Generally, the past few years, a trip to White Rock is made about two times a week, on average. One thing about White Rock is that always, there is something new and different. A real-live steam powered boat complete with steam whistle blaring, a fire truck in the lake, a water rescue from the middle of the lake from a capsized sailboat; rowing teams in practice or in competition; a few of the odd things seen. A new Dodge Charger being recovered by a fire department dive team was interesting,too. In short, it is such a diverse place. Quad-ped wildlife, birds, water foul or land-bound and of course, reptiles slithering or turtles crawling on a log en mass are there among plenty of fish, beaver,and things I'm sure some have never seen at all. 5K or half-marathons and the full marathons are, of course, well documented. The Bath House Cultural Center is amazing inside and out be it a performance, lectures or art deco architecture or the sculptured art and flower beds of the Master Gardeners that give care all year long are common facts to be found.
Miss a week and you really notice changes more than ever. Two examples occurred this past week. Last week when a bit under the weather, those two trips were never made. Then, when I was able and well enough to drive again, shock number one was the complete destruction (on purpose) of one of the last Asian Long Houses that had graced the drive around the lake. All that was left standing on the foundation was about a 10-15 foot section of original framing on the front side. The long stairways down from the center remains and in the yard on the curbside-- two realty type signs. One with info of the City of Dallas permits and the other from Corrigan's,
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| Facing Buckner |
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| 9440 Poppy Drive entrance |
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| Buckner Lawn Sign |
a well known architectural firm here in Dallas. It said that it was redeveloping and remodeling the property. That--within itself--was a relief. The owners obviously have plans of vision to have Corrigan's as their architect. But, seeing the house in the state of which I had not expected was a bit of a shock for I have long admired those Asian long houses. The week prior, I remembered driving past and admiring the structure, so to see it gone was really a shock.
The second shock was also discovered when your eye catches a drastic change on the landscape that one is so attuned to seeing time and time again. This one was a bigger shock in as much as it had just celebrated it's 50th year and now, it's gone in name. The building is the same but it is so different now. This change is, of course, Doctor's Hospital at White Rock Lake. That is gone. It's been re-named as stated, but the shocker for the 218 bed neighborhood hospital is now Baylor-White & Scott Health. It merged with Doctor's as part of the Tenet Health Care Corporation. It is now--under the Baylor name--the largest non-profit healthcare provider in the state of Texas at $19Billion.Still, it's another landmark to say, "I can remember when it was Doctor's Hospital".
