For over 50 years, one family has called 906 Stillmeadow Road their home. But it was long before the first brick was laid that the man who designed the home, Dr. Ben Moore dreamed of the French-provincial-style house on the corner.
A second generation Oak Cliffer, Dr. Moore began plans for making this home a reality in the early 1960s. As a young Dallas physician with a wife and two sons, he had a clear vision of his family home.
His home would be full of light, music, spaces for warm gatherings as well as for private moments of solitude and contemplation. His home would be a home of safety and the nurturing of the creative spirits within. It would a home of science and art … all under one roof, among the trees on the tender hills of south Dallas county.
From the moment you walk up to the front door, an eye to craftsmanship is evident. Inlaid in the front walk is the insignia of the Oak Cliff craftsman who built this fine, mid-century Oak Cliff home. The cast aluminum lighting and the mailbox are functional works of art that greet family, friends, and neighbors. The formal foyer features stunning tile work designed by Dr. Moore himself. The powder room at the entrance even has a vintage crystal chandelier that was part of his original design.
Each of the living areas provides the option for openness or intimacy with the custom-designed folding doors. The main living room was originally used as a music room. Imagine the beautiful songs coming from the grand and baby grand pianos that were played in this light-filled room overlooking the deck and backyard. The sound system constantly filled the house with music to cheer and delight the family.
The den’s wall of built-in cabinets and the fireplace surrounded by Italian marble invited family and friends to gather around. And when the Texas weather brought its great storms, the tornado shelter kept the family safe.
At the heart of the home, many bountiful meals were served around the table and built-in buffet in the large dining room. This room offered many options of letting in the light from the sunroom, living room, or kitchen, or creating a warm gathering space for dining by closing the custom-designed doors.
The kitchen had plenty of room for the family to prepare meals and eat together at the breakfast bar. The built-in desk and ample storage provided all the space the family needed to nourish and care for the home.
At the back of the home is a handyman’s dream. How many projects were contemplated and completed in the large workshop just off of the laundry room? With an exterior door, breaks could be taken on the lawn under the trees or on the deck off of the sunroom. The garage’s built-ins and oversized driveway provided great space for projects too, and the photography darkroom was the site of many creative developments.
Each of the four bedrooms was designed with the family in mind. The largest bedroom at the top of the stairs was the perfect room for the two young boys who moved in back in 1963. Their two desks and lamps side-by-side, the boys had a place to work on their projects and schoolwork. One closet for each child and a peg board divider between their twin beds, they not only had their own space but someone to enjoy it with.
The master suite also features a workspace, where Dr. Moore spent many hours working and enjoying the view from his window-filled office. From this place he certainly made other dreams come true, such as helping to create the emergency care system for the city of Dallas. Dr. Moore was one of the six founding members of ACEP (American College of Emergency Physicians), which set the national standard for emergency care and is now our modern EMS system at Methodist Hospital of Dallas, which due to Dr. Moore’s work, is now staffed by specially trained emergency physicians.
One wonders if he pondered his legacy from this room. Certainly, even as a physician, he couldn’t have known that his life would end at the young age of 46. But in his short life, he undoubtedly left a legacy. Part of which is the elegant French-Provincial home on the corner of Stillmeadow Road in Glen Oaks in his hometown of Oak Cliff. His children and wife lived in the home for many years long after he was gone. Even after the home leaves the family’s hands, no doubt it will always be called home.
The home is currently on the market, presented by CENTURY 21 Judge Fite Co. (another Oak Cliff treasure) and Realtor, Dawn McCallum.
Click HERE for more details.
