History of OCSFA
The Early Years
The Oak Cliff Society of Fine Arts was formed February 8, 1926 in artist,
Frank Reaugh’s, Lake Cliff studio. The founders were made up of nineteen
ladies intent on heightening all aspects of art in the community. Mrs.
Dwight Horton served as the first president of the OCSFA.
In the early years the group met in several locations. Meetings were held
in the Frank Reaugh Studio, the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce and the
Oak Cliff Dallas Commercial Association Auditorium, owned by Mr. Martin
Weiss. In 1933, the OCSFA established its headquarters at the Oak Cliff
YMCA, located at Beckley and Tenth Street.
Founding member and twelve year president, Mrs.
E. P. Turner, passed away in 1938. Upon her death, her two sons deeded
the family home to the OCSFA. The home, located at 324 South Marsalis,
served as a memorial to Mrs. Turner and a permanent home for the OCSFA.
The property was renamed the E. P. Turner Clubhouse.
The Organization Grows
The OCSFA’s promotion of art, music, poetry,
literature and drama made the organization a civic and cultural asset
to Oak Cliff and Dallas. The group’s programs and entertainment were
unparalleled in the Southwest. By 1933 membership had expanded to over
600 members. The vigorous membership growth brought expanded interests
and sub-groups were formed. The Junior Oak Cliff Society of Fine Arts,
formed in 1933, and the Daughters Auxiliary of the Oak Cliff Society of
Fine Arts, formed in 1942, accommodated the expanded interests in gardening,
home decoration, historic preservation and philanthropy.
A New Home
Plans for U.S. Hwy 35 routed the freeway through the
E. P. Turner Clubhouse and the organization was forced to relocate. The
State of Texas purchased the property in 1957. Proceeds from the sale
were used to relocate to the current headquarters at 401 North Rosemont.
This new location was then renamed the E. P. Turner Clubhouse.
The new headquarters was originally built by J. P. Blake in 1911 as one
of the original four homes built in the Winnetka Heights Edition. It remains
one of two of these original homes still in existence. The 9000 square
foot home is a wonderful example of American four-square architecture.
The home has an interesting history of private family owners (J. P. Blake,
W. E. Ramsey, Mr. Ferguson and Mrs. Foley B. White) prior to being converted
into apartments during WWII. In 1948 the home became a Sanctuary for the
Oak Cliff Lutheran Church and served as such until 1957.
Changing Times
The Oak Cliff Society of Fine Arts continued with
an exclusive female membership for the next 4 decades. However, through
the years membership had declined to twelve elderly ladies. In 2000, the
twelve remaining members were administering one scholarship program and
considering dissolving the organization.
In an effort to increase membership, the OCSFA decided to extend privileges
to both men and women the first time. James Prothro, President of the
Old Oak Cliff Conservation League, assembled a small group of concerned
Oak Cliff residents and rescued the organization from dissolution.
The new membership began carefully restructuring the organization and
established a Board of Directors in 2001. The Directors chose a new direction
for philanthropic work and a new mission was adopted, ‘to provide
quality gathering space for use by groups and organizations who enhance
the quality of life within the historic Oak Cliff community.’ The
Directors also renamed the headquarters “Turner House”.
The OCSFA Today
The Board of Directors and Benefactors of the OCSFA have worked hard the past three years to educate the community about our mission and solicit support for the organization. In our 78th year, the Oak Cliff Society of Fine Arts looks to the future with clear goals of service to the 26 Neighborhood Associations and Historic Districts in Old Oak Cliff and preservation groups in the surrounding Dallas area.
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