Historic Bailey-Mizell Home Likely Leaving Oak Lawn Area

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BaileyA historic Oak Lawn house that was home to two formidable Dallasites is on the market — but where it ends up is still up for discussion.

The home, located at 3403 Knight Street, was home to Lois Bailey and Marguerite Mizell. Ron Watterson said he bought the home from Bailey in 1995. The house was built in 1914, and the Bailey family lived there from 1918 until 1995.

“We purchased the home from Lois Bailey in near original condition,” Watterson said.

Bailey graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University in 1924, and then went on to get a master’s degree from Columbia University in 1930 and a second master’s from the University of Chicago in 1945.

“Lois was the librarian at Fondren Library at SMU from 1927 until 1968,” Watterson said. “She received the SMU Distinguished Alumni Award in 1969.”

Bailey was also an officer at First Presbyterian Church of Dallas — and was the first woman deacon and an elder there.

In 1950, she was joined by Mizell in the late 1950s. The two were fast friends and traveling companions, too.

“She traveled throughout Asia with her companion, Marguerite Mizell, a missionary in communist China,” Watterson said. Mizell’s importance to First Presbyterian is borne out in the fact that there is still a Sunday school class named in her honor. Her life in Asia made her a frequent speaker around the region, and a book detailing her life as a missionary is still available for purchase on Amazon.

“It is our understanding that the Lois occupied the property for nearly all of her active life, and was joined in the home by Marguerite in the late 1950s until they relocated to retirement homes in the 1990s,” Watterson explained.

Mizell passed away in 1995 at age 102, and Bailey died at 101 in 2005.

Nowadays, the lot the home sits on is incredibly valuable, and while Watterson and his family couldn’t bear to see their historic home demolished, they also couldn’t ignore the fiscal realities, either, he said.

We are offering the 11,200 square foot corner lot for sale as ‘land only’ since the land value is much higher than the ‘home with a yard’ value,” Watterson explained, adding that they made the decision after noticing a for lease sign in front of a neighboring home on Rawlins this spring.

“The home has a similar design to ours and had been extensively updated — when we called the number on the sign to inquire, we discovered the property had been sold to Larkspur Development, a well-known developer of condominium residences in East Dallas,” he said.

But Watterson has a plan that will save the house and open his spacious lot up for redevelopment, he said — although it wasn’t a decision entered into lightly.

“We realized that the home we had loved as our home for 22 years may have a higher value if the home were not there,” he said. “It was a hard reality, but one which we always knew may come one day.”

“We always said we would not sell the property if the home were to be demolished so we began to explore options to save the house,” he continued.  “After investing several weeks in the  effort to research a suitable solution, we were led to McMillan Movers — and a project known as Founders Row in Midlothian.”

Watterson contacted the Founders Row Stephen Hidlebaugh and then paid a visit to the Midlothian development, and found that his concerns about the fate of his house were alleviated.

“We felt comfortable that Stephen understood our concerns and have come to preliminary agreement to donate the home to their development, once the land sells,” Watterson said. The Bailey-Mizell home has also been listed for sale as is as well, with the understanding that it would be moved.

Watterson said that conversations with Larkspur Capital and another neighbor who owns the historic duplex behind their home have resulted in four parcels between Rawlins and Knight being offered for sale for $4.4 million.

“Founders Row has expressed interest in relocating all three of the historic homes to Midlothian if we are able to find a buyer for the land,” he said. “That would be a win-win for the homes — to have a new life on a new foundation and preserved for the long term, and cost savings for the purchaser /developer since there would be no cost to demolish the structures.”

Watterson said that he is at peace with the decision and confident it will mean that others will get to appreciate what he and his family have loved about the home for more than two decades — and what Lois Bailey and Marguerite Mizell loved about the home, too.

“Most importantly, the historic homes would have a bright future — one which would be shared by so many others whom we hope would get the same feeling we do every time we enter — of being in a very special home,” Watterson said.  

“From the tall ceilings, the exceptional woodwork, original light fixtures and finish out, the leaded glass entry, and sensible floorplan, the ‘energy’ in our home is not found in homes available today, and we would be honored to share that feeling with visitors to Founders Row.”

“The decision was not easy or fast,” Watterson continued. “We love the home and our neighborhood but also realize that  additional investment into the home in its current location — surrounded by condos and a strip shopping center of questionable quality, may not be a sound investment.”

“With our commitment to the preservation of the historical structure, yet mindful of the increasing land value, it we don’t opt to relocate the home now, but sell outright, the home’s future is questionable,” he said, adding that he declined a “very attractive” offer from a buyer who wanted to use the home for rental income until the buyer could find a developer for the lot.

“We opted out in hopes of finding a buyer who wanted to purchase the land only, allowing us to relocate the home to Founders Row,” he said.

“We hope to have been good stewards of the home for the past 22 years we have loved and occupied it, but know there may be a higher calling for the land and the precious structure,” Watterson said.

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Bethany Erickson lives in a 1961 Fox and Jacobs home with her husband, a second-grader, and Conrad Bain the dog. If she won the lottery, she'd by an E. Faye Jones home.
She's taken home a few awards for her writing, including a Gold award for Best Series at the 2018 National Association of Real Estate Editors journalism awards, a 2018 Hugh Aynesworth Award for Editorial Opinion from the Dallas Press Club, and a 2019 award from NAREE for a piece linking Medicaid expansion with housing insecurity.
She is a member of the Online News Association, the Education Writers Association, the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, and the Society of Professional Journalists.
She doesn't like lima beans or the word moist.

13 Comments

  1. steve byars on December 19, 2017 at 2:50 pm

    Oak Lawn was once a great neighborhood to live in but now, day by day, the generic schlock of Dallas developers destroys the place. Thank goodness this home will be saved. Thanks for telling this story.

  2. Debbie on December 20, 2017 at 10:41 am

    Way to go Ron! It is hard to see the original homes go under the bulldozer. Only wish someone would rescue the 1950 mid century jewel that just sold on the corner of Fairmount and Hood. They have already denuded the gorgeous lot of it’s towering trees. Dallas lacks a sense of history. Well, there’s always Georgetown…

    • Ron Watterson on December 20, 2017 at 11:27 am

      Thanks Debbie. We actually considered a portion of that lot as a destination for our home. sorry to hear those gorgeous trees are going…..that is a beautiful property with such great character.

    • Cody Farris on December 20, 2017 at 11:43 am

      I think that home at Fairmount and Hood would have sold more easily – and perhaps to someone who would have considered renovating and keeping it largely intact – had it been easier to show.

    • Terese O'Donoghue on December 21, 2017 at 4:37 am

      I’ve admired this beautiful home for years and remember when it was sold in the 90s and relieved that the new owner not only didn’t tear it down but refurbished. It’s a great beauty. Very sad that so many beautiful homes and cottages have been demolished in Oak Lawn, for many years a diverse, fun and affordable neighborhood. For many years I rented a lovely 1923 cottage (with an updated interior) on Hawthorne. Sadly it was sold when the owner passed and eventually replaced with a 3 story, 4 unit zero lot line building that looks like the Titanic has docked between two lovely original 1920s buildings. Zoning restrictions are easy to change in Dallas with enough money.

  3. Ron Watterson on December 20, 2017 at 11:28 am

    Thanks Debbie. We actually considered a portion of that lot as a destination for our home. sorry to hear those gorgeous trees are going…..that is a beautiful property with such great character.

  4. Larry Pease on December 20, 2017 at 11:47 am

    THANK YOU, Ron Watterson, for your care of and interest in preserving this treasure. Miss Mizell and Mrs. Bailey are names I hope will never be forgotten at First Presbyterian Church. Miss Mizell especially is/was as revered there and elsewhere like few if any others. Her venturing into China as a mere 21-year old remains an amazing act of courage and faith recounted frequently at FPC. Both women’s contributions to FPC are legendary. (I am an Elder at FPC who joined in 1975, so knew these phenomenal women well.) How fitting that Candace chose to share this story during this Advent Season. Both ladies would probably be a little embarrassed as they eschewed publicity. Thank you again, Ron, for taking the high road to preserve this architectural treasure that was home to two giants in spreading the Gospel of love and light. Merry Christmas indeed!

    • Ron Watterson on December 21, 2017 at 9:28 am

      Thank you for your kind words, Larry. I wish I could take full credit for the care and persistence to find a way to preserve the structure but my husband, Michael Sambogna has been the driving force to make it happen. He is a lover of fine things and has a great appreciation for history and craftsmanship.
      We are so happy you shared the details of your relationship with the ladies…I think you may be the first person we know who actually knew them personally. All the best!

  5. Ed Murchison on December 20, 2017 at 1:07 pm

    What a great story. I love the “out of the box” thinking to save this house. I wish this happened more in our city.

    • Ron Watterson on December 21, 2017 at 10:50 am

      Thank you Ed! Founders Row is considering a second phase and may have space for additional homes. Please keep this in mind if you become aware of other endangered historic homes to see if they might be a fit for the development. http://www.foundersrowtx.com

  6. Terese O'Donoghue on December 20, 2017 at 3:32 pm

    I’ve admired this beautiful home for years and remember when it was sold in the 90s and relieved that the new owner not only didn’t tear it down but refurbished. It’s a great beauty. Very sad that so many beautiful homes and cottages have been demolished in Oak Lawn, for many years a diverse, fun and affordable neighborhood. For many years I rented a lovely 1923 cottage (with an updated interior) on Hawthorne. Sadly it was sold when the owner passed and eventually replaced with a 3 story, 4 unit zero lot line building that looks like the Titanic has docked between two lovely original 1920s buildings. Zoning restrictions are easy to change in Dallas with enough money. ,

  7. steve byars on December 22, 2017 at 10:08 am

    Founders Row is a wonderful project which clearly illustrates the creativity, respect for historic architecture and devotion to excellence in preserving and re-purposing these buildings. Dallas can use more of this. Thank you guys for showing how it’s done!

  8. Sue St. John on December 30, 2017 at 11:39 am

    Thank you so much for honoring the memory of two extrodinary women by being sure this home will be preserved. As an active member of FPC Dallas for 20 years I know how very many people your care has touched! I had the privilege of visiting Miss Bailey in the last few years of her life in a nursing home. She was cared for by the church in life and death and your kindness is greatly appreciated.

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