Open House Today: We’ve Got The Tea on This Fort Worth Near Southside Abode

The striped awning over the front door lets you know the Fort Worth home at 13 Chase Court is important.

The plaque on the exterior of this Fairmount neighborhood home confirms it. This property has been a part of the historic neighborhood’s popular annual home tour. The plaque proclaims as much for all who enter to see.

“People loved it,” said Realtor Lori Gallagher with League Real Estate.

Not only is she the listing agent, but she was also the house captain when the Chase Court home was on the Fairmount Tour.

“It was the favorite on the tour that year,” Gallagher said.

The home’s elegance is evident from the street, which is actually owned by the homeowner, not the city. The listed price of $472,000 includes the stately home, the lovely yard, and even its own road, shared by the homeowners on Chase Court.

“It’s a little private court, so it’s different from every place else,” Gallagher said.

The house, built in 1925, holds stories within its walls. The current owner, beloved by many, held Tuesday afternoon tours here for years. Calling it “Tuesday Tea at Chase Court,” he entertained city officials, the minister of University Christian Church, college professors, and neighbors. Ready with a tea cart filled with finger sandwiches, cookies, two kinds of tea, and always a bit of sherry, he would receive his guests weekly, drawing them to a salon atmosphere and an exchange of ideas.

“He would have a huge mix of people, this eclectic mix of people,” said Gallagher, herself a neighbor. “You can’t even imagine how beautiful he would have it. And people would come to sit around, enjoy their tea, and talk.”

Dinner parties were held regularly, too.

“So many people have been to parties there, [even] the mayor the city council,” Gallagher said. “He was renowned for his dinner parties.”

Built For Entertaining

The house plainly was made for entertaining. In its 2,360 square feet are three living areas, a designated dining room, and a breakfast room. The number of beds and bathrooms depends … on how the rooms are imagined. Upstairs are two generous bedrooms, each with its own balcony, and a third room that’s used as an office, but could be a nursery.

The bathrooms? It’s interesting. There’s one full bathroom, and then a closet with a toilet and nothing more … not exactly a half-bath.

Speaking with candor, Gallagher said the house could use some TLC. Even though the air conditioner can keep it a cool 70 degrees on these 100-plus-degree days, the next owner will have to give other parts of the house a little attention.

“Somebody is going to have some vision,” Gallagher said. “It’s going to take someone who wants a historic house and someone who wants to entertain.”

Entertaining here could include a long-term house guest. The backyard includes a guest house of approximately 800 square feet. A mother-in-law or college student would have a kitchenette, living room, bedroom, and bathroom to live completely independently.

“It’s big and nice, even though it needs some work,” the Realtor said. “The bedroom is huge.”

Anyone wanting to feel the grandeur of walking up the sidewalk, under the awning, and through the front door should mark Saturday on the calendar. Gallagher is holding an open house from 1 to 3 p.m. that day.

“The elegance of this house calls you in,” she said. “It’s just such a unique property.”