Prior to the coronavirus and prior to recent conversations around social justice, Dallas Heritage Village embarked on a project to reinterpret the Millermore House with the intent of telling stories about all people who lived and worked in the Millermore house, including the enslaved.
Why the Millermore house? It is the linchpin of what today is known as Dallas Heritage Village, a history museum that represents life in Dallas from 1840-1910. The house was the first of 21 structures moved to land located in the Cedars neighborhood just south of IH 30. This land was Dallas’ first city park, opened in 1876 and was once home to the city’s first zoo.
What is the pivot? Last year, the Village staff revisited historical documentation and archives relating to the Millermore house and its occupants including the 1860 census which stated then owner, William Brown Miller, enslaved 16 African Americans and included names of three couples. Then began the task of identifying the enslaved and those who lived in the cabin and landing on stories the Village will tell.
Enter the Slave Dwelling Project, founded by Joe McGill. Joe’s mission is to bring to life stories of enslaved people in America by inviting people to sleep in historic sites where the enslaved lived. McGill talks about life in the dwelling from the perspective of the enslaved and reminds listeners that like us, the enslaved were smart, strong, talented, and skilled individuals. For the last two years, Joe brought his knowledge and overnight narratives to Dallas Heritage Village and its staff and visitors.
For years the Village focused its interpretation of Millermore to stories about its original occupant, William Brown Miller. Today, that view has expanded. Tours begin in the Miller cabin which was the original home for the Miller family when they arrived in Dallas in 1847. For seven years Mr. Miller and his slaves built the adjacent home, now known as Millermore. In 1862 the Miller family moved into the “big house” while the enslaved and their families occupied the cabin.
After emancipation, the cabin was home to several workers and through their research, the Village learned a descendent of the enslaved lived in the cabin until as late as 1940. Melissa Prycer, executive director of Dallas Heritage Village noted, “It (Miller cabin) was home for African Americans far longer than it was a home for pioneers.”
While COVID-19 has put a halt on touring homes and buildings at Dallas Heritage Village, guests are invited to walk the grounds, enjoy a picnic lunch, and participate in activities offered in open spaces. Since re-opening their gates to visitors in June, the Village has hosted fiber weaving demonstrations, cooking demonstrations, and stories celebrating June 19th. Future activities include Old Time Music jams, talks on old-time firearms, more.
For updates and additional information, follow Dallas Heritage Village on Facebook and Instagram. Be sure to put Dallas Heritage Village on your must do list for a taste of what Texas was like in the past. I’ll see you around the Village!