The Irving Heritage Society will host the dedication of two historical markers on Friday, June 22 for the Estelle Community and Harrington Cemetery.  Located at 4200 Valley View Road, the dedication will begin at 10am.  Parking is available on the grounds.   Lawn chairs are suggested as seating is limited.

The Estelle community was located on what is now largely DFW Airport property in western Irving.  The community evolved during the second half of the nineteenth century from scattered farms on the Grapevine Prairie.  At its height, the community had a steam cotton gin, two churches, a blacksmith shop, a school and a general store.  The city of Irving annexed the Estelle area in 1968.

Bryant and Ryan Harrington came to the Estelle area shortly after the Civil War.  The brothers amassed large land holdings on which they raised cattle and farmed.  In 1883, the Harringtons donated land for a community school and Masonic lodge and a two story frame building was built on the land.  In 1916, the community built a two-story brick schoolhouse on the same piece of land.

For additional information, contact the Irving Heritage Society at 972-252-3838.

Under the shade of the large tree in the front lawn of the Irving Heritage House, the Irving Heritage Society held their annual meeting with the election and installation of new officers on May 6. Current president Lea Bailey presided over the business meeting.   Marlene McDargh conducted the installation of the new officers.  That slate included:  President  – Philip Prince, President-Elect-Linda Shotwell, 1^st Vice President (Membership) – Kitty Boyle, 2^nd Vice President (Programs) – Jearlene Miller, 3^rd Vice President (Projects) – Gary Westerman, Recording Secretary – Pam Engman, Corresponding Secretary-Shirley Smith, Treasurer – Anne Pfaff, Historian – Pamela Slaughter, and Parliamentarian – Lea Bailey.  Directors included:   Tim Fooks, Lee Mosty, Mark Murray, Imogene Rogers, Gary Schepf, Karen Jackson, and Corine Barberena.

Following the program, those in attendance enjoyed an ice cream social before tours of the Heritage House.  For more information about the Irving Heritage Society, visit www.irvingheritage.com or call 972-252-3838.

University of Dallas professor of art emeritus, Lyle Novinski, will present a lecture on Grant Wood and other artists of the Regionalist Movement on Thursday, April 26, at the Irving Arts Center, 3333 N. MacArthur. Preceded by a gallery tour of Wood’s art work at 6:30pm, the lecture will be given in the Dupree Theater at 7:30pm.  Presented as part of the Celebrating Irving: The City and The Man series and in conjunction with the Irving Arts Center exhibit, the tour and talk are free and open to the public.

Emphasizing the work of Wood, Novinski’s talk also will encompass Thomas Hart Benton, John Steuart Curry and a few others of the Dallas connection to the Regionalist Movement.   It will discuss the relationships between the social, artistic and political forces that shaped the great popularity of the Movement.  The Regionalists focused their artistry on the heart and heartland of the America of the 30’s. Their work both reflected and influenced the culture of the time extending into our films, music, dance and architecture.

For more information, visit www.irvingheritage.com or call 972-252-3838.

Celebrating Irving:  The City and The Man will begin a month of programs on Saturday, April 7, with the “Grant Wood Meets Irving Texas, Tableaux Vivants.”  It will be held at the Singley Auditorium, 4601 N. MacArthur and begins at 7pm.  Admission is free.  Door prizes awarded.

Singley drama and art students have created living pictures of some of the famous paintings by  artist Grant Wood.  This American artist is known around the world by his famous painting of American Gothic . Wood was a leader in the Regionalism style of painting with his images of the rolling hills, corn fields of Iowa, and painting landscapes and people that he knew so well.

For the complete month long schedule, visit www.irvingheritage.com or call 972-252-3838.  All events are free and open to the public.

The silver is polished and the recipes are being double checked for the Irving Heritage Society 40^th anniversary of the Valentine Tea of 1914 on Sunday, February 11 from 2pm-4pm at the Irving Heritage House, 303 South O’Connor. The Heritage Society was launched at the Valentine Tea in 1978 and charter members of the 40 year old organization will be honored.

The Irving Index newspaper article of Thursday, February 19, 1914, reported:

“Mr. and Mrs. Charles Percy Schulze threw open their beautiful new home Saturday evening to one hundred and fifty invited guests.  The housewarming was in the nature of a Valentine Party – the decorations and color scheme throughout being hearts, arrows and cupid in reds and yellows.”

The same description fits the upcoming event at the former Schulze home now called the Heritage House, as the Irving Heritage Society recreates that party of 1914 with their annual Vintage Valentine Tea.  The public is invited to share in this special event from 2pm-4pm.  Reservations are not required and admission is free. 

Just as in the 1914 article description, there will be strings of hearts from the chandeliers.  The lace draperies at the windows and the dining table will have festoons of hearts and arrows.  Kathy Howard, Judy Pierson, and Nancie Rissing are serving as co-chairs of this year’s event.

For more information, visit www.irvingheritage.com or call 972-252-3838.