See How Dallas’ Swiss Avenue Historically First in Several Ways During The Annual Mother’s Day Tour

Swiss Avenue has accounted for a lot of firsts. The tony neighborhood was developed by cotton gin magnate Robert S. Munger, who created Munger Place, Texas’ first deed-restricted neighborhood. The centerpiece of the exclusive neighborhood was Swiss Avenue, a ribbon of grand homes stretching from Fitzhugh Ave. to La Vista Drive. Swiss Avenue became Dallas’ first paved street. 

The street claimed another first. In 1973, Swiss Avenue became Dallas’ first historic district. On March 28, 1974, it was named to the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated Dallas Landmark District.

Some of these gracious, historic homes will be showcased during The Swiss Avenue Historic District Mother’s Day Home tour, which is definitely not a first. The almost-annual tour — there was a break during the height of the pandemic, but this home tour is definitely not the first. Now a spring family tradition, this will mark the 49^th home tour.

“The tour is really intended to show the houses to the community,” said Alex Gandara-Morgan, who is co-chairing the event along with his husband, Scott Gandara-Morgan. “We do consider ourselves stewards of these homes.”

Dallas’ Prominent Architects

The elegant neighborhood, once home to some of Dallas’ most prominent families, was adorned with gracious homes designed by the city’s most distinguished architects. They created houses meeting Munger Place restrictions of being at least two stories high with brick or masonry exteriors. They had to sit back at least 60 feet from the street, and no vegetable gardens were allowed in the front yards. The custom homes had to be occupied by the owners, and they were required to cost the princely sum of at least $10,000.

Behind the five houses open to the public for this year’s tour were the creative minds of Hal Thomson, Marion Fooshee, Bertram Hill, and D.A. Barnett.

Thomson and Hill were the two architects who most likely designed the greatest number of homes on Swiss Avenue, according to longtime district resident Bob Cox. Cox, who has researched the neighborhood’s history, said Thomson built most of his houses between 1905 and 1919, while Hill’s residences were constructed in the 1920s and ‘30s.

“As far as similarities, both men designed homes for Dallas’ upper crust and both were in high demand among the city’s most well-heeled residents,” Cox said. “Both tended to design symmetrical facades with central entries, and both were known to also design more modest homes. But their common forte was to create statement homes that were both imposing and impressive.”

Designs on Tour

These designs can be compared and contrasted in selected tour homes.

Thomson designed the home at 5303 Swiss Ave., now owned by Virginia and Bob Dupuy. The classic Greek Revival with some Colonial Georgian elements was built in 1905 before the street was paved, according to Gandara-Morgan. Thomson and Fooshee co-created the home at 5520 Swiss Ave., built in 1914 and currently owned by Michelle Manners. The Georgian Mode house features both the original velvet bedroom walls and a circa-2021 kitchen remodel.

Hill was the architect for the 1924 house found at 5907 Swiss Ave., owned today by Claire and Cal Chaney. According to Gandara-Morgan, the Italian Renaissance Palazzo home contains a secret staircase to the third floor.

The tour co-chair uses “whimsical” to describe the Hill-designed English Cotswold home located at 6005 Swiss Ave. A birthday party will celebrate its centennial during both days of the tour of this antique-filled home owned by Marianne and Tim Howells.

D.A. Barnett built the home at 6020 Swiss Ave., a Jacobethan style with Palladian and Georgian influences. Now owned by Jennifer and Andy Scripps, the house was renovated completely in 2023, with many plaster moldings reproduced and installed throughout.

Same And Different

The homes on the 2024 tour, Gandara-Morgan said, are different, even if the architects were the same for two of them.

“They are all so beautiful,” he said. “These houses all are phenomenal. I could truly talk about all of them for a very long time.”

The tour is meant to be a multi-generational event since it’s held on Mother’s Day weekend. Children under 12 are admitted free, and tickets are on sale now.

And since it’s Mother’s Day, there’s a brunch option. The Swiss Avenue Historic District has partnered for the first time with Society Bakery. The bakery will offer three seatings with air-conditioned buses providing transportation to the tour site.

“We’re thrilled about this portion of the tour,” Gandara-Morgan said. “This is intended to be a lot of things, and of course, a nice thing to do with moms.”

And certainly, treating Mom well shouldn’t be a first.