Another sign of post-COVID spring and the happy return of life and its rituals to normality is the return of the much-beloved Fairmount Tour of Historic Homes. This marks the 40th tour after a two-year hiatus.
Last year’s porch tour was hardly a replacement. It was a reminder of yet more pandemic restrictions. This year features six houses that are fair representations of Fairmount’s history and renewal.
The historic Benton House is not only the oldest house on the tour, it is one of the oldest houses still standing in Fort Worth. Built in 1898 by tobacco merchant Meredith Benton, it stood on the bald prairie just south of town.
The house is in the late Victorian “Queen Anne” vernacular featuring hand-cut gingerbread trim and newel posts that wrap two sides of the front. Amazingly, this house remained in the possession of Meridith Benton’s descendants for over a century until 2011.
More typical of Fairmount is the Littlefield House, a classic, turn-of-the-century Craftsman-style bungalow. Built in 1911 for John Littlefield, an engineer on the Frisco Train Line whose tracks remain paralleling 8th Ave. The house has mercifully been spared an open concept update and retains the original interior footprint.
The Slocum House is another variant of the Craftsman bungalow style known as an A-frame. The three-tiered roof resting on four brick piers is thought to be of Asian inspiration. The house was built in 1919 for another railroad employee, William Slocum, reminding us of the emerging importance of Fort Worth as an important rail hub.
The 1919 price for this house was $4,000, which is about $65,000 in present-day money. That might cover the down payment for a typical Fairmount bungalow these days. The house preserves many original features including built-in bookcases, box beamed ceilings, and a dining room built-in sideboard restored to its original finish.
Another house in late Victorian style is currently the home of Fort Worth Focused, a realty company. The 1906 build seems to have had a long history as a rental property. The current owners are seasoned Fairmounters, having renovated several houses in the historic ‘hood. They have upgraded a prior on-the-cheap renovation.
I had to include a “before” picture for this near-miraculous restoration and rejuvenation. The 1915 two-story is classic foursquare. Though it preserves original woodwork and decorative details, the house sports a sophisticated ambiance with an eclectic mix of reconditioned period light fixtures and slick modern furnishings. The dining room chandelier came from an old Vaudeville theater. Renovated bathrooms feature period fittings acquired by the present owners, and 1910 document Arts and Crafts wallpaper.
Wealthy rancher John Naylor built this rather extravagant two-story house in 1910. The style is eclectic. Notice the squat ionic columns supporting the eaves that encase a secondary floating portico? And the second floor? Is it Tudor or Swiss Chalet? This is the “work in progress” house, and what a list of work is planned. The current owners plan to give the property a head-to-toe renovation down to repairing the original diamond-paned windows. The property will include three rental units, continuing its hundred-year history as an apartment building.
The 40th Annual Fairmount Tour of Historic Homes will take place on Mother’s Day Weekend, May 7th and 8th from noon to 5 p.m. Purchase tickets or sign up to volunteer on the Fairmount National Historic District website.
Photography graciously supplied by Stacey Lueker.
