Fairmount Tour of Historic Homes Is a Welcome Right of Spring

The 43rd Annual Fairmount Tour of Historic Homes this Mother’s Day weekend promises to be a real winner with at least seven exceptional sites to explore each with histories spanning a century. The weekend’s festivities will also include an outdoor fair held in Fairmount Park on May 9 complete with local artists and food trucks.

The Goldgraber Crouch House, c. 1915

This house is a classic example of a Craftsman bungalow with a small front gable with knee brackets and windows of Arts and Crafts design. The traditional built in bookcases flanking the fireplace and dining room plate rails are in fact a recent restoration by the current owner who fell in love with the Craftsman genre strived to recreate period details which had been lost over the home’s 110 year history.

The Westlake-Le Page House, c. 1905

The build date of this hip roofed vernacular has been established by “tells” in its construction, beginning with the roof. The tall narrow windows are typical of houses built in the district prior to 1908 and more interestingly, the siding known as #105 which ceased to be used in Fairmount after 1906 replaced by #117 siding which thought superior in shedding water. The first owners of record were Hiram and Mae Westlake who occupied the house beginning in 1907. The interior retains the original eleven foot ceiling height and dark berry stained pine wood trim. Not to be missed is the lovely garden featuring stone pathways, flowering shrubs and perennials and a sunken garden.

The Reeves-Walker House-Law Offices of James Stanley, 1907

This imposing structure is one of the few surviving mansions that once lined Hemphill Street. Begun in 1906 it was the home of William Reeves, president of First State Bank and Trust and prominent stock broker who lived here till 1917. The two-and-one-half story structure is faced with yellow brick with stone quoins, capped by deep eaves supported by acanthus leaf corbels. Realtor and Walker Grain Company owner John L. Walker and his family occupied the house until 1967 after which it was a funeral home. Since 1990, it has served as the law offices of James Stanley. The firm updated all of the mechanical systems while preserving stunning arts and crafts tiles, quarter sawn oak millwork and beamed ceilings.

The Mills House, c. 1906

This Queen Anne style house served as rental property for much of its life. The current owners have lovingly restored the interiors which feature eleven foot ceilings with original picture molding and restored and replaced mill work and crown molding. The kitchen features vintage look avocado color cabinets glossy gray tiles.

The Mays Tucker House, 1913

This typical Fairmount bungalow mirrors the fate of the historical district beginning as a prosperous near town enclave, a slow declining somewhat forgotten neighborhood and then, beginning in the 1980’s, a gentrifying zone which is now one of the hottest markets in the city. Like nearly 60 percent of the housing stock in Fairmount, the Mays-Tucker House was converted into a duplex.

First steps at restoration began in the 1990’s. Returned to a single family residence, a succession of owners returned vintage style moldings and millwork, adding a window seat to the dining room and stained glass pocket doors. The current owners have recently beautifully landscaped the back garden.

The Parker-Wilson House, 1908

This Colonial Revival style house is in a near perfect state of preservation with neoclassical details including the porch columns on cast stone plinths. Decorative details include lovely leaded glass Queen Anne windows and a fine beveled glass front door and side lights. The house was built for a prominent realtor Robert J. Parker and his wife, Florence. The house sold in 1916 for $5,000. That’s about $167,000 in present money which might, with luck, buy half a lot in Fairmount these days.

The impressive interior retains all of the original mill work and vintage quarter sawn white oak floors. The large front hall is dominated by a commanding stair case with floor to ceiling spindles. The Arts and Crafts era fireplace is framed by emerald jewell toned tiles capped by a handsome mantel.

The Tanner-Smith House and Edna Gladney Home, 1925

This house was featured in Fairmounts 2023 tour as ‘a work in progress house’ now beautifully nearing completion. Recent research has established that this single family dwelling began its existence as a duplex. One of the first owners was Minnie Meacham Smith daughter of Henry C. Meacham, Fort Worth mayor and owner of the specialty department store bearing his name. Her husband, Buck was an early bi-plane enthusiast.

in 1960 oilman Aggie Pate bought the house and donated it to Forth Worth children’s rights activist Edna Gladney whose life as director of the charitable institution which would come to bear her name, was made into a film, “Blossoms in the Dust” portrayed by Greer Garson.It was Edna Gladney who joined the duplex as is evidenced by its two Rookwood Tile fireplaces.

De Zavala Elementary School, 1914 (Open Saturday Only)

A school has occupied this site since 1892. In fact De Zavala is the longest continuously operating elementary school in Fort Worth. The present structure dates from 1914 and is a mélange of classical and modern. The façade features ‘giant order’ columns resting on lower floor podiums that extend the two floors above which contrast with the modern fenestration. The school holds a coveted A rating but is on the list for closure in two years. Principal Mariette Martinez and the Fairmount Neighborhood Association have banded together to fight the closure and preserve this neighborhood institution.

The Fairmount Tour of Historic Homes will take place this weekend May 10 -11 from noon till 5 p.m. “Rain or Shine” according to the web page. Advance tickets for the tour can be purchased here.