Good Space

A SWEET STORY CONCEALED BENEATH PAINT & RUST: Using a bench grinder outfitted with a wire brush, we removed a hundred years of paint and rust from these door hinges – "ball-tipped, mortised leaf hinges," as they'd be described in a hardware catalog. But a simpler name applies: Sweetheart Hinges.

We salvaged these from an old house near our current renovation, after thieves reduced our supply of antique hinges. After cleaning, we looked to see if the hinges had been engraved with the manufacturer's name. All we found, stamped into the hidden side of one of the leaves, was "S.W." inside the outline of a heart. An internet search revealed that these were produced by The Stanley Works Inc., founded in New Britain, Conn., in 1843 by Frederick Stanley. Today, Stanley and its subsidiaries produce most of the hardware and power tools we use.

In 1854, Stanley hired 19-year-old William Hart, who over the next six decades rose to guide the company's growth, retiring as chairman of the board in 1918 and dying the next year. As a tribute to Mr. Hart, Stanley stamped its hardware and tools with "S.W." surrounded by a heart, from 1919 to 1932. Carpenters came up with the nickname "sweetheart hinges."

We would have guessed the house these came out of had been built in the nineteen-teens, after a fire wiped out the neighborhood in 1909. But now we know the house dates no earlier than 1919.

MELBA STREET, THEN AND NOW. Something inspired Logan Ragsdale, a retired librarian with family roots in Oak Cliff, to contact us about a trove of photographs from his father's childhood at 700 Melba St., three blocks west of today's Bishop Arts District. This neighborhood, where we are currently restoring a small apartment complex, developed along the North Loop streetcar line in the first decades of the 20th century. We share the photos with you, along with what we learned about the Ragsdales over coffee this morning.

SEE YOU AT THE STARTING LINE this Sunday at the 2026 Dash For The Beads 5K, for which Good Space is again pleased to serve as title sponsor. When the gun goes off at 11 a.m. in front of the Kessler Theater, the sun will be breaking through, with temps in the upper-50s – perfect running conditions! In its third year as race organizer, Dallas Youth Sports has tweaked the course, though in North Oak Cliff it's impossible to run 3.1 miles and avoid the Big Hill. This year the nausea-inducing elevation gain is concentrated on the short stretch of little-known Belleau Ave., which ironically means "beautiful" in French.

Register here – https://runsignup.com/Race/TX/Dallas/DashfortheBeads – that net proceeds will fund athletic programs at Oak Cliff elementary schools.knowing

WELCOME TO BISHOP ARTS AND GOOD SPACE, White Rhino Coffee. As landlord, we look forward to seeing what's in store at 314 (π!) N. Bishop Ave.

(One correction to the article: Emporium's home was built in 1917, not the "1930s.")

White Rhino Coffee Purchases Emporium Pies - cravedfw White Rhino Coffee has acquired Emporium Pies, a beloved dessert shop in North Texas, linking two women-owned, community-focused brands. Both companies emphasize quality and hospitality, with plans to preserve Emporium’s legacy while exploring new collaborations. The acquisition aims to enhance lo...