Turner House History
Construction
John Phillip Blake, Lesslie A. Stemmons, Thomas S. Miller, and Roman S.
Waldron platted the last major subdivision in the original Oak Cliff townsite
in 1908 and named it Winnetka Heights after an affluent Chicago suburb.
Each of the developers built one of the four original residences.
East Texas oilman J.P. Blake purchased 3.72 acres adjoining the northwest
corner of this new subdivision and in 1912 constructed this outstanding
example of Modified Prairie four-square architecture at 301 North Rosemont
Avenue for his personal home at a cost of $50,000. Mr. Blake was President
of Columbia Conservatory of Music and the family enjoyed hosting musical
events, lavish lawn parties and opulently entertained a young Oak Cliff
through 1917.
Depression and WWII
The home and grounds were then sold to Rowena Benton Ramsey. In June 1923,
Mrs. Ramsey sold the property to Monta R. Ferguson who divided the property
and created the Ferguson Subdivision. The address of the abbreviated estate
was changed to 401 North Rosemont Avenue. M. R. Ferguson retained ownership
of the home and carriage house through the difficulties of the 1929 Stock
Market Crash and the Depression years that followed. The main house and
carriage house had been modified for boarding house occupancy by the early
part of WWII.
Church Sanctuary
Foly B. White purchased the property in 1942 although it is unclear if
the Foly family ever lived in the home. The property was again subdivided
and the western 55 foot parcel of the estate including the carriage house
was sold. The newly formed Oak Cliff Lutheran Church purchased the main
house for their sanctuary in early 1948.
OCSFA
The Oak Cliff Society of Fine Arts became the new owners and conservators
of the main house and grounds in May 1957. 401 North Rosemont was included
as a Clubhouse in the 1981 Winnetka Heights Historic District Overlay
and remains today one of only two surviving original structures in Dallas’
largest residential Historic District.
Renamed Turner House
The property was renamed Turner House in 2002 honoring Mrs.
E.P. Turner, founder of the Oak Cliff Society of Fine Arts. Turner
House has emerged with a Board of Directors committed to preserving the
beauty and elegance of her structure for the benefit of original Oak Cliff
neighborhoods and the Dallas community.
Turner House Today
Turner House was opened to the public in the summer of 2003 for event
rentals. Since then we have hosted a variety of organizations, including
Dallas Baptist University, Preservation Dallas, Old Oak Cliff Conservation
League and the Winnetka Heights Neighborhood Association. In addition
to event rentals, the OCSFA is designing Turner House as the North Oak
Cliff hub for non-profit and philanthropic activity and permanent home
for philanthropic organizations benefiting the North Oak Cliff community.
This home served the private sector for 36 years before beginning its
public service in 1948. We are indeed fortunate to have Turner House as
a reminder of Oak Cliff’s early 20th Century splendor while she serves
the community now and well beyond her 2012 Centennial.
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