Welcome to the
Irving Heritage Society

We are based in the Heritage House, shown above with special decorations for its 100th Anniversary.

To learn about the Society and its activities, CLICK HERE.

To learn about the history of the City of Irving and also the Heritage House, CLICK HERE.

To learn about the history of the Irving Independent School District, CLICK HERE. To see now-and-then photographs of Irving schools and other views, CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE for a list of future Society activities.

A list of current officers, directors, and committee chairs are found HERE, plus an application for membership as well as a list of former presidents.

Links to other Internet sites in Irving and those with a relation to history are found HERE.

Continue below for reports of current activities, photographs, and information of items for sale.

Old Red Schoolhouse Exhibit
June 17

Please join the Irving Heritage Society and the Irving Archives
for the unveiling of the Old Red Schoolhouse exhibit and recognition of Irving artist and historian Pete Fernandez.
Monday, June 17, 2013, 5:30 p.m. Central Library Auditorium, 801 W. Irving Blvd. For information: 972-252-3838

The Irving Independent School District built its first school, a three-story, red-brick building in 1913. For decades, all of Irving’s schoolchildren attended classes in the building known affectionately as “Old Red.” In 1976, local artist and historian Pete Fernandez created an oil painting of the old school as a retirement gift for Elise Walker, a longtime Irving school teacher.

Heritage House Tours
June 2

The June monthly tour of the Irving Heritage House will feature a display of the bridal gowns of yesteryear.  Gowns dating from the 1880s to a mid-century informal gown from the 1950s will be displayed.  The 1903 gown, coat, and shoes ensemble of Agnes Sueppel Schulze, wife of Irving co-founder J. O. Schulze will be included.  The 1936 wedding gown of Catherine Schulze and her bridesmaids’ gowns, the 1948 formal gown of Jean Werry and the 1950s wedding dress of Barbara Terrill will also be shown.  The 1880 gown features a bustle.

The Irving Heritage House will be open Sunday, June 2,  from 3pm - 5pm.  Docent led tours will begin at 3pm and 4pm.  Admission is free.  Built in 1912 by C.P. Schulze, brother of one of Irving’s co-founders J.O. Schulze, the Heritage House is a restored pioneer home.  This Recorded Texas Historical Landmark is located at 303 S. O’Connor.

Many beautiful antiques are throughout the Heritage House.   Some of the furnishings include an 1840 clock, an organ (ca.1880), a square piano (ca.1860), Limoges, Sevres, and Bavarian porcelains, and many more items from the past.  For more information call 972-252-3838.  Group tours may also be arranged at alternate times.

Heritage House

Caherine Schulze in her wedding dress

La Cima Heritage Committee Earn 2013 Irving Trivia Trophy

The final rounds of the 6th Annual Irving Trivia on April 20th found four strong teams competing for the honor of hosting the Irving Trivia trophy for a year. The final teams included last year’s champions the Henry Holmes Breakfast Forum, the Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Irving Museum Advisory Board. The teams bowed to the new champions of the La Cima Heritage Committee, represented by Patty Landers Caperton, Anne Pfaff, Janice Carroll, and Tom Caperton as a last minute substitute for team member Virginia Meler. A record number of tie breaker questions were required to determine the winning team. For more photos, CLICK HERE.

La Cima Heritage Committee team seated left to right: 
Tom Caperton, Anne Pfaff, Patty Landers Caperton and Janice Carroll. 
Standing Irving Trivia event emcee Dan Matkin and
event chair Mary Higbie

Mary’s Playhouse

This small building is located just behind the C.P. Schulze 1912 family home.  Originally a chicken coop, the structure was later converted into a playhouse for the young Schulze daughter, Mary.  As she grew up, Mary used the building as a quiet place for her creative interests of painting and writing as well as meditation.  Rebuilding of this playhouse began in 2012 as part of the Heritage House 100th Anniversary.  The Irving Heritage House is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. CLICK HERE TO VIEW MORE PHOTOS.