W.A. Criswell’s Swiss Avenue Jacobethan Manor House

Expectations are always high when you walk into a Swiss Avenue home. However, this Jacobethan manor house at 5901 Swiss Avenue exceeded mine by a mile. Not only is it a historic home with a well-known, charismatic former owner, it’s also been thoroughly, stunningly updated.

Last week, Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s lovely Elizabeth Mast hosted a sneak peek because the home will not be listed in MLS. The moment you drive up you know you’re in for something special. Jacobethan manor houses are visually arresting because they are essentially Tudors that are dressed up to go to the ball. The striking semi-hexagonal, two-story bay window, cast stone mullions, arched lintel over the front door, and overlapping gables are elements that distinguish the style and again, let you know this is an extraordinary home before you open that front door.
According to the Swiss Avenue Women’s Guild site, it was built by M. E Faber in 1924 for C.A. Tucker and cost, brace yourself, $17,500.00 But, remember that was a pretty penny in 1924. (And it WAS 1924.) Faber added a decidedly non-Tudor touch with the red barrel-tiled roof, but we think that just makes it more dramatic.

In 1942, First Baptist Church purchased the Jacobethan manor house for use as a parsonage for Reverend W.A. Criswell and his wife, Betty. If you’ve been living abroad for generations or are new to Dallas, Criswell was the former head of the Southern Baptist Convention. Under his 47 years of leadership, First Baptist became the nation’s largest Southern Baptist congregation. The Criswell’s called this Jacobethan manor home for 66 years.

The church owned the house until 2008, when they sold it to Jean Bainbridge and Mike French. Note: they are only the third owners of this home. They pulled out all of the remodeling stops to bring this beauty into the present century with style, grace, and every modern amenity.

Featured on the 2013 Swiss Avenue Mother’s Day Home Tour, the brochure offered the following details:

Jean and Mike oversaw a massive restoration, including new plumbing, HVAC, ductwork, gas lines, and all wiring. The Reverend’s library was converted into a master suite, and an elevator was installed. Mrs. Criswell’s in-home radio studio is now Jean’s office. Original features that were restored include the hardwood floors throughout the entire home, the plaster cove and trim in the stairway, the fireplace mantel and marble surround, the stained and leaded glass windows, and the massive front door. All surface finishes were selected to look similar to original finishes of the period. The iron gate at the entryway was installed by the Criswells.

The restoration of this 4,660-square-foot Jacobethan manor house is absolute perfection. There are now four living areas, four bedrooms, three bathrooms, two powder baths, and a two-story carriage house with a full living room and half bath downstairs and master and full bath upstairs.

“This incredible Jacobethan manor house really stands out because it’s the only home on the boulevard that has a true master bedroom with a master bath on the main floor,” Mast said. “The master closet would rival any new build on the market today, and it has a two-car attached garage, which was not prevalent at the time the property was built.”

That master suite is what Jean and Mike will miss the most. “It’s their favorite spot in the house,” Mast said. “It opens into the second living area, and they feel that they have their own perfect oasis on the first floor.

If you’d like to have a peek at this extraordinary Jacobethan manor house, give Mast a call, but do it quickly. At $1.795 million, I cannot see this home being available for very long!

Karen Eubank is the owner of Eubank Staging and Design. She has been an award-winning professional home stager and writer for over 25 years. She teaches the popular Staging to Sell class and is the creator of the online course, The Beginners Guide to Buying Wholesale. She loves dogs, international travel, history, white paint, champagne, artificial turf, and homes with personality. Her father was a spy, and she keeps secrets very well. Find Karen at www.eubankstaging.com