The Fairmount Tour of Historic Homes has become a Fort Worth rite of spring, an eagerly awaited opportunity for area residents to savor this unique neighborhood — the only National Historic District in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and the largest in the Southwest.
The 40th annual tour, again held on Mother’s Day weekend, promises to be a standout with six historic properties of varying styles and eras from this incredibly architecturally diverse historic area.
Medley-Tucker Home
The Medley House is the oldest property on the tour, built in 1909 by carpenter-builder Charles A. Medley for his wife Lynette and two sons. The Medleys only lived here for three years and the house passed through many owners’ hands, ending up as a boarding house during the Great Depression.
By 1990 this classic four-square was nearly in ruins. The current owners, Chris Mosley and Barry Diehl, completed a restoration begun by previous owners including a total restoration of the distinctive Arts and Crafts millwork and original windows. Chris and Barry have mixed contemporary and period-appropriate furnishings to complement the period milieu.
Edgar-Tanner House
Another four-square, the 1911 house was built by Dr. Charles Edgar — an ear, nose, and throat specialist who only lived here with his wife for less than two years. Wade Tanner, a grocer bought the residence in 1914. The corner grocery he owned is still standing at 1861 College Avenue.
The current owners, Brandon and Kelly Wilson, bought the house in 2020 at the height of the pandemic. They picked up the renovation where the previous owners left off, including a complete remodel of the kitchen. The house is filled with art, including a Picasso pochoir and family heirlooms. On display in one of the bedrooms is a collection of World War I memorabilia belonging to Brandon’s great-grandfather.
Jacob Tanner House
The Jacob Tanner house began its existence as a duplex. One of its noteworthy owners was Minnie Meacham, daughter of the upscale department store named for her father. The Meacham name still graces the local airport and Meacham Boulevard. Minnie’s husband, Glen “Buck” Smith, was an amateur aviator who famously crashed his plane and survived in the mid 1920s. After divorcing, Minnie married the fabled mayor of Fort Worth, Amon G. Carter, becoming his third wife.
Mattie Foster Home
Like many a Fairmount house, the Mattie Foster House has been knocked about a bit before being rejuvenated. Hard time forced owner Mattie Foster to convert it into a duplex. Passing through many owners, it spent a 30-year stint as a drug house at its lowest point.
The Mattie Foster House was partially rehabbed in 2019 and was finally completed in 2021. The original art glass has been preserved and the woodwork restored. The primary bedroom now enjoys a renovated bath.
Smith-Lydick House
Another imposing four-square, the Smith-Lydick house is set back on a lot on the once fashionable Hemphill Street that is now beginning a renaissance. The house, built in 1911, is a grand Prarie style containing many bespoke features including a seven-foot landing stained window adorned with family crests and a Louis Comfort Tiffany window in the dining room. The residence is currently the law office of Domingo Garcia.
Fairmount Tour of Historic Homes
The 2023 Fairmount Tour of Historic Homes will take place from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 13, and from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 14. Advance tickets are $20 and may be purchased on the Fairmount National Historic District website or at Old Home Supply at 1801 College Avenue. Same-day tickets cost $25.
