New Junius Heights Mural Pays Tribute to 707 Streetcar and Sparks Search for Its Last Stop

Opportunity is knocking and Brian Jackson can’t wait to find out which business or philanthropist will answer the door to give an iconic piece of East Dallas history a home. The Junius Heights resident designed an homage to the old 707 streetcar in hopes it’ll inspire someone to give this historic relic a permanent stop, where it can be restored and be available for all residents to enjoy.

“This is the actual street car that came through our neighborhood,” Jackson said.

You see, the 707 once ferried Junius Heights residents to and from downtown during its heyday. After it retired from service, it found a home inside the old Spaghetti Warehouse located in the West End. When the restaurant closed, the new owners of the space donated the streetcar to the Junius Heights Historic District, but that presented a problem — where do you put a 50 foot streetcar?

The 707 is already getting a big assist in that goal from the Carroll family — long time Junius Heights residents, who gave permission for the mural of the 707 to be painted on the side of what used to be Mike’s Convenience Store at the corner of Tremont and Augusta.

“The whole idea of the mural is to help find it a home,” Jackson said. “The mural will be a show piece. We are trying to provoke thought and get the dialogue started on where to house the 707.”

Mural Meant to Get People Talking

Artist and muralist Isaac Davies is charged with bringing the mural of the 707 street car to life. With the goal of getting the conversation started, the mural is doing that already even though it is not completed. 

As he paints from 6 to 9 a.m., Davies is hearing nothing but positive comments from local residents walking their dogs or leaving for work in the morning.

“People have been loving it,” he said.

“That’s awesome, that’s awesome,” one resident said, as another echoed, “That’s a good job.”

Jackson said Davies was brought on to paint the mural because of his 20-plus year career creating art not only in Dallas but around the world.

“I like doing murals because of the scale and scope,” Davies said. “Murals are a strong way to communicate big ideas.”

While the design was created by Jackson, Davies said he could not turn down the chance to create the 707 street car mural.

“I said, “Yeah dude, that sounds great,’” Davies said. “A lot of my work has ties to historical references.”

The desire to find a home for the 707 is as sincere as the mural is authentic. The image of the street car conductor is actually a photograph of James Dolande wearing an actual uniform from the 1930s.

“The guy had an authentic suit,” Davies said. “He posed for the picture so it would be accurate.”

707 Street Car Counting on a Hero

Along with the mural, Jackson said the front of the building will have a printed mural of a storefront “so it’s like you are looking inside at a streetcar.” 

There will also be a sign placed at the top of the building as a thank you to the Carroll family for helping to bring awareness for the need of a permanent home for the 707.

“Mary’s 707 is to pay homage to Mary Carroll” the matriarch of the Carroll family, Jackson said. “The intent of using the ‘707’ and ‘Mary’s’ together… the designer was having fun. Street cars would take on a feminine name once restored.”

While the final name will need approval from the Junius Heights Historic District, Jackson said, the priority is finding a location. Placing the 707 at a public park was considered but dismissed.

“It would cost $15,000 to $20,000 per year for maintenance,” he said. “It’s not really a good proposition.”

The mural is slated to be completed by Aug. 13. As a recipient of the Love Your Block grant awarded by the City of Dallas the final deadline is Sept. 14. The mural will also be a featured stop during the upcoming Saturday Stroll – A Home, Garden, Porch & More Tour on October 18. 

If all goes as intended, the 707 street car will find a home thanks to someone who loves and recognizes the importance of keeping a big part of Junius Heights history alive for all to enjoy.

“I think the entire neighborhood would consider them a hero,” Jackson said.