We Are the Oak Cliff Society of Fine Arts
Meet the Board
Board of Directors
Taylor de la Fuente, Secretary
Danielle Davis, Treasurer
Jennifer Cowley
Judy Cummings
Allen Dye
Richard Ewers
Mark Jones
Isaac Martinez
Travis-Lee Moore
Jenny Davis Mueninghoff
Tina Nohinek
Cynthia Paine-Drennan
Veta Redmond
Tammy Weiss
The OCSFA is a working board of directors who volunteer their time to uphold our mission and preserve the Turner House.
Board members are elected each June to a three-year term. Those who complete six years on the board are then invited to join the Emeritus Board. A position on either board requires a financial commitment to the society, as well as volunteering their time and expertise.
If you’re interested in joining the board, or volunteering to serve on a committee as a non-board member, please contact us.
Committees
Programming
Hospitality
Marketing
Membership
Building Restoration
Sponsorship
Finance
Emeritus Board
Gay Addington
Russ Aikman
Chris Barker
Scott Chase
Jan Doherty
Carol Hagler
Linda Holt
Glen Jones
Thomas Marshall
Alfred Martinez
Paula Mele
Marijane Michael
Donna Miller
Kenda North
Lisa Peters
James Prothro
Diane Sherman
Michelle Stellmaker
Avis Strong
Bart Thrasher
Our History
Both the Turner House itself and the Oak Cliff Society of Fine Arts have long and interesting histories.
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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. 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 $55,000. 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.
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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 N. 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.
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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.
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The Oak Cliff Society of Fine Arts became the new owners and conservators of the main house and grounds in May 1957. The 401 North Rosemont site was included as a Clubhouse in the 1981 Winnetka Heights Historic District Overlay. Today it remains as one of only two surviving original structures in Dallas’ largest residential Historic District.
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The property was renamed Turner House in 2002 honoring Mrs. E.P. Turner, founder of the Oak Cliff Society of Fine Arts. The Society has a Board of Directors committed to preserving the beauty and elegance of her structure for the benefit of Oak Cliff neighborhoods and the Dallas community.
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Turner House was opened to the public in the summer of 2003 for event rentals and hosts weddings, anniversary and birthday parties, recitals, workshops, memorial services, holiday parties, scholarship ceremonies, tea parties and book clubs. 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. The society is always actively renovating the home.
The History of the OCSFA
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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, nineteen women and Mr. Reaugh, sought to heighten all aspects of art in the community. Mrs. Dwight Horton served as the first president. In the early years the OCSFA met 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 home at the Oak Cliff YMCA, located at Beckley and Tenth Street. When founding member and twelve-year president, Mrs. E. P. Turner, died in 1938, her two sons deeded the family home to OCSFA. The home, located at 324 South Marsalis, served as a memorial to Mrs. Turner and a permanent home for the society. The property was renamed the E. P. Turner Clubhouse.
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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. By 1933 membership had expanded to more than 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. These sub-groups accommodated the expanded interests in gardening, home decoration, historic preservation and philanthropy.
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A New Home
Plans for U.S. Highway 35E 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 purchase the current home located at 401 North Rosemont. This new home was renamed the E. P. Turner Clubhouse.
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The OCSFA continued with an exclusive female membership for the next four decades. However, through the years membership declined, and in 2000 only twelve members remained. In an effort to increase membership, the Society, for the first time, extended membership to men. James Prothro assembled a small group of Oak Cliff residents who began restructuring the OCSFA. In 2001 a Board of Directors was established and a new mission was adopted.
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The Society works steadily to restore and improve Turner House and expand the purpose of the Society. In 2017, the Board adopted a Strategic Plan with new Vision, Mission and Values statements. We value the histories of the House and the organization and want both to continue to be assets and resources for Oak Cliff. Our future holds major and minor restoration projects for Turner House and an evolution in our relationship with the community and the arts.
Located in the historic Winnetka Heights neighborhood, the Turner House is the home of the Oak Cliff Society of Fine Arts. This beautiful landmark provides an elegant and charming home for a for a special collection of Texas art. The gallery space within the historic home offers a unique space to view the Society's permanent collection and temporary exhibits that grace the House throughout the year.
The History of the Turner House
Read more about our history in the Texas State Historical Association’s Handbook of Texas, in an entry written by former society president Scott Chase.
How To Visit the Turner House
Turner House is open to the public. However, the house does not have regularly scheduled visiting hours. The house will open upon request, as long as a volunteer docent is available. Please contact us to schedule a visit. Or, better yet, join us for one of our events to see the house in all its glory!
