Preservation Dallas Honors Frank Welch With Architectural Tour

By Donovan Westover
Special Contributor

We are honored to attribute an entire Preservation Dallas home tour to Frank Welch on October 28.  I was fortunate to meet Frank many many moons ago and develop an alliance with him, as everybody in his life did.  What’s not to like?  He was intriguing, he did not pass up a drink, he had linguistic flair (he cussed, like me) and I enjoyed his colorful observations.  In his later years, I recollect shuttling him around for a project when Frank dropped another classic:

“I have the worst vision, but I can tell you that house is Goddamn ugly.”

Linguistic.

We are proud to have assembled a super-duper remarkable library of Frank’s houses for the tour.  From each decade, beginning with the 1960s, the best representation was selected to open up for our guests.  The homeowners are also proud.  There are round skylights and windows, stick ceilings, landscaped grounds, sunscreens, creeks and ponds, craftsmanship, metal roofs … all underscored by Frank’s unparalleled vision and consideration of the home’s environment.  There are eight, yes, eight tour homes and each environment is truly distinctive.

We are beginning tour day at the Welch-designed gymnasium at the Lamplighter School. Dallas Morning News architecture critic Mark Lamster will moderate a “Frank” discussion including architects Mark Gunderson and Scott Marek, as well as long time builder John Hardy, who constructed many Welchian projects in Texas.  Educate before you circulate.

We are hoping you will join us and Coldwell Banker Global Luxury as we present the 2017 Fall Architectural Tour — Frank Welch in Dallas on Saturday, October 28.  Information and reservations are available at PreservationDallas.org.  

Check out the eight, yes, eight houses below!