Wilson Block (Dallas, Texas)

Last updated
Wilson Block
2922 Swiss Ave.jpg
Wilson House in early 1900s
Relief map of Texas.png
Red pog.svg
Wilson Block
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Red pog.svg
Wilson Block
Location2902, 2906, 2910 and 2922 Swiss Ave., Dallas, Texas
Coordinates 32°47′18″N96°47′05″W / 32.788333°N 96.784722°W / 32.788333; -96.784722 Coordinates: 32°47′18″N96°47′05″W / 32.788333°N 96.784722°W / 32.788333; -96.784722
Area2 acres (0.81 ha)
Built1899 (1899)
Architectural style Queen Anne
Restored1980s
Restored by The Meadows Foundation
NRHP reference No. 78002919 [1]
DLMK No. H/13
Significant dates
Added to NRHPDecember 15, 1978
Designated DLMKApril 1981 [2]

The Wilson Block is a historic district located in east Dallas, Texas and was one of the first residential developments in Dallas. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. [3] The houses have been restored and are maintained to preserve their turn-of-the-century Victorian revival style architecture. The Wilson Block includes 4 of the original single-family dwellings located at what is now 2902, 2906, 2910 and 2922 Swiss Ave. [4] The District encompasses a city block, 95,000 square feet (8,800 m2), bounded by Swiss Avenue, Floyd, Oak, and Liberty Streets. [5]

Contents

The houses that became the center of the Wilson Block Historic District were constructed in 1899–1902, the first being the Wilson House at 2922 Swiss Ave., a 1+1⁄2-story residence. Construction of an additional 6 rental houses followed, 3 of which have been restored and still remain at 2902, 2906 and 2910 Swiss Ave. Each house is unique in layout and character, but all share some of the common characteristics of the revival styles of the late 1800s, including irregularly shaped roofs that are steeply pitched and dominant front-facing gables.

The homes are 1+1⁄2-story single-family dwellings constructed of wood with milled details. The siding comprises textured shingles and clapboard. Some were built with front porches, while others wrap around to the sides. The back of some of the houses had rear screened porches on both levels. Upstairs porches were commonly used for sleeping, while the porches downstairs provided an open space to conduct household chores; all had cisterns on each porch. [6] The Wilson House was the only house on the block with servant's quarters and a carriage house.

Early history

Stockyards (1895).jpg
One of the first Texas primary voter registration receipts the year women were granted the right to vote in a Texas primary election. Texas Voter Registration Receipt 1918.jpg
One of the first Texas primary voter registration receipts the year women were granted the right to vote in a Texas primary election.
The Wilson's surrey and horse, Buttons Buttons and surrey.jpg
The Wilson's surrey and horse, Buttons

J.B. Wilson (1847–1920) and his younger brother Frederick P. Wilson (1863–1923) emigrated to the US from Canada, and established themselves as successful cattlemen and entrepreneurs of the 19th century. [7] [8] In 1894, Frederick married Henrietta M. Frichot (1864–1953). In 1898, Frederick acquired a parcel of land equivalent in size to a city block from the heirs of his wife's uncle, colonist Jacob Nussbaumer (1827–1881), [9] who was one of the original Dallas La Reunion settlers. Nussbaumer had acquired the land from Illinois native John Grigsby, who originally patented the land in 1838. A year after Frederick's acquisition, he built the Wilson family home on the parcel known as 2922 Swiss Avenue. He later decided to construct six additional homes as rentals, three of which still remain as part of the Wilson Block Historic District.

Frederick and Henrietta had a son, Laurence Frederick (1895–1981), and a daughter, Irma (1897–1918). Irma attended Highland Park Academy, and was among the first Texas women registered to vote in the July 1918 primary election. Primary suffrage did not require a state constitutional amendment; therefore, it could be passed by a simple act of the Texas legislature. State Representative Charles B. Metcalfe introduced the woman suffrage primary bill to allow women the right to vote in primary elections in Texas, and it passed both the House and Senate. [10]

Laurence also attended Highland Park Academy, and continued to live in the Wilson house with his first wife Era Craft (1901–1962) until she died. Wilson then married Venna Lee Burnett (1910–1992), and they lived in the house until 1977. [7] Wilson retained all of the original homes. [11] The property had remained in the Wilson family for close to 80 years. [12] The carriage house is being utilized by Preservation Dallas for educational programs. [7]

Restoration

By the late 1970s, old East Dallas was on the decline, [13] [14] and Laurence Wilson's health was also failing. [11] Wilson established several trusts with former Arlington Bank & Trust in Arlington, TX, which included the L.F. Wilson Charitable Trust, the L.F. Wilson Real Property Trust, and the L.F. Wilson Marital Trust. The real property trust included his family homestead and rental houses on Swiss Avenue. Laurence donated his Swiss Avenue property with stipulations that the transfer of any part of his father's original purchase be preserved as a historical site. [11] The Wilson Trust executives worked in cooperation with Fox and Jacobs, real estate developers that were involved in the preservation and restoration of historic districts in Dallas.

In 1980, the Dallas Historic Preservation League (DHPL) raised money for their restoration efforts but they needed help. [11] It was then that the Meadows Foundation became involved and acquired all of the Wilson Block except for the largest rental house known as the Arnold house which became DHPL headquarters. [11] The Meadows Foundation established their offices in the original Wilson home at 2922 Swiss Avenue, [11] and completed restoration of the block. They offered use of the homes rent-free to non-profit organizations under the conditions set forth in the transfer by Laurence Wilson. In 1982, the organizations that initially moved in were the Suicide and Crisis Center, Greater Dallas Council of Churches and the Center for Nonprofit Management. [11]

Expansion and preservation efforts

The Wilson House became the center of the Wilson Block Historic District which was expanded to include other Victorian houses from the area that were moved to Swiss Avenue and restored. [7] [15] The Meadows Foundation, in partnership with the City of Dallas, restored Central Square Park which holds historical significance as the second public park built in Dallas. It is located on the corner of Swiss Avenue and Oak Street. The Historic District also includes a few buildings and various facilities that were constructed by the Meadows Foundation for meetings and support purposes.

In 1993, the Meadows Foundation built a large facility near Swiss Avenue to house their headquarters. Shortly thereafter, and with help from the Meadows Foundation, the Historic Preservation League (HPL) moved its headquarters into the Wilson House. The following year, they changed their name to Preservation Dallas (PD), a nonprofit membership organization that focuses on protecting the history and culture of Dallas neighborhoods and historic buildings. [6] They provide preservation services, research and conduct tours of the Wilson Block which is home to thirty-nine non-profit agencies that occupy rent-free office space in the district. [15]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strand Historic District</span> Historic district in Texas, United States

The Strand Historic District, also known as the Strand District, in downtown Galveston, Texas (USA), is a National Historic Landmark District of mainly Victorian era buildings that now house restaurants, antique stores, and curio shops. The area is a major tourist attraction for the island city and also plays host to two very popular seasonal festivals. It is widely considered the island's shopping and entertainment center. The district includes properties along the south side of Harborside Drive and both sides of The Strand and Mechanic Street from 20th Street westward to 26th Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lakewood, Dallas</span>

Lakewood is a neighborhood in East Dallas, Texas (USA). It is adjacent to White Rock Lake and Northeast of Downtown Dallas. Lakewood is bound by Mockingbird Lane to the north, Abrams Road to the west, Gaston Avenue to the south, and White Rock Lake to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hillhouse Avenue</span> United States historic place

Hillhouse Avenue is a street in New Haven, Connecticut, famous for its many nineteenth century mansions, including the president's house at Yale University. Both Charles Dickens and Mark Twain have described it as "the most beautiful street in America." Much of the avenue is included in the Hillhouse Avenue Historic District, which extends to include houses on adjacent streets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Junius Heights, Dallas</span> Place

Junius Heights is Dallas' largest historic district, a neighborhood of more than 800 homes in East Dallas, Texas (USA) situated east of Munger Place, south of Swiss Avenue and southwest of Lakewood. It is relatively rectangular, bounded roughly by Gaston Avenue on the NW, Paulus Avenue on the NE, Reiger Avenue on the SE, and Henderson Avenue on the SW.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vickery Place, Dallas</span>

Vickery Place is a historic neighborhood in East Dallas, Texas, bounded on the north by Goodwin Avenue, on the west by North Central Expressway and Henderson, on the south by Belmont, and on the east by Greenville Avenue. Although Vickery Place is considered by some to be part of the M Streets area, it is strictly speaking not as it is south of the Greenland Hills subdivision. Vickery Place has seen much improvement and property value growth over the past several years due to its close proximity to Downtown Dallas and Uptown, and its location bordering the vibrant Lower Greenville Avenue and Knox-Henderson entertainment and shopping districts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Munger Place Historic District</span> Historic house in Texas, United States

The Munger Place Historic District is a neighborhood and historic district in Old East Dallas, Texas (USA), generally lying between North Fitzhugh Avenue on the southwest, Gaston Avenue on the northwest, Henderson Avenue on the northeast, and Columbia Avenue on the southeast. Detailed boundaries are defined in the Munger Place Ordinance. It is a Dallas Landmark District and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woodrow Wilson High School (Dallas)</span> Public high school on Dallas

Woodrow Wilson High School is a public high school located in East Dallas, Texas (U.S.). Woodrow enrolls students in grades 9–12 and is a part of the Dallas Independent School District (DISD). It is located adjacent to the Junius Heights historic district.

America's 11 Most Endangered Places or America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places is a list of places in the United States that the National Trust for Historic Preservation considers the most endangered. It aims to inspire Americans to preserve examples of architectural and cultural heritage that could be "relegated to the dustbins of history" without intervention.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swiss Avenue Historic District</span> United States historic place

The Swiss Avenue Historic District is a residential neighborhood in East Dallas, Dallas, Texas (USA). It consists of installations of the Munger Place addition, one of East Dallas' early subdivisions. The Swiss Avenue Historic District is a historic district of the city of Dallas, Texas. The boundaries of the district comprise both sides of Swiss Avenue from Fitzhugh Street, to just north of La Vista, and includes portions of Bryan Parkway. The District includes the 6100-6200 blocks of La Vista Drive, the west side of the 5500 block of Bryan Parkway the 6100-6300 blocks of Bryan Parkway, the east side of the 5200-5300 block of Live Oak Street, and the 4900-6100 blocks of Swiss Avenue. The entire street of Swiss Avenue is not included within the bounds of the Swiss Avenue Historic District. Portions of the street run through Dallas' Peaks Suburban Addition neighborhood and Peak's Suburban Addition Historic District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morris–Butler House</span> Historic house in Indiana, United States

The Morris–Butler House is a Second Empire-style house built about 1864 in the Old Northside Historic District of Indianapolis, Indiana. Restored as a museum home by Indiana Landmarks between 1964 and 1969, the American Civil War-era residence was the non-profit organization's first preservation project. Restoration work retained some of its original architectural features, and the home was furnished in Victorian and Post-Victorian styles. Its use was changed to a venue for Indiana Landmarks programs, special events, and private rentals following a refurbishment in 2013. Regular daily tours of the property have been discontinued.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leila Ross Wilburn</span> American architect

Leila Ross Wilburn (1885–1967) was an early 20th-century architect, one of the first women in Georgia to enter that profession.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George F. Pelham</span> American architect

George Frederick Pelham was an American architect and the son of George Brown Pelham, who was also an architect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manhattan Avenue (Manhattan)</span> Avenue in Manhattan, New York

Manhattan Avenue is a street in the Manhattan Valley neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City, extending from 100th Street to 124th Street. Not included in the original Commissioners' Plan of 1811, it is parallel to Columbus Avenue to the west and Central Park West/Frederick Douglass Boulevard to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prairie Avenue</span> Thoroughfare in Chicago, United States

Prairie Avenue is a north–south street on the South Side of Chicago, which historically extended from 16th Street in the Near South Side to the city's southern limits and beyond. The street has a rich history from its origins as a major trail for horseback riders and carriages. During the last three decades of the 19th century, a six-block section of the street served as the residence of many of Chicago's elite families and an additional four-block section was also known for grand homes. The upper six-block section includes part of the historic Prairie Avenue District, which was declared a Chicago Landmark and added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Baylor-Meadows is a neighborhood in east Dallas, Texas (USA). The neighborhood is anchored by the Baylor Medical Center, The Wilson Historic District, and the Dallas Latino Cultural Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quinnipiac River Historic District</span> Historic district in Connecticut, United States

Quinnipiac River Historic District is a 313-acre (127 ha) historic district straddling the Quinnipiac River in the Fair Haven and Fair Haven Heights neighborhoods of New Haven, Connecticut. It encompasses most of the historic maritime village of Fair Haven, with a history dating back to the 18th century. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. At that time it included 524 contributing buildings, an inland wetland at the mouth of Hemingway Creek on the northeast corner of the district, and the Grand Avenue Swing Bridge over the Quinnipiac River connecting Fair Haven with Fair Haven Heights at the center of the district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cottage Home Historic District</span> Historic district in Indiana, United States

The Cottage Home Historic District is a historic district and neighborhood located on the near east side of Indianapolis, Indiana. A small portion of Cottage Home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places while a larger area is listed on the state and local levels. Known for its preponderance of "cottage-style" homes built with strong Victorian influences, Cottage Home has historically been a working class neighborhood. Numerous industrial buildings are also scattered throughout the district, providing a base of economic activity. Today, however, many of these buildings are vacant, providing a special challenge to preservation and urban renewal efforts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johann and Anna Heidgen House</span> Historic house in Texas, United States

The Johann and Anna Heidgen House is located in the Bexar County city of San Antonio in the U.S. state of Texas. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Bexar County, Texas. The structure was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 2003. It is also known as the Heidgen-Zilker House. The house was built circa 1882 and has been used for a variety of purposes, including as a residence, as a youth organization facility, and at one time as a restaurant. It currently serves as the office of a San Antonio attorney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lakewood Heights, Dallas</span>

Lakewood Heights is a residential neighborhood in Dallas, Texas (USA), bounded by Abrams Road to the east, Monticello Avenue to the north, Skillman Street to the west, and Richmond Avenue to the south. It located in East Dallas. Lakewood Heights is approximately one-half mile (0.8 km) wide (east-west) and three-quarters of a mile (1.2 km) long (north-south). It covers approximately 240 acres or slightly less than 0.375 square miles (1000m²). It is adjacent to several East Dallas neighborhoods, including Lakewood, Lower Greenville, and Wilshire Heights.

The Meadows Foundation is located at 3003 Swiss Avenue in the Wilson Historic District in Dallas, TX., and was incorporated as a private philanthropic institution in 1948 by Virginia and Algur H. Meadows. The purpose of the foundation is "to benefit the people of Texas", and their mission is "to assist the people and institutions of Texas improve the quality and circumstances of life for themselves and future generations." The foundation has distributed "more than $1.1 billion in grants and direct charitable expenditures to more than 2,000 Texas institutions and agencies."

References

  1. ↑ Capace, Nancy (2001). Encyclopedia of Texas, 6th Edition. ISBN   0403095999 . Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Ordinance No. 16957" (PDF). City of Dallas. April 1981. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Texas Historic Sites Atlas" (PDF). Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Wilson Block". National Park Service, Department of the Interior. December 15, 1978. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Landmark Districts: Wilson Block Historic District". Historic Preservation. City of Dallas, Texas. April 29, 1981. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Who We Are: The Wilson Block Historic District". Preservation Dallas. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Who We Are: The Wilson House". Preservation Dallas. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Munger v. Munger". Court of Civil Appeals of Texas, Dallas - NO. 9903 - 298 S.W. 470 (Tex. Civ. App. 1927). Case Text Inc. May 8, 1927. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Wilson Block". Texas Historical Markers on Waymarking.com. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
  10. ↑ "WOMAN SUFFRAGE - Texas State Historical Association (TSHA)". The Handbook of Texas Online. 2010-08-31. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Fitzgibbons, Ruth Miller (November 1982). "Vintage Victorian". D Magazine. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Series Texas Historical Marker". 6922. Open Plaques. p. 579. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Advocate". Advocate Magazine Inc. April 24, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  14. ↑ "A History Of Violence And The DPD's Effort To Thwart It". Advocate Magazine. October 27, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  15. 1 2 "Wilson Block – Preservation Dallas". Preservation Dallas. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.