1916 Oil Pull Rumely Tractor

Type 30-60 E (thirty horsepower at rear wheels and 60 hp at the belt pulley)

This tractor was purchased new by John Henry Singleton, in 1916 and delivered to his farm place on Avondale Haslet Road, which is now Willow Springs Ranch and Willow Springs West subdivisions. Believed to be the first tractor in northern Tarrant County and was utilized for thrashing grain with the belt pulley and plowing fields, mostly cotton which was grown in the 1930’s when Haslet had the only cotton gin in the area, wheat and oats crops were also farmed. The tractor was worn out by the late thirty’s after over two decades of farming almost 200 acres of land each year, and was dismantled for scrap metal in 1942 as the Country needed metal for World War II.

The rear wheel was saved originally for thoughts of being livestock water trough. Good thing that never materialized and we have this piece of history left as a reminder of what this giant tractor once was. This wheel is now on display on part of the original farm place, at the home site of Danny R. Moss, as he purchased the Singleton farm, from various family members in 1998 and the remaining tract in 2003. Danny Moss developed the property into the residential communities, Willow Springs Ranch and Willow Springs West.

This tractor information was given to Danny Moss by Henry E. Singleton, oldest son of John Henry Singleton, when he visited the Haslet farm in 1999, and was discussing the history of the land, and the Haslet area. Henry was born in 1916 and helped run the tractor as a young boy across much of the area were our homes are today. Singleton Drive in the Willow Springs Ranch subdivision was named in honor of the Singleton family who farmed the land since purchasing it in 1912.

For more information about this history of our community, or interest in the Willow Springs Ranch or Willow Springs West subdivision please give us a call, D.R. Moss Quality Custom Homes 817-439-3032 or visit our new photo gallery page on our web site at www.DRMossHomes.com

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All of our clients living in the Willow Springs Ranch community absolutely enjoy the beautiful sunsets, fresh country air, spectacular star-gazing, and with easy access to the Willow Springs Golf Course.

Here’s what one of our clients has to say about the quality of workmanship and our attention to our clients’ needs:

Our experience building our new home with D.R. Moss Custom Homes was wonderful from start to finish. From suggestions for innovative home design to craftsmanship which continually exceeded our expectations, Danny and his staff never failed to deliver. Danny’s professionalism, attention to detail, and adherence to high standards of quality throughout every step of the process resulted in a truly exceptional home that we are proud to own. Thanks Danny for making building our new home a pleasant and stress free experience! –Hal and Barbara Lavender

View our available lots and pricing, contact us today.

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Whether your current home was pre-owned or built from an assortment of available lots and blueprints, what are the chances your builder lives in your community? If your home was built by D.R. Moss Quality Custom Homes, the chances are pretty good!

Owner Danny Moss enjoys the benefits of providing a quality product to his neighbors, and his dedication to offering only the best has earned him the title of a genuine, ethical, hardworking businessman. “Business is good, and I love what I do every day,” Danny said. “Some of my best advertising comes from my clients. They enjoy the process of creating a truly distinctive home. Each home is as unique as a fingerprint, just as it should be. Everyone’s home should be different, and I like to offer a home that will grow or change with the needs of the owners.”

D.R. Moss Quality Custom Homes started with a $20,000 investment for land on the west side of Haslet, where he built a home for his family. He later sold that home and built another, and so on. While the stakes have gotten much higher today, the area still remains one of the most affordable custom home markets in the Metroplex. In 1983, Danny Ray Moss was incorporated as D.R. Moss Quality Custom Homes.

“We started building out the property in Haslet. We’ve always been of the belief that you give people the best they can afford, with the money they want to spend, to be honest and establish a friendship with them. We are friends with all of our clients.”

Recently honored with the distinguished Greater Fort Worth Builders Association Builder of the Year award, it is clear that the rest of the area has taken notice of the local builder as well. “I have always loved Haslet and promoted it for years. Haslet is quickly being recognized as a fast-growing community with a lot to offer,” Danny explained.

The community is central to D.R. Moss Quality Custom Homes. Danny does all he can to be involved and make Haslet a better place to live. Recently, he assisted with the construction and excavation needed to build the new Fellowship of the Parks church on Avondale Haslet Road.

When designing a home, Danny makes a point to get to know his clients and what their future might bring. For instance, an existing office may be used to accommodate an elderly parent in the future, so the plans are drawn with that in mind. When the time comes for the office to change, the flex space is already there. It may be as simple as knocking out a wall to reach another wall behind it, already plumbed for a small kitchenette. The changes can be made simply and with very little cost because of the pre-planning.

A Haslet resident since birth, Danny was raised with his five siblings on a 1,200-acre ranch his father managed in Haslet. Being the son of a rancher, hard work was very much a part of Danny’s life.

“At a very young age, my dad instilled a strong work ethic in me. I was driving hay trucks in the field by the time I was eight years old and a tractor by the time I was 12. I grew up in the Haslet 4-H group and was in FFA in high school, raising and showing cattle,” said Danny. He and his father remain in the cattle business today, and still have some of the same bloodlines of the cattle he raised when he was young.

“Looking back now, we weren’t rich by any means. We were actually pretty poor, but we had everything we needed on that ranch. We had a cow we milked; we had chickens and beef we ate. We sort of lived like we were rich, and it was a very good life,” said Danny.

His career in building began at Northwest High School, from which Danny graduated in 1975. “Back in the ‘70s, they established a program for the building and trades class to build a home for a local teacher. The teacher would pay for the materials, and the students built the home. Since I did that type of work growing up, it came naturally to me. That’s how I became interested in building homes. I really took pride in the finished product.”

After school, Danny took a job with a general contractor in Arlington and quickly worked his way up the ranks. Within six months, he was in charge of his own crew framing houses. In 1976, he met his future wife, Kelly. Their first home was on Second Street in downtown Haslet, and quickly became Danny’s first building project for his family.

“It was a little fixer-upper. We practically leveled the thing and built it up from there,” Danny recalled.

From that point on, the Moss family—complete with Danny and Kelly’s daughters, Brandi Allison and Brittany Robbins—bought, built and sold their home every two to three years. Now grown up, Brandi is the owner of and realtor for Alliance Properties and Brittany is a teacher at Wayside Middle School in the Eagle Mountain-Saginaw school district.

Over the years, Danny has received numerous awards and has been appointed to various committees. In fact, his expertise has led him to serve as president of the Greater Fort Worth Builders Association and president of the Building Officials Association of Texas. He was named by then-Governor George W. Bush and re-appointed by Governor Rick Perry to serve on the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission’s State of Texas On-Site Waste Water Research Council, which is charged with regulating private septic systems. In total, he represented Texas builders for five years in Austin. Danny currently serves as Area II vice president of the Texas Association of Builders.

Locally, Danny is credited with helping create the Building Professional Institute in 1992, a continuing education program offered through the University of Texas at Arlington’s Construction Research Center. More than 1,000 building inspectors, homebuilders, architects and engineers attend annual training programs to update their knowledge on code changes and building science. Danny has served many years on this committee, including as chairman in 1996.

Danny’s experience has led him to be one of the best in his profession. He launched his own framing business in 1977, but took a hit in 1980 with the rest of the construction industry when Texas encountered a rough winter. Later that year, Danny went to work as a building inspector for the city of Bedford and found he truly enjoyed what he did for the city. And so, Danny began building homes in Haslet as a hobby to his 25-year career as chief building inspector for Bedford.

A family-owned and -operated business, D.R. Moss Quality Custom Homes took on its first employee just four years ago, and she and Kelly have quickly become a talented team with a keen eye for interior design. “Lisa Moore, our administrative assistant, is a wonderful addition to our business. She is dedicated, hardworking and quickly became part of the family.”

Having worked, studied and excelled in all facets of building—from owning his own framing business to working as a building inspector—Danny has gained vast experience in all aspects of construction. He prides himself on being a certified green builder by staying abreast of new technologies and money-saving materials available to clients.

“Some of the new homes we are building are up to 7,000 square feet but use the same amount of energy as some 1,500-squarefoot homes. The technology available is amazing; I make sure our clients are aware of their options to keep their homes running efficiently for years to come.”

From an efficient, circulating water heating system that provides hot water at any tap instantly and at a low cost, to smart homes with the ability to tie into smartphones so that the lights and appliances can be operated remotely, some of the new technology is truly amazing. Danny recently attended the National Association of Homebuilders Conference in Florida, where he serves on the board of directors. “This is where much of the latest in design trends and new technology is displayed for builders. This industry is always growing and adapting to new technology. I love being a part of that process, and incorporating it into our homes. It really is exciting,” Danny said.

When they’re not working on the next home, the Moss family spends their free time riding around in their collection of vintage Corvettes. They are proud to participate in the Lone Star Corvette Club at Texas Motor Speedway and other area car shows. Danny and Kelly have even incorporated their passion for vintage Corvettes into the interior of their home with beautiful murals in the game room and family media room. Since moving in, they have also added a pool, a beautiful outdoor kitchen and, recently, an outdoor fireplace. Danny and Kelly also enjoy spending time with their three grandchildren, and often travel with their extended family.

“We are now in our forever home. As an Air Force kid, I moved around a great deal, and being married to Danny, we moved our fair share. But this home we are in is 12 years old now, and I am perfectly content to stay,” Kelly explained.

“We love to sit on our balcony and look over our property. This is our home,” said Danny.

This is one good neighbor that doesn’t seem eager to move on. In fact, the Moss family is living their dream.

“We get to design and build dream homes for others. What could be better than that?”

For more information about D.R. Moss Quality Custom Homes, visit http://drmosshomes.com. Danny’s latest land development project is a 180-acre zone south of Willow Springs Golf Course, named Willow Springs Ranch.

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Danny Moss, for one, would challenge all the national reports heard lately that predict a burst in the housing bubble, which has played a major role in the overall economy for so many recent years. At least in his corner of Northwest Tarrant County, there is anything but a slowdown in activity.

“After attending a recent Residential Strategies’ forecast review, I took their suggestion and started taking note of all the out of state plates and at the number of new Texas license plates I saw on a daily basis,” said Danny. “Around the Alliance Airport and Business Corridor area, it really is astounding.”

(Click on thumbnails below to enlarge photos)

He recalled when his friends in the Mid-Cities often joked with him about being the only builder out in the rural areas of Northwest Tarrant County. Danny has always lived not far from where he was born and raised in Haslet. He started building homes in his hometown area as a side interest to his career as Chief Building Inspector for the City of Bedford, which he retired from after 25 years of service. It all started with an $8,500 investment on a half-acre lot, where he built a home for his family. He later sold it and built another, and so on. While the stakes have gotten much higher today, the area still remains one of the most affordable custom home markets in the Metroplex.

Since 1983, word of mouth has kept the business of D.R. Moss Quality Custom Homes on a steady pattern of growth. Danny’s experience and knowledge as a Certified Professional Code Administrator brought a new standard of quality to the ungoverned rural area, where homebuyers must depend upon their builder, not only for quality construction of their homes but also for construction of the home’s private water, sewer and gas systems. In fact, Danny’s expertise was so proficient that he was appointed to serve a term as president of the State Building Official Association and was also named by Governor George W. Bush to serve on the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission’s State of Texas On-Site Waste Water Research Council that is charged with regulation of private septic systems.

Locally, Danny is credited with helping create the Building Professional’s Institute in 1992, a continuing education program offered through the University of Texas in Arlington’s Construction Research Center. Over 1,000 building inspectors, homebuilders, architects and engineers attend this annual training program to update their knowledge on code changes and building science. He has served a long tenure on the board of UTA’s Construction Research Center as well as on the board of directors for the Greater Fort Worth Builders Association. Danny’s immense experience and knowledge in the science of building has been particularly appealing to the steady stream of homebuyers moving to the area since expansion began years ago nearby at Alliance Airport. Relocation activity has made a goldmine of Danny’s primary focus area in Haslet—bringing competition and growth to the area.

A combination of hometown knowledge, foresight and financial discipline allowed Danny to buy up land, which is still quite inexpensive compared to other Metroplex cities that are “far enough away, but still close enough by for convenience.” By adding a development arm to his business, Danny resolved another concern that buyers have when moving to the country—what might be next door.

“Homebuyers and builders notice immediately that our neighborhoods stand out. That’s because of our development planning efforts and deed restrictions, including covenants for larger lots with a 50-foot minimum building line. This provides front yards that are almost three times the typical size, preserving the rural country feel,” said Danny. “Masonry and roof pitch requirements assure that the neighborhood has a consistent look and that property values are protected.”

While D.R. Moss Quality Custom Homes previously built out all the lots in its own neighborhoods, other builders have been asked by invitation to participate in lot draws at the latest new development of Willow Springs Ranch. There, the company retained 47 lots and another 50 were pre-sold in one day to seven other hand-selected builders.

Danny now boasts more than 20 years of experience as a builder and developer. Through the years, he has witnessed homes become larger and more complex, buyers become more sophisticated and knowledgeable, and the face of Northwest Tarrant County change significantly and yet still retains its country lifestyle and affordability.

“The explosion of corporate relocation has brought in out-of-state buyers who find country living near their work centers in the Alliance corridor ‘like heaven’ compared to the crowded and expensive areas they typically move from. With new neighborhoods popping up and an influx of affluent buyers moving in, the Metroplex has also come to knock on the door. We’re seeing a lot of people moving west from Keller, Southlake and Colleyville to escape suburbia,” Danny explained.

Of his current inventory under construction, one home is being built for a move-up buyer from the Metroplex and seven others are for buyers from different states. He described the average buyers as middle-aged professionals who have reached the highest income level in their careers. Typically, they are building their second or third custom home. He has built for corporate professionals of American Airlines, Motorola, Burlington Northern, Nokia, FedEx, Fidelity and Bell Helicopter. Recently, Alliance has also become a hub for government activity, spurring another influx of relocation activity. The D.R. Moss team has recently completed homes for joint strike fighter engineers from Lockheed Martin.

Danny is certainly not the only builder in the area anymore, but like his developments, the quality and efficiency of his homes also stands out. He explained how one buyer that was interviewing several builders went to the effort to research Tarrant Appraisal District statistics and the utility companies’ websites to compare house size and the average cost of utilities on the recent homes built by each builder.

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More and more people in the DFW Metroplex seek to move to the country for a number of reasons-more space and privacy, less traffic, smaller and better school districts, and a great place to raise kids. Danny Moss can fulfill country living dreams by providing the land to build on and a custom home building experience that his customers won’t regret. His home buyers can be assured that their home will meet the highest of expectations and the strictest of building standards.

While Haslet is now starting to attract the attention of many builders and developers, Danny was raised on a ranch in Haslet and has now lived there for over 40 years. His father taught him at an early age the values of honesty, hard work and perseverance toward a goal; these lessons have been invaluable to him in his home building career. Danny’s interest in the home building industry was piqued when he got a job working with a framing contractor in 1975. He was active in the framing business until 1979 and ran his own framing crew during the latter part of those years. He eventually built a home for his own family, sold that one, and the roots of his home building business were laid. By 1983, business started blossoming through word of mouth, and D.R. Moss Quality Custom Homes was established.

The company has established a specialty in building country-setting homes in Tarrant, Denton, Wise and Parker counties. Prices for homes by D.R. Moss Quality Custom Homes have ranged from $200,000. to $750,000. Designs have included Colonial Ranch, Texas Hill Country and Old World.

In addition to being an active home builder, Danny has also been a Certified Professional Code Administrator since 1984, and works for the city of Bedford as a building official and building project manager. He served two terms as president of the State Building Officials Association from 1992 to 1994. During his presidency, Danny was credited with helping create the annual Building Professional’s Institute, which is offered as a week-long continuing education program by University of Texas at Arlington’s Construction Research Center. Over 1,000 building inspectors, architects and engineers now attend this annual training to update their knowledge in construction technology. This is just one of the sources that assist in keeping Danny attuned to the latest trends and products. He continues to serve on the board of UTA’s Construction Research Center and is also an active member of the Greater Fort Worth Builders Association.

“Structural integrity of a home is the key to long-term home values,” explained Danny. “My lumber company tells me that no one builds houses with as much timber as I do. I also pier the foundation of every house I build. It’s a cheap insurance policy to spend an extra $2,000 now rather than pay $15,000 later to put a Band-Aid on something if you have a problem. My cable placement for post-tension slabs is closer than most. I would rather err on the conservative side, because the foundation and structure of a house is something you can’t go back and upgrade later.

“Energy conservation is another focus point. I put lots of effort and detail to incorporate energy-saving features into each home and utilize only the highest level of energy-efficient systems and appliances,” added Danny.

Insistence on quality has its payback. Many houses built by D.R. Moss Quality Custom Homes are now in excess of 15 years old and still look almost new; many are still lived in by the same original owners. These satisfied customers have referred their friends and family to Danny for their new home needs.

D.R. Moss Quality Custom Homes’ homes are loaded with quality finish-out, including Austin stone accents inside and outside, specially crafted fluted trim made on site, large MDF baseboards which hold paint better, scalloped windowsills, lighted art niches, hand-trowelled walls, brick surrounds in kitchens, solid surface kitchen countertops, appliances garages in kitchen and baths, central vacuum systems, hat racks, peg boards and three-way mirrors in master closets, master bedroom sitting areas, large glass-block showers and windows, jetted tubs, window seats and reading lighting, and home theaters with Surround Sound throughout the house and back patio. Garages with side and rear entries for enhanced curb appeal, circular drives, pull-through porte-cocheres and outdoor fireplaces made from Austin stone are some of the signature touches Danny adds on the outside.

Danny pays careful attention to use every available space, often building exercise or game rooms above the garage area or attic, which are separately heated and cooled. He is also seeing more demand for attached mother-in-law quarters, including a bedroom, sitting area and small kitchenette with its own separate HVAC zone.

“The home buyer is the team leader in the design of the home. When we’re ready to get started, I introduce them to one of the architectural firms we use. In the design and building process, we bend over backwards to incorporate every vision and dream into their houses. I use computer technology and digital photographs to showcase our existing homes and communicate design ideas to my clients,” said Danny. “But if their budget is tight, I educate them on the primary importance of building their house right. They can always upgrade light fixtures or change carpet, but we can’t go back and beef up the structure later, so I must insist on doing that part of it my way,” explained Danny.

Danny builds on a cost-plus basis, which helps save his customers money. Utilizing the latest in computer software helps to provide accurate estimates and creates a reporting format that is easy for his buyers to understand, which keeps them informed of the cost of every detail on their home. A recent letter from one of the area banks praised the professional manner in which his projects costs are tracked and reported to make the process better for everyone.

The entire construction process is a very hands-on one. In recent years, Danny has sometimes had to turn business away in order to control the team’s ability to provide the type of service he insists on. Starting with the purchase of the land, through the financing and design stages. Danny works hand in hand with every customer. During construction, he is on site everyday. He personally walks through the home with the customer at every stage to make sure their needs and expectations are being taken care of. Danny’s wife Kelly, helps customers with interior selection. The fact that not only Danny and his family, but his subcontractors also, receive Christmas cards from past customers every year gives an idea of how personal their service is.

“Fair pricing and the service provided by myself and my team of subcontractors keeps the referrals coming,” he said. “Most of my subcontractors have worked for me for better than 10 years. Many of them are from surrounding rural areas and they enjoy working out here on my jobs as opposed to fighting the traffic to get to the city job sites. In fact, I’ve built houses for several of my crew members. They know the process of building with D.R. Moss Quality Custom Homes, and understand the needs and concerns of the home buyers because they’ve gone through it themselves. Courteous custom service is the expectation of each team member, and is one of the keys to success,” said Danny.

“My subs have grown with me to understand that things have to be done a certain way on my jobs because of my high expectations, code knowledge and continued drive for improvement. We all take pride in professionalism, and we know that doing it right means very few warranty callbacks later, and that’s good for all of us,” said Danny. “My buyers appreciate the detailed attention given to every phase of their home.”

Without city codes and city services such as water, sewer, and gas, those desiring to move to the country do have some legitimate concerns, but D.R. Moss Quality Custom Homes covers all the bases to ease these concerns.

“Twenty years of building in the country teaches you a lot of lessons that can only be learned through experience,” Danny added, pointing out some of the advancements that have been made to water wells, septic and propane systems which must be used in rural areas.

Danny is one of two home builders appointed by Governor George Bush to serve on the State of Texas On-Site Waste Water Research Council. He was appointed in 1996 and is currently serving his third term. This council reviews new and regulatory laws and provides research grants pertaining to on-site septic systems utilized in rural areas.

“I promote the use of aerobic spray, irrigation-type system for septic system. These aerobic systems actually work like mini sewage-treatment plants. They treat and chlorinate the waste water from the home. Then, it is recycled through a separate lawn sprinkler system. With absolutely no smell or nutrients left, the sprinkler system disburses the waste water to the landscape and eliminates the need to have a septic leach field. A small panel allows the homeowner to easily check the status of the system. A red light and audio alarm will tell them if it needs service,” explained Danny.

Another important consideration when building in a rural area is what may be next to you, since there are no protective city zoning ordinances. That is why Danny’s own master-planned developments are so attractive to his buyers. He is currently selling Phase III in his own Willow Springs West Development in Haslet, which encompasses just over 156 acres with lot provisions for a 62-home subdivision of upscale country homes. 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 acre lots. Owners are allowed one horse or other approved livestock per acre.

“Our location inside Tarrant County offers several advantages,” explained Danny. “We are close to one of the best job markets in the state. Restaurants, theaters and several supermarkets are just a few minutes to the south. Tarrant County residents also can get better insurance policies. In these ranchette type of developments.

In Willow Springs West, building minimums are set at 2,400 square feet, although the average size has been about 3,250 feet. Architectural guidelines stipulate masonry home exteriors and land maintenance provisions to protect owners’ investments, without the burden of homeowners’ association dues. County-approved, asphalt-paved streets and underground TXU Electric and Southwestern Bell Telephone utilities are provided. The new Haslet Elementary School, two miles to the east, is part of the highly ranked Northwest ISD. The community is served by school bus service.

Though the rural atmosphere makes the area seem far away from the city, it is actually just three miles from the Fort Worth city limits, and 14 miles from the Tarrant County Court House in downtown Fort Worth. Alliance Airport is only minutes away, yet Willow Springs West is not under its flight path. The Alliance Business Park is only five miles to the east.

Nearby recreational opportunities are abundant. The development is located adjacent to the Willow Springs Golf Course, an 18-hole public course established in 1996. Residents enjoy Eagle Mountain Lake just about seven miles away. Many of the custom homes have attractive metal buildings on the home sites to store boats and jet skis or golf carts. Several of his customers are American Airlines pilots, and since many of them fly for a hobby also, they like the fact that Hicks Air Field is only 3-1/2 miles to the southwest. Away from city lights and buildings, residents can also enjoy spectacular sunsets and star-gazing nights.

As one homebuyer from California said, he got acreage, and a house he only dreamed of before, for the same price he sold a condo for in urban California. And he had fun building it, and would do it all over again with Danny Moss.

“Out here, we start with natural, undisturbed ground and create country living dreams out of it for families to enjoy,” says Danny. Proof of that is growing around him in Haslet.

For more information about D.R. Moss Quality Custom Homes, call (817) 439-3032.

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