The Beckley Club Estates Bungalow Where the Peacocks Roam

This week’s High Caliber Home of the Week, sponsored by Lisa Peters of Caliber Home Loans, lands us in Beckley Club Estates in North Oak Cliff. Phillip Murrell of Compass RE Texas has the listing for 1731 Seevers Avenue, an extensively renovated bungalow just minutes from Bishop Arts.

But first, I gotta tell you about this special neighborhood. Now, I fear I’m the only CandysDirt.com writer who didn’t know Beckley Club’s colorful history, but hopefully this is new to you. Situated in the shadow of the Dallas Zoo near Beckley and Illinois avenues, this unique neighborhood is full of eclectic 1920s bungalows, one-lane bridges when three small lakes were once located, and … prepare yourself — peacocks. HOW DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT THE PEACOCKS?!

Beckley Club Estates got its start in 1925 when Sydney A. Temple, President of the Dallas Trust and Savings Bank, laid the proverbial ground for Beckley Club Estates. The prominent real estate developer had already created and would go on to build other storied Dallas neighborhoods such as Glendale Acreage, Kessler Square, University Park, Munger Place Heights, and Country Club Park Estates.

“The newest development was shrouded in mystery with a cleverly designed advertisement campaign. With a series of three advertisements, published in the Dallas Morning News each consecutive Sunday in May 1925, the developer skillfully stirred the interest of roughly 112,000 newspaper subscribers.

The first advertisement spoke of a “secret,” inviting the readers to wonder “what and where is it”? The second ad gave another piece of the puzzle, speaking of “innovation,” inviting the readers to wait before purchasing real estate. The third ad, published on May 24, the developer announced he was going to “let the cat out of the bag” with a preliminary announcement to follow in the next Sunday edition of the paper.

With each advertisement placed by S.A. Temple, the interest rose to the point that the developer was forced to unveil his real estate plan much sooner than he had anticipated. On May 31, 1925, a full-page advertisement in the Dallas Morning News finally revealed what all those ads were about: Beckley Club, the Beautiful.”

Beckley Club Estates site

The burgeoning neighborhood had some absolutely outstanding features — three rock-bank lakes fed by nearby Cedar Creek, paved streets lined with premium trees, and the Beckley Fishing, Bathing and Boating Club, to which all residents were issued a share of stock and membership. The oak, cedar, ash, black haw, and wild plum trees on the home lots were “actually worth the price of the lots,” Beckley Club Estates archives cite. The prices ranged from $1,475 to $2,750 for lots ranging in width from 50 to 100 feet. To purchase, you had to cross the foot bridge over Lake Helen to the Japanese pagoda, seen above. Sadly, the lakes later had to be dammed up but the one-lane bridges remain.

One of Beckley Club’s most notable residents was the Dallas Morning News columnist Lynn Landrum who lived a few houses down on Seevers. He nicknamed his street Billy Goat Hill, where the neighborhood’s first homes were built in the mid- to late-1920s. (Not sure why the goat. Comment if you know.)

Speaking of the Morning News, an archives search reveals our bungalow here has hosted at least two weddings in the 1940s for longtime residents of the home, the Whyte daughters. You can practically picture it in this spacious backyard with fire pit and shaded pergola deck.

Judging by the size of the facade, the 1925-built home has likely been expanded over the years since those days the Whyte girls walked down the aisle. Today, the home has three bedrooms, two baths, and 1,923 square feet. Inside, you’ll find white oak engineered floors, quartz counters, stainless steel appliances, custom paneling, Elfa closet systems and stylish designer tile and lighting.

Additionally, the primary bathroom is outfitted with double vanities, designer tile, and separate shower and tub. Murrell says the updates go beyond surface-level. Seevers was recently upgraded with new HVAC, tankless water heater, plumbing and electrical.

And finally, we get to the peacocks. Beckley Club Estates is home to a couple dozen peacocks who roam free through the neighborhood. In 2015, our feathered friends received international media coverage when one of the oldest peacock males (the one with the longest feathers) was stolen and later returned.

Theories vary as to when and where the peahens and peacocks moved into Beckley Club Estates, but the fowl have lived there since the 1970s or so. (And no, they didn’t escape from the nearby Dallas Zoo.) Now, residents embrace the friendly fowl as they hold court on the hilly, curvy streets in Beckley Club. One AirBnB calls itself the Dallas Peacock House and plays on that theme.

Take this opportunity to live among the peacocks in Beckley Club Estates, and give Phillip a call.

Phillip Murrell of Compass RE Texas has listed 1731 Seevers Avenue for $374,900.