An Impeccable 110-Year-Old Modern Abode in Fort Worth’s Ryan Place. Yes It’s Possible

How easily our eyes take this house in now. And yet, in 1915, when this house was built, it would have appeared cutting edge and modern — perhaps even a bit disconcerting to some of the residents of Elizabeth Blvd. in Ryan Place, home of many charming historical revivalist houses.

Compare this house to the one below, in North Carolina, also built in 1915. Below a plethora of ornament, angles, and decorative accretions. Above, a bold geometry composed of forceful blocks with a robust lateral disposition.

Not that 1306 Elizabeth Blvd. is devoid of ornament, it’s that the vocabulary is completely different. Rectilinear with crisscross lines deriving from sources as far-flung as Japan and Native American design.

The architect of this brilliantly realized effort is unfortunately unknown. But house falls squarely into the Prarie Style idiom disseminated by Frank Lloyd Wright. And the three-bedroom and two-and-one-half bath, 2,980-square-foot residence is in an extraordinary state of preservation, surviving intact after 110 years and multiple owners, retaining all of the original stained glass, cabinetry, and tile work.

What is lacking in fact resides in abundant lore. I’ve been told that the original owner was allowed only the barest control of construction, being allowed to give the basic specs and giving the builder license to shape the construction as he saw fit.

Another anecdote concerns the unique fireplace. The listing states that the tile is Batchelder. There is a lot of it about in the Near Southside neighborhoods of Fairmount, Ryan Place, Berkley, and Park Hill so I’m quite familiar with these lovely tiles. The chimney piece tiles don’t resemble any Batchelder I’ve seen in person or on the internet. No matter. It is original, ergo an antique, for which as the story goes, someone once offered $10,000 and a redo of the chimney. Happily the offer was declined.

For a house of this age, it’s remarkably livable by today’s standards. Just enough space to contain the essentials: a breakfast area, a home office, or a TV Room/Library like the one above, just off the living room.

The kitchen is perfectly serviceable — plain, not updated, not glam. Actually, hoping not to tell tales out of school, the kitchen is one of the reasons this one-of-a-kind property is on the market. The owners have a beachfront in California, a residence in Aspen, and another great lock and leave Fort Worth property. Update the kitchen or sell?

The broad central staircase leads to the bedrooms upstairs. Three windows on the first rung exemplify the abundant fenestration throughout the house which gives lay to the general conception that prairie style houses are dark and gloomy.

The principal bedroom is graced with a fireplace and attached bath.

What a perfectly agreeable place to work. One of the upstairs bedrooms with a street view.

At back is a wrap-around deck with replaced lumber awaiting your stain color selection. There is a detached two-car garage, too.

Brian Holland of Fort Worth Focused Real Estate has listed 1306 Elizabeth Blvd. for $1.199 million.

Curious? Stalk the open house this weekend, Saturday, Feb 15, from 1 to 3 p.m.