A Moss Haven Colonial And a Little Bit of Bull

Settle in, get comfy, and grab your coffee, because I have quite the story about this historic Moss Haven Colonial.

In the 1930s, an iconic Texas oilman and civic leader commissioned another home, designed by Anton Korn, on Armstrong Parkway. It was called pretentious by the Dallas Morning News at the time because it was rather large.

This gentleman bought a bull at the State Fair of Texas. It was not like he could bring it back to graze in the front yard of his pretentious home. So, of course, being a man of means, he purchased a stable and 400 acres in the country. The country at the time was what is today Lake Highlands. The bull had a cushy home, and a substantial part of that land eventually became a city park.

Have you figured out who I’m talking about yet?

If so, pour a shot of whiskey into that coffee and pat yourself on the back. If you didn’t guess, here’s our Dallas history lesson.

A Dallas Legend

The gentleman was Harry S. Moss.

Ah, that rings a bell, doesn’t it?

Harry S. Moss Park, Moss Farm, Moss Haven Elementary School — yep, that’s the man.

When Harry purchased the land for his beloved bull, it also became a weekend and holiday home for his family. I may have to remind you here, that this was considered the countryside, and a very long way from Armstrong Parkway.

There was a simple house on the property at the time. It’s thought to have belonged to a pioneer settler named Andrew Sloan Jackson. Of course, Harry and his wife, Florence, had the home extensively remodeled and enlarged into the gorgeous historic Moss Haven Colonial you see today.

Harry and Florence came up with the name Moss Haven because this home was their country haven. The farm was known as Moss Haven Stock Farm. That bull not only had a cushy life, but he was also the impetus for Harry’s Hereford cattle and Tennessee Walking horse business. Harry never did anything by half measures so you know he had a champion mare. She was called Go Boy’s Rocket.

The Moss Haven Colonial retreat was not just for relaxation. It became a centerpiece for entertaining, and a showplace. Architectural Digest featured the home in their January 1958 issue because this was an elegant country estate. You must remember, for Architectural Digest to feature any home in Texas in the 1950s was a very big deal.

The house is still a big deal.

An Impressive Estate

I’ve had the pleasure of seeing this home. When you drive up and around the bend, it’s completely unexpected and immediately impressive. What resonates in this Moss Haven Colonial, particularly today, is the traditional layout.

I know from conversations with our architect and builder communities that families now want a more traditional home. All that open-plan space got old very fast during shelter-in-place. When you cannot find private space, it grows more important. It’s no wonder homes are changing hands at lightning speed today. Many people are simply swapping one house in the same neighborhood for another one — with more privacy.

And this Moss Haven Colonial has plenty of privacy. The entry takes you back to the 1930s because it’s a proper formal entry with a fireplace. You might be tempted to see it as a formal living room, and you could certainly use it that way. However, the intention of these rooms, historically, was to receive your guests here graciously and perhaps have a cup of tea or a more potent libation. If the guest was deemed worthy of more time, you could proceed to the library in the left wing or the living areas in the right wing.

We all need a proper entry.

This Moss Haven Colonial has four bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a powder bath spread over 5,572 square feet. The principal suite is upstairs, per tradition. There is also a 309-square-foot guest cottage on the property with a bedroom and full bath.

Although no longer surrounded by an enormous farm, the home sits on almost an acre with massive oak and pecan trees shading every side. The backyard has two levels, which allows for a nice flow when entertaining, and the side yards are vast.

This Moss Haven Colonial is a perfect family home, filled with decades of love and laughter. Don’t you wish the walls could talk? I’d want to know more about the bull!

---

Allie Beth Allman Realtor Maribeth Peters has this historic home listed for $1.099 million. As fast as historic properties are moving today, don’t hesitate. This is a rare opportunity to own a significant piece of Dallas history.