Junius Heights Land Rush of 1906

Junius Heights Land Rush of 1906. . When the Dallas streetcar's Elm Street Line was expanded beyond the existing city limits in 1906, developers flocked to create new housing in former cotton fields now easily accessible by public transportation. One of these new developments was the neighborhood of Junius Heights. Development firm Hann and Kendall invited would-be homebuyers to take the new streetcar out to see the properties with the promise their fares would be refunded., On Sunday, September 2, 1906, the streetcars arrived for the first time into Junius Heights. Buyers toured the neighborhood and perused the sites; however, since it was Sunday, no sales were allowed. Buyers leisured until well into the night. At exactly midnight, a starting pistol fired, and buyers rushed to grab a card from the lot of their choice and bring that card to one of eight salesmen to claim their lot. By 12:45 A.M., nearly every lot was sold. By Wednesday, every lot was claimed. Most lots cost $250-$350, with some reaching $500. Ten dollars cash down payment was required. With $5 per month for lots under $350; $20 cash and $10 per month was required for larger lots. Interest was six percent., Residents constructed homes in a number of styles, including a large number of Craftsman houses, Prairie, Folk Victorian, Tudor, Colonial Revival, Eclectic, Neoclassical, Queen Anne, Spanish Eclectic, and more. One hundred years after the land rush, the City of Dallas created the Junius Heights Historic District, which was the largest landmark district in Texas at that time. The Junius Heights district encompasses ten different developments platted between 1903–1915.