This Classic Kessler Square Historic Home Has Rarities You Don’t Often Find in Dallas

Kessler Square is one of the earliest developments in Kessler Park. According to the Kessler Neighborhood United website, the subdivision includes ten blocks running north-south along Windomere, Edgefield, Clinton, and Winnetka avenues between Colorado Blvd. and Stewart. In 2005, the Kessler Park Conservation District was established. Because of that status, you will find a lovely neighborhood of historic residences with architectural integrity, like this 1925 eclectic Kessler Square home.

It’s eclectic because when it was built, details were included from both Mission and Arts and Crafts styles, making it truly unique. It’s also one of the few two-story homes on the block, sitting on a raised hillside and framed by mature trees, so it’s quite impressive.

Although conservation district status means you will find homes that reflect their build date, seldom do you find one with so many of the original architectural details intact. The front entry and stairwell and the leaded glass cabinets in the dining and living rooms are fine examples of Arts and Crafts styling. The rich finish of the first-floor millwork stands in beautiful contrast to the off-white plaster walls and is exactly as we would have expected to see it in the 1920s.

The living room features a coveted detail from this era: a Rookwood tile fireplace. Rookwood Pottery was founded in Cincinnati in 1880 and was the first large manufacturing business founded and owned by a woman, Maria Longworth Nichols Storer. Rookwood tile was a hallmark of the Arts and Crafts movement and is quite rare in Dallas today.

The  1925 floor plan of this 2128-square-foot Kessler Square home has remained intact, which is also rare today but the large original room proportions work so much better than the open-floor plans of new construction. You have just enough privacy in each room with a view of the others, so it’s really the best of both worlds. 

As we continue to lose noteworthy historic houses in Dallas, thank goodness, neighborhoods such as Kessler Park appreciate the importance of the historic built environment. Protected through the creation of a Conservation District, 1111 N. Edgefield is an outstanding example of the charm and craftsmanship of 100 years ago.

Listing agent David Griffin

The kitchen was added in the 1950s, and for anyone with a love of history, this is very exciting because it has Geneva-brand steel cabinets. These were cutting edge in the 1950s, and for good reason. They do not warp or stick and are a breeze to clean. Many came with clever inserts and pull-outs. It’s easy to see they served as inspiration for our modern-day kitchen designers because they were so far ahead of their time. Those sleek vintage cabinets are offset with a white tile backsplash and top-of-the-line appliances, including a SubZero refrigerator and a Viking stove. Again, this Kessler Square home offers the best of both worlds.

I often remind readers that if a house has had few owners, it’s a testament to its livability. This Kessler Square beauty has been the home of only two families since 1952. The current owner has been here for almost 25 years and has been a wonderful steward, updating and replacing all of the important elements in the past few years, including the roof of the house and the rear entry garage, as well as the home’s electrical writing and panel.

It is rare today to find a historic home with so many architectural details intact, and that has been so lovingly cared for. This is an exceptional opportunity to live in a unique historic home in one of Kessler Park’s friendliest neighborhoods. 

David Griffin of David Griffin and Company Realtors has this historic Kessler Square home at 1111 N. Edgefield available for $799,500.

Open Houses

• Saturday, Sept. 28, 1-3 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 29, 2-4 p.m.