East Dallas is on a rescue mission to save historic streetcar stranded in closed Spaghetti Warehouse | SharonFGrigsby
Time is running out to preserve this icon of our “city on wheels” history that now sits trapped amid encroaching development in the West End.
The family-style restaurant, which opened in 1972, was the first of the West End’s old warehouses to be gutted and reimagined in the northwest corner of downtown. But at the back of the deserted two-story brick-and-timber structure I found the hulk of the still-shiny red-and-yellow Junius Heights Streetcar 707., all its memorabilia eventually was sold at auction, including the streetcar. However, after one look at what would be involved in removing the car, the unidentified bidder thought better of the purchase.
Dallas’ early 20th century streetcar system earned it the nickname “city on wheels” and in 1906, as developers prepared to market Junius Heights, the Dallas Consolidated Electric Street Car Co. built a line into what was then wide open acreage. Each property was marked with a card on a stake; buyers grabbed their choice and raced to find one of eight salesmen still on the premises. Within an hour, half of the two hundred lots had been sold; the remainder were purchased the next day.
Built by the Peter Witt Streetcar Company, the 707 dates back to 1925 or 1926. Many of the Witt cars were gray with green accents, but Schmidt told me one of his best sources believes this one was cream with red accents. Several Junius Heights streetcar advocates told me that opening up a wall for the streetcar’s exit will likely cost more than they can afford. Their sense is that the massive frame will need to be meticulously disassembled to fit through existing doorways.
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