The front brick columns and chimneys were re-mortared from top to bottom using original brick.
People who restore historic homes don’t often make historically accurate choices when it comes to the interior. That is especially true of color. They seldom stick to the heritage interior paint schemes. In 2009, when this Winnetka Heights Prairie Four-Square was stripped to the studs and updated, the owner did his research and delved into historic hues. I hope this serves as an example for anyone purchasing a historic home, because the right colors enhance authenticity and add to the character and value of a home.
Winnetka Heights is one of those neighborhoods that embraces its history. It was designated a historic district in 1981 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This beautiful Prairie Four-Square home is located in the southwest quadrant, which has some of the oldest properties in Winnetka Heights. Although records date it to 1918, it could well be older.
You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who knows more about the neighborhood than resident Diane Sherman. She’s one of a small handful of people who have given me an excellent education in historic preservation and is my go-to for anything historic in Oak Cliff. Fortunately, this Prairie Four-Square is her listing. She’s working it along with her son Vinnie and daughter-in-law Taryn, who make up the other two-thirds of the Sherman & Sherman Real Estate Team at Dave Perry-Miller.
Sherman dug into the home’s history, finding out it was probably built for Rev. Lewis B. Haskins. If you have lived in Dallas for a while, you will remember that Haskins’ son, known by his nickname Squire, was widely considered one of the best aerial photographers in the Southwest. Rev. Haskins helped establish the Mount Auburn, Greenville Avenue, and Trinity Heights Christian churches, and he was later pastor of Oak Cliff Christian Church.
Before the current owner, the Prairie Four-Square was owned by historian and preservationist Ruth Chenoweth, one of the founders of the Old Oak Cliff Conservation League, now known as Heritage Oak Cliff. It has always been in good hands, as evidenced by the woodwork remaining unpainted, for instance. It’s a real bonus that all of the owners understood this and left the doors, ceiling beams, windows, and most of the trim untouched.
“I’ve seldom seen properties this well preserved,” Sherman said.
The home has original longleaf pine floors, divided light windows, beamed ceilings, and a dedicated piano space, which was common for the era. Remember, in the 1900s, before radio and television, a piano was an essential feature of a home, providing entertainment for family and friends.
If you need a first-floor bedroom, there’s a den area with a walk-in closet and full bath nearby that could easily serve as a fifth bedroom.
The current owner, who has been here since 2007, did a meticulous restoration of the 2,624-square-foot, four-bedroom, two-bath home in 2009, taking it to the studs. The kitchen was updated with custom cabinetry, granite countertops, hex tile floors, and a built-in eating nook. The color choices and unpainted trim offer a nod to history, blending vintage charm and modern function.
The addition of a 135-square-foot screened porch overlooking the backyard is a particular nod to history. This addition replicates what was typical in the 1920s, when sleeping porches provided essential comfort before air conditioning.
The upstairs screened porch with a built-in sink provides a tree-top view and connects the primary bedroom and a second bedroom that’s currently used as a study.
Outside, you will find a vintage brick patio and a custom chicken coop with its own address! If you know, you know. People with chickens take raising them seriously, and the present owner has designated the coop as 115 ½ Rosemont Ave.
If you are not familiar with the Winnetka Heights neighborhood, it’s one of the most sought-after, tight-knit neighborhoods in Dallas, and one of the most walkable. It’s minutes from the Bishop Arts District, and best of all, you can walk to Cenzo’s Pizza & Deli!
The Sherman & Sherman Real Estate Team has 115 S. Rosemont Ave. available for $886,000.
Open House: Sunday, January 4th, 2-4 p.m.