Check Out The Insides of 4949 Swiss at Mother’s Day Home Tour

Share News:

There appears to be some construction going on at 4949 Swiss Avenue, but the historic home remains boarded up.

Lee Hancock wrote an excellent long-form dissection of Mary Ellen Bendtsen’s home, 4949 Swiss Avenue, after Mark McCay and Justin Burgess were willed the house under suspicious circumstances. While there have been some reports of construction going on at the “Grand Dame” of Swiss Avenue, the front is boarded up and the carriage house is still crumbling.

But it won’t be that way for long, says Cameron Kinvig, who purchased 4949 Swiss and plans to restore the mansion that was once home to W.W. Caruth. In fact, all three floors of 4949 Swiss will be open to onlookers during this year’s Swiss Avenue Mother’s Day Home Tour on May 12 and 13.

“Many of the wall paintings from the ballroom (from Mattie Caruth’s debutante ball) were able to be saved and will be shown in their original (pre-restoration) condition in the ballroom,” Kinvig said via e-mail. “Docents will be on hand to discuss plans for the home’s renovation, and will be able to share some of the fun tidbits I’ve discovered since purchasing the home.”

After touring Swiss Avenue, if you want to watch the drama surrounding 4949 Swiss play out on the small screen, flip to the Discovery Channel’s “Investigation Discovery” on May 12 when they re-air the special about the case.

 

 

Joanna England is the Executive Editor at CandysDirt.com and covers the North Texas housing market.

No Comments

  1. Jeff on April 24, 2012 at 3:32 pm

    Oh fun! I plan to be there!

  2. Jeff on April 24, 2012 at 3:32 pm

    Oh fun! I plan to be there!

  3. Lesley on April 24, 2012 at 4:45 pm

    I've seen the ballroom and the basement! I showed it when it was listed, unfortunately the buyer wasn't serious. Can't wait to see what's been in the works!

  4. Lesley on April 24, 2012 at 4:45 pm

    I've seen the ballroom and the basement! I showed it when it was listed, unfortunately the buyer wasn't serious. Can't wait to see what's been in the works!

  5. JenniferC on April 25, 2012 at 10:38 am

    How much did the house sell for?

  6. JenniferC on April 25, 2012 at 10:38 am

    How much did the house sell for?

  7. Candy Evans on April 25, 2012 at 11:58 am

    $525,200.

  8. Candy Evans on April 25, 2012 at 11:58 am

    $525,200.

  9. David M on April 25, 2012 at 7:01 pm

    I love seeing all of the recent action on Swiss Ave.
    There's some really nice properties on this years home tour.

  10. David M on April 25, 2012 at 7:01 pm

    I love seeing all of the recent action on Swiss Ave.
    There's some really nice properties on this years home tour.

  11. diana on April 25, 2012 at 7:07 pm

    Thanks for the heads-up, Candy. I'm picking up my tickets tomorrow!

  12. diana on April 25, 2012 at 7:07 pm

    Thanks for the heads-up, Candy. I'm picking up my tickets tomorrow!

  13. […] work in Dallas is legendary, particularly in East Dallas and Oak Cliff, where he once listed the Mary Ellen Bentsen home on Swiss and now has 1504 Argonne Drive with over a half acre in Kessler Park listed at $1.295M. Recall that […]

  14. […] work in Dallas is legendary, particularly in East Dallas and Oak Cliff, where he once listed the Mary Ellen Bentsen home on Swiss and now has 1504 Argonne Drive with over a half acre in Kessler Park listed at $1.295M. Recall that […]

  15. Kenneth Conway on May 16, 2012 at 7:06 pm

    Are Mark McCay and Justin Burgess in prison yet?

  16. Kenneth Conway on May 16, 2012 at 7:06 pm

    Are Mark McCay and Justin Burgess in prison yet?

  17. Candy Evans on May 16, 2012 at 11:40 pm

    I had news about one of them the other day — let me dig.

  18. Candy Evans on May 16, 2012 at 11:40 pm

    I had news about one of them the other day — let me dig.

  19. […] a little dirt. Swiss Avenue, for example, is loaded with great house stories: we will never forget Mary Ellen Bendtsen, her lavish parties and the boys who tried to snatch that home from her […]

  20. […] a little dirt. Swiss Avenue, for example, is loaded with great house stories: we will never forget Mary Ellen Bendtsen, her lavish parties and the boys who tried to snatch that home from her […]

Leave a Comment