A New Listing on Elizabeth Blvd. Prompts a Nostalgia For Life Lived in Ryan Place

I hadn’t intended to write about this listing at 1501 Elizabeth Blvd., which is one block from my own house, having frequently covered Ryan Place over the years and Elizabeth Blvd. in particular. In fact, one of the larger jazz-age spreads on Elizabeth Blvd. was my first submission eight years ago to CandysDirt.com.

I attended the estate sale at this property motivated more by curiosity than to hunt for treasures and wondered when the house would be put on the market. To be honest, this dignified grande dame does require quite a bit of TLC to restore her to her former glory and I wondered if a combination of condition and the asking price would frighten buyers away. I needn’t have worried. Before there was even a sign in the yard, there were multiple offers over the asking price and the bidding war closes tonight.

1920s Grandeur on Elizabeth Blvd.

The exterior certainly has elements of grandeur one might expect of a 1920 build, with its curved and balustraded terrace and columned entrance. There is a certain ambiguity of orientation — though the property has a coveted Elizabeth Blvd. address, the main entrance is actually on intersecting Willing Ave.

Emptied of its contents, one is left with only the architectural elements to contemplate and appreciate.

The entrance foyer is bedecked with original fixtures, a French door with side lights, and transom windows that create an agreeable first impression and an atmosphere of cheerful airiness. An elegant sweeping staircase leads to the second floor.

All ground-floor rooms are generously proportioned. This grand room with its exceptional cornice, paneling, and elegant chimney piece served for 50 years as the dining room but was originally intended as the living room, a fact betrayed by the built-in bookcases.

More wall sconces and another capacious room, formerly the living room, lead to a sitting room where the previous owners spent most of their time. At right is the door to the kitchen, which has been enlarged past its 1920s footprint but obviously wants a total reno. My guess is that the dropped ceiling was installed for the fluorescent lighting system and the original ceiling height could be regained without complications.

There are four bedrooms, all located on the second floor. Think of the wall-to-wall carpeting as a protective covering for 123-year-old hardwoods. My bet is that they are all in good nick. Bathrooms will also be a target for updates.

Parking is at back. There are two garage spaces below what was once housekeeper’s quarters.

Mary Moore with Ekklesia Real Estate priced 1501 Elizabeth Blvd. at $675,000.

Postscript: 10 Years on Elizabeth Boulevard.

So what is so special about this place — Ryan Place? This historical neighborhood on Fort Worth’s Near Southside is so much more than an amalgam of charming early 20th-century houses. Each day at five o’clock, begins the daily parade of dogs, prams, runners, and sometimes entire families with their young children who greet each other and know one another by name. I never felt the lack of a sense of community because I had never experienced it. Here It finds you.

And yes, I fell in love with a house. A house that needed (and still needs) a lot of TLC, whose potential I recognized, and whose embellishment and care continue to excite and inspire me. I am home.