A Dallas House Love Story: Belle Nora A Sweet Sixteen Birthday Gift For East Dallas Man’s Daughter

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Dallas House Bella Nora

by Karen Eubank

Well Khloe K, you sure blew it. Belle Nora has been purchased as a true love story twice, once for a man and his wife, the other a father for his daughter.

Dave Anderson, one of our own East Dallasites, purchased the historic East Dallas mansion last week. Keller Williams wonder agent Vicki White was the listing agent for this grand, beloved landmark that had been on the market since November, 2007: a whopping 790 days. Clearly an issue of timing; by 2008 we knew where the real estate market was going and it was not pretty. Belle Nora was taken off the market and then re-listed with Vicki last July and after 169 days, the historic Dallas home closed last Friday, December 30. The price was dramatically reduced from the original (circa) 2007 asking price of $2,790,000 to $1,875,000. All of us were thrilled with the news that Mr. Anderson, who owns Zoo Music on Garland Road, is not going to bulldoze and build mini mac’s. He’s moving in with his daughter and you better grab the tissue box because this is just about the sweetest, most touching house love story you’ve ever heard.

Doctor Jesus S. Guevara purchased Bella Nora years ago as a present for his beloved wife, Joan Simpson. They lived in a house literally two doors down from Belle Nora. Joan remarked every time they passed the stately white mansion how much she loved the home and would love to live there. When she left to vacation at their second summer home in Maine, Dr. Guevara purchased Belle Nora and spent the summer completing renovations. Upon Joan’s return, he told her he finally had obtained permission to show it to her. When they got to the front porch, he handed her the keys and told her he had bought it as a gift for her, his beloved wife.

Even more touching is the fact that Mrs. Guevara was ill and living at Belle Nora during her final days with her husband and son which brought her what was really her last happiness. In fact, Dr. G. was so attached to her memory in the home he couldn’t move her car out of the garage.

Dave Anderson also has an only child, in this case a daughter, Kevyn Brooke. Kevyn’s mom died when she was only five months old and Dave has raised her with the help of his parents and in-laws. They’ve owned a house in Forest Hills for sixteen years and of course, like Joan Simpson, driven by Bella Nora countless times. Kevyn had joked with her dad about purchasing the house for her.

A few ironic twists and turns: Anderson owns Grandwick, the old Scientology place. Belle Nora was originally owned by Al Morgan. When Al sold to Dr. G, he moved to the property at 1850 Buckner which he named Grandwick. Years later, Dave Anderson purchased Grandwick, which later became the Church of Scientology.

And Dave Anderson also had trouble parting with his beloved wife’s car.

Well, Dave Anderson just may get Father of the Year, maybe the Century. Dave secretly purchased the house with the help of his agent, Cheryl McBrayer. The day after closing, which would be New Year’s Eve, he told Kevyn he had to drop off something to Vicki at Bella Nora and that they had permission to tour the house.

When they arrived at that stately white mansion, there was a huge pink bow with a gift tag on the front door from McShan Florist.

“I could not hear his exact words as I was in the house, and his Realtor was video-taping, basically I think he just told her that she knew he had been looking at a house for them, and he hoped she would like this one,” says Vicki. “He had to tell her several times that it was HER house. She started screaming and crying. I did hear him say “I love you baby” and she said the same thing. It was extremely emotional.”

In the house, Dr. Guevara told the story of how he had given Belle Nora to his wife the same way, as a surprise. Before she left, Kevyn asked Dr. Guevara if she could hug him.

That was December 31st. It was also Kevyn Brooke’s 16th birthday.

Now that’s a love story.

 

Grandwick

 

 

 

 

Karen is a senior columnist at Candy’s Media and has been writing stories since she could hold a crayon. She is a globe-trotting, history-loving eternal optimist who would find it impossible to live well without dogs, Tex-Mex, and dark chocolate. She covers luxury properties and historic preservation for Candys Dirt.

34 Comments

  1. […] always wondered who the heck bought it and for how much. Now we find out that it was Dave Anderson, who last week closed on Belle Nora. Anderson bought the former church May 1, 2009 and named it or re-christened it Grandwick. He paid […]

  2. […] always wondered who the heck bought it and for how much. Now we find out that it was Dave Anderson, who last week closed on Belle Nora. Anderson bought the former church May 1, 2009 and named it or re-christened it Grandwick. He paid […]

  3. EricaJ on January 4, 2012 at 11:53 am

    I'm so jealous it hurts! I would just be happy if my dad paid off my student loans for me now, much less bought me a house for my 16th birthday. Must be nice! Congrats to Kevyn. I hope she isn't a brat 😀

    • Frank on January 5, 2012 at 5:08 pm

      unfortunately, she is a brat. my son has told me that she flaunts her money in everyone's faces, just so that people will like her. she is not well liked at the high school that she attends either.

      • DS on January 12, 2012 at 6:02 pm

        @Frank.

        I've known her since the day she was born and she's no brat and the only one telling you she flaunts money is apparently your son. Might want to check your source quite deeply to find out why he's making up stories. Obviously, there's a problem.

  4. EricaJ on January 4, 2012 at 11:53 am

    I'm so jealous it hurts! I would just be happy if my dad paid off my student loans for me now, much less bought me a house for my 16th birthday. Must be nice! Congrats to Kevyn. I hope she isn't a brat 😀

    • Frank on January 5, 2012 at 5:08 pm

      unfortunately, she is a brat. my son has told me that she flaunts her money in everyone's faces, just so that people will like her. she is not well liked at the high school that she attends either.

      • DS on January 12, 2012 at 6:02 pm

        @Frank.

        I've known her since the day she was born and she's no brat and the only one telling you she flaunts money is apparently your son. Might want to check your source quite deeply to find out why he's making up stories. Obviously, there's a problem.

  5. Christine on January 4, 2012 at 4:54 pm

    I love that story – thanks for digging it up and sharing.

  6. Christine on January 4, 2012 at 4:54 pm

    I love that story – thanks for digging it up and sharing.

  7. […] Morning News (behind the paywall) reported the sale of Belle Nora mansion on White Rock Lake and Karen Eubank here has the whole reality TV-worthy story behind the sale. Teaser: it includes a 16th birthday and a […]

  8. […] Morning News (behind the paywall) reported the sale of Belle Nora mansion on White Rock Lake and Karen Eubank here has the whole reality TV-worthy story behind the sale. Teaser: it includes a 16th birthday and a […]

  9. […] If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic. A rich guy in East Dallas has just paid $1.5M for the historic Bella Nora mansion as a birthday gift… All fine and good—let’s consider this the starter version of Daddy buying you an $88M […]

  10. […] If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic. A rich guy in East Dallas has just paid $1.5M for the historic Bella Nora mansion as a birthday gift… All fine and good—let’s consider this the starter version of Daddy buying you an $88M […]

  11. […] “A Dallas House Love Story: Belle Nora A Sweet Sixteen Birthday Gift For East Dallas Man’s Daughter” –  [CandysDirt] […]

  12. […] “A Dallas House Love Story: Belle Nora A Sweet Sixteen Birthday Gift For East Dallas Man’s Daughter” –  [CandysDirt] […]

  13. […] “A Dallas House Love Story: Belle Nora A Sweet Sixteen Birthday Gift For East Dallas Man’s Daughter” –  [CandysDirt] […]

  14. […] “A Dallas House Love Story: Belle Nora A Sweet Sixteen Birthday Gift For East Dallas Man’s Daughter” –  [CandysDirt] […]

  15. […] “A Dallas House L&#1110k&#1077 T&#1072l&#1077: Belle Nora A Sweet Sixteen Birthday Gift F&#959r East Dallas Man’s Daughter” –  [CandysDirt] […]

  16. […] “A Dallas House L&#1110k&#1077 T&#1072l&#1077: Belle Nora A Sweet Sixteen Birthday Gift F&#959r East Dallas Man’s Daughter” –  [CandysDirt] […]

  17. Weekly Real Estate Roundup — 01/07/12 on January 7, 2012 at 5:54 pm

    […] “A Dallas House Love Story: Belle Nora A Sweet Sixteen Birthday Gift For East Dallas Man’s Daughter” –  [CandysDirt] […]

  18. Weekly Real Estate Roundup — 01/07/12 on January 7, 2012 at 5:54 pm

    […] “A Dallas House Love Story: Belle Nora A Sweet Sixteen Birthday Gift For East Dallas Man’s Daughter” –  [CandysDirt] […]

  19. […] of a fire in the engine room. Dallas City Center agent extraordinaire Vicki White — she sold Belle Nora, her assistant Karen Peeler and friend Kim Hext were on board for what they thought would be four […]

  20. […] of a fire in the engine room. Dallas City Center agent extraordinaire Vicki White — she sold Belle Nora, her assistant Karen Peeler and friend Kim Hext were on board for what they thought would be four […]

  21. […] in 2009, Dave Anderson, who bought Belle Nora for his 16-year old daughter, remember THAT story, bought the former church May 1, 2009 from […]

  22. […] in 2009, Dave Anderson, who bought Belle Nora for his 16-year old daughter, remember THAT story, bought the former church May 1, 2009 from […]

  23. […] as he watched one of his homes reduced to cinders, being bulldozed. She met him, of course, when he bought Belle Nora on Garland Road. According to DCAD, Anderson owns about 45 homes that I could […]

  24. […] as he watched one of his homes reduced to cinders, being bulldozed. She met him, of course, when he bought Belle Nora on Garland Road. According to DCAD, Anderson owns about 45 homes that I could […]

  25. Willidean on April 25, 2015 at 12:50 am

    I just wanted to say. I remember the name of a place I went to when in Dallas years ago. It was a beautiful Mansion. I had never been in or seen a mansion . Being from a small town middle Indiana town. I remembered awhile back . Outta nowhere. Bellnora mansion. Wow I found it on here. I googled it. It popped up. And I want to say. It’s an awesome memory now I’m almost sixty . Please take care of her. Wonderful love story. Thank you for the wonderful memories bellnora.

  26. […] story goes like this: Dave Anderson had raised his daughter Kevyn Brooke as a single father for nearly […]

  27. Andrew on January 1, 2016 at 1:44 pm

    Well now, how things have changed..or did they really? Grandwyck burned to the ground, being completely uninsured. Bella Nora is now rotting away and the entire front facade is at risk of falling completely. The grounds are rarely tended, the iron fence at the front of the property was damaged by a car wreck 3 yeaars ago and replace w/ a piece of rope.

    Embarrasing and sad. Mr. Anderson should be run out of town…A “Love Story”? Just pure BS.

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