Hi Steven, Thanks for question. The rooms are named after the other two families who lived in the Alexander Mansion before the Dallas Woman’s Forum purchased the home. Each family who lived in the Alexander Mansion has left their own mark on the home in the form of Dallas History and architectural changes to the building.
The Clark Room is named after Alfred L. Clark, who lived in the house from 1912 to 1916. Clark was a prominent lumberman. He came to Texas from Missouri as a child and came to Tyler in 1904. Clark was the president of the Southern Pine Association and president of the A.L. Clark Lumber Company. He also several other lumber companies and plants in several other states. In 1928 he declared bankruptcy and retired from active business because of poor health.
Alfred L Clark Died in 1938. He had a son, James Clark.
The Blair Room is named after Wiley Blair who owned the home from 1917 until the house became the Dallas Women’s Forum house in 1930. Blair was the United States fuel administrator for the State of Texas During World War I and the president of the Southwestern National Bank from 1922-1924. He was born in Louden Tennessee and came to Weatherford Texas when he was 12 years old. His career centered on the wholesale grocery business which brought him to Dallas in 1911. He established and became president of the Blair and Hughes Company in 1909. In 1918 he was elected president of the North Texas Wholesale Grocer’s Association. His knowledge of industry got him the appointment of Fuel Administrator. The rank of Texas being an oil producing state made this an important national service.
In July 1918 Blair called for Mondays and Tuesdays to be Lightless Nights to save energy during World War I. In that same year he declined accepting the position of Police and Fire Commissioner of Dallas. In 1920 Blair was elected as a director of the State Fair where he served as director for football of the Dallas State Fair. In 1922, he sold his grocery business and became head of Southwestern National Bank which later became Republic National Bank. Blair was involved in many civic activities in Dallas. He died in 1940 at the age of 75.
Source: This is a excerpt from notes written by Jim Anderson, and given to the Dallas Woman’s Forum by Mark Doty in 2012.
What is the purpose of Blair Room? What about Clark Room?
Much obliged,
STEVEN E. WANDERSCHEID
Hi Steven, Thanks for question. The rooms are named after the other two families who lived in the Alexander Mansion before the Dallas Woman’s Forum purchased the home. Each family who lived in the Alexander Mansion has left their own mark on the home in the form of Dallas History and architectural changes to the building.
The Clark Room is named after Alfred L. Clark, who lived in the house from 1912 to 1916. Clark was a prominent lumberman. He came to Texas from Missouri as a child and came to Tyler in 1904. Clark was the president of the Southern Pine Association and president of the A.L. Clark Lumber Company. He also several other lumber companies and plants in several other states. In 1928 he declared bankruptcy and retired from active business because of poor health.
Alfred L Clark Died in 1938. He had a son, James Clark.
The Blair Room is named after Wiley Blair who owned the home from 1917 until the house became the Dallas Women’s Forum house in 1930. Blair was the United States fuel administrator for the State of Texas During World War I and the president of the Southwestern National Bank from 1922-1924. He was born in Louden Tennessee and came to Weatherford Texas when he was 12 years old. His career centered on the wholesale grocery business which brought him to Dallas in 1911. He established and became president of the Blair and Hughes Company in 1909. In 1918 he was elected president of the North Texas Wholesale Grocer’s Association. His knowledge of industry got him the appointment of Fuel Administrator. The rank of Texas being an oil producing state made this an important national service.
In July 1918 Blair called for Mondays and Tuesdays to be Lightless Nights to save energy during World War I. In that same year he declined accepting the position of Police and Fire Commissioner of Dallas. In 1920 Blair was elected as a director of the State Fair where he served as director for football of the Dallas State Fair. In 1922, he sold his grocery business and became head of Southwestern National Bank which later became Republic National Bank. Blair was involved in many civic activities in Dallas. He died in 1940 at the age of 75.
Source: This is a excerpt from notes written by Jim Anderson, and given to the Dallas Woman’s Forum by Mark Doty in 2012.