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Munger Place Days: The Morning After…

September 29, 2013 By Talya Tate Boerner

Do you remember the ‘morning after’ scene from the movie Big when Josh (who grew into Tom Hanks while he slept) returned to the park looking for the Zoltar machine?

The midway had disappeared.

The rides had been disassembled and moved elsewhere.

Zoltar vanished overnight.

The only evidence of a recent carnival was litter scattered by the wind, a something-wicked-this-way-comes sort of wind.

That’s how I felt the morning after Munger Place Days. Not that there was an eerie feeling, or that I felt any ‘bigger’ than normal, but a strange, empty sensation filled the air.

The food trucks and art vendors were gone. Regular Monday morning traffic noise replaced the live music and energy that charged the streets only hours before. Like the build up to all exciting and anticipated things, I felt a bit of let down. Or maybe it was a sigh of relief.

Even days later, our neighborhood still bears faint signs of the weekend as sidewalk chalk slowly fades into the concrete.

We had no Zoltar machine at Munger Place Days, but had we, I might have wished to be little again. If only for a few days.

talya

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

Heart and Soul, FAO Schwarz Piano, Big

A letter from Junius Peak

September 26, 2013 By Talya Tate Boerner

Throwback Thursday…

The name Peak is likely familiar to East Dallas residents. But even if you aren’t an East Dallasite, the letter below is a fascinating part of American history.

Captain Jefferson Peak, a veteran of the Mexican War, donated much of the land for East Dallas roadways. Many streets within Munger Place and Peak Suburban Historic Districts were named for Captain Peak’s eleven children including Junius, Worth, Carroll, and Victor.

Junius, fought as a Confederate soldier during the Civil War, served as Dallas City Marshall 1874-1876, and as 2nd Lieutenant for the Texas Rangers in 1878.

The following oral history was dictated by Junius Peak to the Frontier Times (Bandera, Tx) on August 6, 1927 (presented without editing)…

I was born at Warsaw, Kentucky, April 5, 1845. Moved with the family in 1855 to Dallas, Texas, which we reached on June 10th of that year. We were soon comfortably located in a good 2-room log house, with a fine well of water, etc.
Shortly after our arrival in Dallas, father bought 229 acres of fine land two miles East of the Dallas County court house, paying $110.00 cash on this land. My father at once began building the first brick house in Dallas County for his house, and in which he died.
The early part of April, 1878, I was commissioned by the Governor as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Texas Frontier Battalion for the purpose of destroying the Sam Bass gang of train robbers, and was promoted to Captain in May following.
By July of that year I had succeeded in disposing of the entire band, excepting Bass, Barnes and Jackson, driving these out of North Texas into the trap arranged by Major John B. Jones at Round Rock. I was immediately ordered to the Frontier where I found the Indians very active, especially in 1879.
A detachment of seven Rangers from my Company, on the 20th day of June and 2nd day of July had the last two engagements with Comanche and Kiowa Indians on the Texas frontier, at the head of the North Concho River and on the Plains 80 miles West, where Ranger Anglin was killed and the two pack mules lost on June 28th recovered.
Please mail me 20 copies of your September issue, with bill for same enclosed.

Sincerely yours,

June Peak
4409 Worth Street, Dallas

***

Note: As the unofficial keeper of historical records and photos for Munger Place Historic District, I hope to periodically share information related to Texas history and specifically East Dallas. These photos and glimpses into bygone days are invaluable. As Winston Churchill said, “The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.”

talya

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

Curiosities, East Dallas. Always feels like home…

September 16, 2013 By Talya Tate Boerner

For two years, I was drawn to this painting. Although it was partially hidden on a top shelf buried behind seashells and pieces of coral, I studied it each time I wandered into Curiosities, my favorite Lakewood haunt for treasures, trinkets and yes, curiosities.

There was just something about the way artist Glenn Ramey (1953) captured the ocean’s mood at first light… Plus, I loved the frame.

Several months ago, I took it upon myself to reorganize the shelf in this particular booth. I dug the painting out and moved it front and center. I stared at it with a feeling of deja vu.

Each time I visited, (yes I go there often), I was relieved no one had purchased it. I admired it again and again, but left empty-handed determined not to bring anything else into our house. (I pretend to be downsizing…)

Finally, on the day I took my friend Dorothy to visit Curiosities, I bought it. For whatever reason, the time seemed right, plus the owner of the painting was there which made it even more exciting for me.

Now the painting hangs on the wall in my office where I write.

One week later, John and I went to the Pacific Northwest for vacation. Cannon Beach felt serene and calm and familiar. I’d never been to the Oregon Coast, but that spot on earth felt like home.

And then I remembered my new old painting.