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Dallas Historical Society Hosted Fellows Dinner at Historic Trammell Crow Estate

On April 23, the Dallas Historical Society hosted its black tie Fellows Dinner at the Trammell Crow Estate, 4500 Preston Road, one of the most significant sites in Highland Park. Founded in 1937, the Fellows was re-established in 1982 by Louise Caldwell and Stanley Marcus as the major membership level for the Dallas Historical Society. In addition to special invitations to lectures, tours, receptions and previews, the Fellows are honored each year at a former dinner held at one of Dallas’ grand historic residences or landmarks.

The 1912 Tudor-style house was designed by architect C. D. Hill for H. L. Edwards and his wife Caro Buxton Edwards, a niece of A. H. Belo, founder of The Dallas Morning News. Sitting on more than six acres next to Turtle Creek, this historic house is a sprawling Tudor mansion, with exposed rafter tails and other wood detailing reflecting the influence of the Craftsman style popular between 1910 and 1930 in Dallas. Presently on the market, this noted property will soon transition to new ownership and a new future.

After dinner was served, Lynn and Allan McBee, Dallas Historical Society’s co-chairmen of the board of trustees, welcomed Fellows and thanked them for their support. Allie Beth and Pierce Allman, Fellows co-chairmen, thanked Fellows dinner co-chairmen Louise Caldwell and Caro Stalcup. Pierce Allman introduced the program with three descendants of the original owner Edwards: John Alexander and Caro Stalcup, brother and sister, and grandchildren of Edwards, and Stuart Thomas, great-grandson, who served as a moderator by asking questions. 

Alexander and Stalcup told stories of their grandfather’s business ventures including the firm of H. L. Edwards Co., which he moved to Dallas in 1889. Stalcup said, “On a visit to England in the 1890s, my grandfather was introduced to the game of golf, and with R. L. Potter, he introduced it to Dallas in 1896 at Lemmon and Turtle Creek. This led to the formation of the Dallas Golf Club, later the Dallas Country Club as he was one of the founders of the club. He was a pretty good golfer as he was champion for many years after that.” Alexander remembered that Edwards brought the first Rolls Royce to Texas.

He married Caro Buxton in 1910, and they had one daughter, Betty, who was born at the Belo Mansion while their new home was still under construction. Stalcup recalled, “I remember living in this house for six months, this room (where the dinner was held) had been added onto the house. My favorite place was the attic, but I also remember the playhouse, greenhouse and fun Easter egg hunts.”

Edwards died at 1947 at the age of 91, and his widow followed three years after that. Col. Harry Ewing Stewart purchased the house, and when he died in 1961, Trammell and Margaret Crow bought the property.

For those interested in joining the Fellows, the level begins at $1,500. More information can be found at http://www.dallashistory.org.

Dallas Historical Society
Dallas Historical Society
Dallas Historical Society
Dallas Historical Society
Dallas Historical Society
Dallas Historical Society
Thursday, 30 April 2015