4939 Tremont Street

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Sponsored by Elizabeth Mast | Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

Building began on this home at the end of 1909, a seven room, wood frame home costing roughly $3,850. Built for Dr. Samuel V. Duncan and his wife Mrs. Melissa Duncan, who lived at this residence until 1914. Samuel moved to Dallas in 1902 and was a Civil War veteran, serving in the Seventeenth Iowa Regiment. He was also a prominent member of Dallas’ medical community for a number of years. In 1912, this home was featured in the Dallas Morning News as an “Example of Civic Attractiveness”. This home made the news in 1933 for a different reason, Queen Stubblefield, a servant at 4939 found two alligators, one being three feet long, underneath the floorboards of her cottage at the rear of the property. Thankfully, you won’t find these errant visitors at the home today. David McManaway lived here from the 1970’s to early 2000’s, and used the downstairs as an art studio. Originally a painter, McManaway became well known for his often exhibited ‘found object’ contemporary art.

The current owners purchased their home in 2016 and have worked nine years to return it to showcase status for the neighborhood by making improvements to the exterior and all interior spaces. Where walls were removed, they have been added back. Where the kitchen was long outdated, everything is anew. A collapsing garage and studio apartment was leveled and rebuilt. An overgrown backyard was cleared away. And most importantly, central heating and cooling was added for everyone’s enjoyment.