Pastor Chris Simmons has long been concerned about the fate of an old mansion located at the intersection of South Boulevard and South Ervay Street, just a stone’s throw from his Cornerstone Baptist Church.
He feared that the historic structure would eventually be demolished, making way for a vacant lot or new developments that overlook the significance of the neighborhood’s history.
Simmons emphasized the importance of the mansion’s historical significance, particularly to both the Jewish and Black communities that once thrived in the area.
The house at 2830 S. Ervay has stood for 117 years, originally serving as the home of Simon Linz, a prominent jeweler whose legacy is preserved through the Linz Award, a distinguished civic honor presented annually in Dallas.
Later, the residence transitioned into a funeral home that facilitated the final goodbyes of over 5,500 Black residents of Dallas.
In a pivotal move, Simmons, with the help of the Rees-Jones Foundation, made an offer for the mansion that its longstanding owners could not refuse.
This acquisition is part of Simmons’ broader vision for the property, transforming it into the Linz Cultural Heritage Center.
He envisions this center as a space dedicated to both Black and Jewish history—a museum, performance venue, educational institution, and a means of fostering community connections.
Recently, Simmons has begun sharing his proposal with potential donors and partners, reaching out to organizations including the Dallas Jewish Historical Society and the African American Museum of Dallas.
His goal is clear: to create something that instills pride in the neighborhood and honors its rich history.
A resident of South Dallas since May 1988, Simmons has focused his efforts on revitalizing a community he describes as being “in crisis and despair.”
In recent years, initiatives led by Cornerstone Baptist Church, in conjunction with local partners such as St. Philip’s School and Community Center and Forest Forward, have strived to counteract the community’s negative reputation.
Reflecting on the condition of South Dallas, Simmons quoted something his father used to say: “What they have they don’t need, what they need they don’t have.”
However, Simmons and his collaborators have demonstrated that this perspective can be reversed.
During a recent Saturday morning, Simmons was seen delivering fresh produce to the Southpoint Community Market, a grocery store located in a former strip mall that has been revitalized from a liquor store into a community resource.
Later that day, he visited a community kitchen that shares a parking lot with a medical and dental clinic, underscoring Cornerstone’s commitment to providing essential services and improving living conditions in the area.
Cornerstone also oversees several historical homes that have been repurposed for community support, including a transitional housing facility for women recently released from incarceration.
The Linz Cultural Heritage Center represents the latest endeavor in Simmons and Cornerstone’s reconstruction of South Dallas.
He aims to connect the neighborhood’s past to its future, reinvigorating a sense of pride in a community that has faced significant challenges and occasionally negative media portrayals.
Simmons remarked on the need to restore dignity to South Dallas, emphasizing that it is not a place merely defined by its struggles, but one with a rich and vibrant history that deserves recognition.
He pointed out how, in contemporary narratives, the contributions and positive attributes of the community are often overshadowed by stories of crime and despair.
Simmons believes that this project can help reclaim and celebrate the legacy of South Dallas, reminding both residents and outsiders of what the community was and can be again.
The mansion itself is more than a structure; it symbolizes the resilience of its neighborhood, particularly at this intersection of Park Row and South Boulevard, an area that suffered after the construction of the South Central Expressway in the 1950s.
Much of the surrounding neighborhood has succumbed to neglect, with vacant lots making up significant portions of the landscape.
Yet Cornerstone continues to serve as a steward of the area’s history, making efforts to preserve sites like the first Dallas Home for the Jewish Aged, which holds its own historical significance.
Simmons characterized this work as a commitment to fostering a sense of shalom in the community, highlighting how different aspects of local history interconnect, particularly between Jewish and Black residents.
Beri Kaplan Schwitzer, the executive director of the Dallas Jewish Historical Society, has taken notice of Simmons’ endeavors and plans to visit the Linz House soon.
She remarked on how the preservation of historical sites like the Linz House often takes a backseat to modern development, emphasizing the necessity of remembering the past while striving for future progress.
The Linz family, including Simon Linz and his brothers, hold a significant place in Dallas’ history, having founded their jewelry business in 1877 and contributed to the construction of what was then the city’s first skyscraper.
The Linz house was constructed at a cost of $15,000 and was first announced to the public in a newspaper article dated May 13, 1906, showcasing its striking design.
Having served as a funeral home since 1957, initially run by Alto McGowan and later by Eternal Rest Funeral Home, the mansion has remained a key part of the community’s narrative.
The McGowans, who operated their funeral home for decades, maintained extensive records that provide a window into the lives of those who passed through their doors, including several noteworthy individuals from Dallas’ past.
Pastor Chris Simmons’ work can be viewed as a remarkable act of cultural preservation and community upliftment.
His dedication to transforming the Linz House into a cultural heritage center encapsulates a commitment not only to honor history but also to foster community development and cohesion.
In doing so, Simmons is affirming the importance of remembering and embracing the narratives that define South Dallas.
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