heights three years after downtown Dallas’ Busch Building (Kirby), four years after Adolphus Hotel, and six years before Magnolia Petroleum Building when the neighborhood was being marketed as Dallas’ “Ideal Suburb.” Originally included in the Midway Addition to the city of Oak Cliff in 1890, it was replatted as Winnetka Heights in 1908. Leslie A. Stemmons was one of the developers of the subdivision.
The house was one of the first to be built on the street and 102 years later, the current owners purchased it both as a project and a way to be closer to family in Dallas. Having been through a similar restoration in a historic district in Houston, they were familiar with the required attention to detail needed for such an endeavor. A single elderly person resided at the house for many decades and as sometimes happens in those situations, maintenance was deferred and it was not looking good for the house. So much so that the crowning jewel of the house, its massive front porch, rotted to the point that it eventually required removal.
With a series of intriguing tales and original photographs of the porch that were discovered, it provided the basis for an eventual City of Dallas Landmark Commission-approved reconstruction of the porch. The new exterior porch was expertly recreated and now introduces guests to a bright and airy interior, which is accented in every direction with original/replicated moldings that frame windows, doors, ceilings, and everything in between. The original and replicative craftsmanship of this powerful facet is unparalleled, and the high ceilings and gracious room proportions conduct a beautiful symphony with each other.
Isaac Martinez with River Oak Renovations purchased the home and intended to live there after restoring the house for his family. However, the current homeowners proved their love for the home and negotiated the purchase of it from Isaac in order to relocate to Dallas.
The homeowners retained their trusted Houston historic district contractor, Emiliano Zazueta, as well as their interior designer daughter Kate Thacker (also trusted), and Chris Chiles of residential design group ChilesDesign LLC. Combined, the perfect orchestra wrought an exquisite performance with this house that you do not want to miss it on the Heritage Oak Cliff 2023 Fall Home Tour!
Our tour program text writer for Rosemont Avenue, architect Jeff Cummings, says:
“The homeowners began an intensive restoration, restoring the magnificence of the original exterior and renovating the interior with an adaptive sensibility. Renovating the historic floor plan with an elegant blend of modern living while being sympathetic to the original details. This celebrated and successful renovation is a perfect example of preservation.”
Let us welcome you on October 28 and 29 to the comeback Heritage Oak Cliff 2023 Fall Home Tour. We are excited to show off an exemplary library of engaging tour homes for you this year. More information and tickets are available here. As a bonus, all proceeds of the tour go back into Oak Cliff neighborhoods by providing grants for community-wide projects that enhance neighborhoods in Oak Cliff.
I am a die-hard believer in historic fabric and our oldest tour home lends a part to one of Dallas’ preeminent tapestries, the Winnetka Heights Historic District. This is only the beginning of our adventure together and there is more to come for the 2023 Fall Home Tour. Stay tuned. Like the orchestra does.
Our Rosemont Avenue tour home is sponsored by:
