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Friends of the Irving Museums will host a Kick Off and Preview Meeting on Thursday, January 25, at the former Central Library building, 801 West Irving Blvd.  This will be the future site of the Irving Archives and Museum.  Guests are invited to gather at 6:30pm for refreshments with a presentation at 7pm on the future museum.

 

 A business meeting will follow the presentation for the Friends members and others who might be interested in more information on how to determine the best way to provide support for the museum project.  Charter memberships in the Friends of the Irving Museums organization will be available.

 

RSVP to 972-252-3838 to provide a count for attendance and refreshments.

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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.

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Victorian House

Not only is the Irving Heritage House decorated for Christmas, on Sunday, December 3, there will be an exhibit of a special collection given to the Irving Heritage Society.  Three beautifully crafted miniature buildings by Helen Brooks Klem will be on display.  The centerpiece is a 23” tall Victorian House model with three stories and features six rooms, two large hallways and two built-in fireplaces.  Additionally there are two store fronts of a toy store and a general store. 

 

Each building is reminiscent of times passed and the wonderful memories the structures arouse.  Created with painstaking attention to detail, the buildings allow one’s imagination to fully experience yesteryear in miniature.  The buildings are also fitted with electric lights.

 

Heritage House tours now include tours of Mary’s Playhouse in the back garden area.  They are open from 3pm-5pm on Dec. 3, with docent led tours at 3pm and 4pm.  Admission is free.  Children of all ages are encouraged to attend to view these unique pieces.  Built in 1912, the Heritage House is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark and located at 303 South O’Connor.  Each visitor will receive a copy of the Irving history book “From Rails to Wings.”

 

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

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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.

 

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Catherine Schulze

In honor of the 1936 wedding of Charles and Catherine Schulze, Catherine’s wedding gown and bridesmaids’ dresses will be featured in the bridal gown display during the monthly Heritage House tour on Sept 3th.  The Irving Heritage House will be open for tours Sunday, Sept. 3 from 3pm-5pm with docent led tours at 3pm and 4pm.  Admission is free.  Bridal gowns dating from the 1880s to a mid-century informal gown from the 1950s will also be displayed. Located at 303 South O’Connor, the Heritage House was built in 1912 by C. P. Schulze, brother of one of Irving’s co-founders.  This restored pioneer home has been designated as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark.    

Mary’s Playhouse in the back garden area will also be open for tours during the first Sunday tour times of 3pm-5pm.  This rebuilt chicken coop of the 1920s was the playhouse of young Mary Schulze.  It contains many original toys of the Schulze children as well as vintage items.  Families are encourage to visit.

Guests on Sunday, Sept. 3, will receive a complimentary copy of the Irving history book “Rails to Wings” by Norma Stanton.

For more information visit www.irvingheritage.com or call 972-252-3838.  Group tours may also be arranged at alternate times.

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Welcome to the Heritage House.

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.

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Mary Schulze

Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Mary Schulze, the Irving Heritage Society will host a birthday party in the back garden area of the Heritage House, 303 South O’Connor, on Sunday, July 16, from 2pm-4pm.  Old fashion games, storytime, and refreshments will take place. 

Mary Schulze grew up in the home at 303 Iowa Street, now called O’Connor.  Born on July 19, 1917,  she and her older brother Charles were the children of C.P. and Virginia Schulze,  Her uncle J.O Schulze along with Otis Brown, founded the town of Irving. 

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

  

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Little Golden Book

Recognizing the 75th 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.

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ICVB gives up trophy to the La Cima Heritage Committee

The Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau trivia team delivered the trophy to the La Cima Heritage Committee team on June 5 at the La Cima Club, noting that it was “temporary” and the ICVB team expected the trophy to be returned next year.   The two teams are often found competing against each other during the annual Celebrating Irving:  The City and The Man activities.  Their contests bring friendly competition resulting in many tie breakers as well as much laughter.  Though Anne Pfaff and Diana Pfaff are on opposing teams, the mother/daughter duo remain loyal to their own teams.

 

Team members of the ICVB were Maura Gast, Diana Pfaff, Clem Lear and David Cole.  La Cima Heritage team included Anne Pfaff, Virginia Meler, Rosemary Robbins, and Deneice Chavez.  Other teams in the Irving Trivia finals this year were the Irving Arts Board and the Ladies of the I Gang.  

 

For more information regarding the Irving Heritage Society and Celebrating Irving, visit www.irvingheritage.com or contact 972-252-3838.

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Newly elected board of the Heritage Society

Dr. Lea Bailey was elected President of the Irving Heritage Society during the May 7th 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 100th anniversary of the birth of Mary Schulze as well as the 40th 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.