The Irving Heritage Society will host a Soup Supper followed by their general meeting and program on Tuesday, January 23, at the Senter East building, 228 Chamberlain. The Soup Supper will begin at 6pm and the meeting/program at 7pm.  A panel discussion “If Cemeteries Could Talk-What Would They Say” will include Councilman Dennis Webb, former Councilman Gerald Farris and Gary Westerman.  Richard Monroe will serve as moderator as the panel explores various historic cemeteries in Irving. 

For more information visit www.irvingheritage.com or call 972-252-3838.  The evening is free and the public is invited to attend.

October is Fire Safety Month and the Heritage Society along with the Irving Fire Department will include an educational outreach in the first Sunday tour program.  Toy fire trucks large and small will be on display during the monthly tour of the Irving Heritage House on October 1, from 3pm-5pm.  Heritage Society member Andy Lucas will exhibit part of his extensive collection which includes very small and detailed replicas of fire trucks to ones brought to him from Japan. The Heritage House is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark and is located at 303 South O’Connor.  Admission is free and the tour includes a visit to Mary’s Playhouse in the back garden area.

According to the City’s website, the Irving Fire Department was formed in 1925 as a volunteer Fire Department after a fire started in the only schoolhouse in Irving.  R.V. Leach was elected Chief.  Their equipment was a four-wheeled pull cart with a 20 gallon water barrel, a hand pump and buckets, broom, and small ladder.  The City was one square mile at the time.  Volunteers were alerted of a fire by a light and siren on top of the old water tower in downtown Irving.  Rumors say that the first fire chief would shoot his gun into the air to summon the volunteers too.   

The public is invited to attend the free event on October 1.  For more information, visit www.irvingheritage.com or call 972-252-3838.

The Schulze family home, now known as the Irving Heritage House, was built in 1912.  It was given to the city as a “historic tour home” by the Schulze children Charles and Catherine Schulze and Sister Mary Schulze in 1975.  The house became a Recorded Texas Historical Landmark in 1986.  Among the many antiques in the Heritage House are a Rosewood square piano (c. 1860), a mezzotint engraving from the American Art Union Lottery System, Flow Blue plates, and Limoges and Bavarian porcelains.  The current exhibit features wedding gowns from various decades.

The Irving Heritage and Mary’s Playhouse are located at 303 South O’Connor and are open for free public tours on the first Sunday of the month, March through and including December, from 3pm-5pm.  The tour on Sunday, August 6, will offer docent led tours at 3pm and 4pm.  Complimentary history book of Irving will be given to visitors.  Group tours may be requested for alternate dates by calling 972-252-3838.  Visit www.irvingheritage.com for more information.

Recognizing the 75^th anniversary of the Little Golden Books, a special exhibit of vintage books from the collection of Heritage Society member Karen Jackson will be on display at the Irving Heritage House on July 2, Sunday, during the monthly first Sunday tour from 3pm-5pm.  The Heritage House is located at 303 South O’Connor and monthly tours now include Mary’s Playhouse in the garden area as well.  Admission is free.  Guest will receive a complimentary copy of the history book Irving, Texas:  From Rails to Wings by Norma Stanton.

Little Golden Books were created in 1942 for children.  Some of the first books included Three Little Kittens, Bedtime Stories, Prayers for Children, The Little Red Hen and the all-time favorite and the top seller The Poky Little Puppy.  The books have been colorfully illustrated with distinct styles from such artists as Richard Scarry, Eloise Wilkin, and Garth Williams. The books sold for 25 cents and you were even allowed to write your name in them.

For more information on the Heritage Society activities, visit www.irvingheritage.com or call 972-252-3838.

Dr. Lea Bailey was elected President of the Irving Heritage Society during the May 7^th general meeting and ice cream social on the front lawn of the Irving Heritage House.  Following the installation of the officers and directors by Dr. Walter Betts, Texas Library Association Immediate Past President, Dr. Bailey provided a year in review of the Heritage Society’s special activities including a listing of the history of each of the Irving Independent School District elementary schools on the Heritage’s website.  She offered appreciation to the many volunteers for their time and service.  Looking ahead, Dr. Bailey noted that the upcoming next year will include the 100^th anniversary of the birth of Mary Schulze as well as the 40^th anniversary of the founding of the Irving Heritage Society.  

For additional information regarding the Heritage Society, visit www.irvingheritage.com or contact 972-252-3838.