Historic homes are always in high demand. Often built with care and attention to detail, these properties have a special charm missing in more contemporary housing. Their unique elements add to a town's distinct character. Since Fort Worth is well over a century old,buyers interested in historic homes have ample choices.
You should jump on the opportunity if you're fortunate enough to find a Fort Worth historic home for sale. Because of their significance, many historic buildings close at a premium, with some of these being highly sought-after properties. Plus, the City of Fort Worth offers homeowners a Historic Site Tax Exemption when performing substantial renovations on historically-designated properties.
Let's break down specific areas in Fort Worth to look for historic homes, followed by a few example homes on the market in April 2022. For this article, we are considering historic homes constructed before 1960, focusing on pre-World War II homes.
A Brief Look at Fort Worth History
Over 165 years of development have shaped Fort Worth. The fertile, game-rich soil surrounding the Trinity River's banks had long been a favorite hunting ground for Native Americans in the region, but it soon became attractive to settlers.
Fort Worth was set up at the frontier, marking the division between Native American lands and settlement lands. When troops left in the 1850s, settlers began converting the buildings into commercial enterprises and surrounded the business district with their homes. The settlement grew rapidly, was designated the county seat, and by the time the railroad arrived in 1876, had over 500 residents.
Fort Worth was on the Chisholm Trail, a route where Longhorn cattle were driven from Texas to Kansas. It became a thriving trading post, a railroad hub, and a packing center.
Affluent Fort Worth residents started to move out of the central town into the fringes, building spacious homes on generous lots. These communities include Ryan Place and Berkeley. With each generation, Fort Worth expanded, and wealthy community members moved outward to build homes reflecting their fortunes, as seen in Rivercrest, Monticello, Hi Mount, and Oakwood.
The discovery of oil near Fort Worth and World War I spurred another population boom. The construction of Camp Bowie erected 1,500 new buildings and brought more people into Texas.
Between the World Wars, construction took off. Many buildings were constructed around Fort Worth and new infrastructure and residential developments. Eagle Mountain Lake, Benbrook, Grapevine, and Arlington were among these new communities. The Tudor style was in vogue during the 1920s and 1930s, making its features popular around Fort Worth's historic homes.
Another training base and Army airfield were established during World War II. Today that base is the Fort Worth Naval Air Station and Joint Reserve Base. After the war, midcentury-style homes took off, predominately in Ridgelea, Morningside, and South Hills.
The resulting periods of development created the following historic districts in the city.
The Historic Fairmount District
If you're looking for a historic home in Fort Worth, theFairmount neighborhood is a great place to start your search. This area was designated as a Historic District in 1974. The community was originally plated between 1893 and 1907 and has a fine collection of turn-of-the-century homes. The Fairmount district is home to various architectural styles, including Queen Anne, Prairie School, and Mission Revival.
Fairmount was the fashionable neighborhood for Fort Worth's professionals to live in its heyday. It fell into despair after World War II enticed people into the suburbs, but today the district has been revitalized and is a popular place to live near downtown Fort Worth. You'll find a mix of old and new homes in the neighborhood, plus many locally-owned shops and restaurants.
The Monticello Historic District
The Monticello neighborhood is located in west Fort Worth, northwest of the prominent Cultural District and West 7th Street areas.
This area was once part of Camp Bowie and developed in the early 1900s. Homes feature architectural styles like Victorian, Craftsman, and Bungalow. The Monticello neighborhood has a suburban feel, but it's close to downtown Fort Worth and Cultural District attractions.
Historic Southside
Also known as Terrell Heights, this historic area is southeast of Downtown Fort Worth and has seen a significant change in recent years.
Southside was first developed in the late 1800s and early 1900s as a streetcar suburb. The eastern portions of the district are home to Southside's most magnificent homes, which display diverse architectural styles with a predominant Victorian style. Many homes have been converted into apartments or restaurants.
The city has committed to commercial and low-income housing development in the area through private partnerships and federal and state grant funding. The result is a neighborhood that is seeing a revitalization, with new businesses and construction popping up.
Arlington Heights Historic District
The Arlington Heights Historic District is northwest of downtown Fort Worth. The area has a 127-year history and was developed in the 1920s-1930s as an affluent suburb with grand homes near the former Camp Bowie base. According to local historian Wiki Klein, Arlington Heights was Fort Worth's fastest-growing section from 1920 to 1926.
Inside Arlington Heights are the historic Tremont Avenue and Hillcrest addition. The neighborhood features Queen Anne, Prairie School, and Bungalow architectural styles. Houses along the 12th and 18th blocks have an English Cottage look about them, and some traditional Arts & Crafts cottages are within the historic zone.
Ryan Place/ Elizabeth Boulevard
The Ryan Place Historic District was developed in the late 19th century and featured a variety of architectural styles, including Queen Anne, Craftsman, and Traditional. The majority of residences in the area are one-story structures, although two-story buildings do exist.
The Ryan Place district wraps around the Elizabeth Boulevard district on the north, east, and south. The district's layout follows a rectilinear grid with long blocks separated by broad avenues and bisecting alleys.
Compared to homes located further south, those near Elizabeth Boulevard are larger and more elaborate. Most older homes in the neighborhood are covered with masonry or stucco because of deed restrictions. However, most post-World War II houses include a wider range of building materials.
Oakside/ Riverside Historic District
The Riverside Historic District is another great option for those seeking a historic home in Fort Worth. This area's roots are in the 1870s, but it was more extensively developed in the early 20th century. It was a rural area known for farming, but as Fort Worth expanded, it was annexed in the 1920s, and more suburban development followed. Homes feature architectural styles like Prairie School, Bungalow, and Mission Revival.
The Oakside Historic District is part of the Riverside area. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Development on the 175 acres began in the early 1920s and continued through the World Wars. The winding streets with mature oak trees reflect an intentional landscape design.
Riverside and Oakside are highly walkable communities.
Berkeley Place Historic District
The Berkeley Place Historic District, which usually comprises the Cheltenham development, is approximately two miles southwest of the Fort Worth Central Business District. It began as 137 acres of dairy and grain farm. The original farmhouse still exists and was built as a Queen Anne mansion modified to have a brick exterior.
Formal development began in 1906. Parts of the land became Forest Park and the Fort Worth Zoo. The rest was developed in the 1920s and 1930s, and 28 of the homes are on the Tarrant County register of historically significant homes. The neighborhood's architectural styles include Queen Anne, Tudor Revival, and Spanish Colonial Revival. Some historic homes have shops and restaurants.
Historic Homes for Sale Right Now
In and around these districts are more historic Fort Worth homes for sale. Here's a sampling of different historical styles available at different price points.
Baldridge House
List $6,495,000
The Baldridge House is a 1910 Georgian-style mansion and one of Texas' prized architectural treasures. It has been a state-designated landmark since 1978. The building mixes contemporary and historic details.
Situated centrally in Fort Worth, the nearly one-and-a-half-acre estate is protected by a privacy fence and hedge. Its position high on a ridgeline provides views of the River Crest Golf Course. Outside is an ornate fountain and six 30-foot tall solid limestone columns.
Inside, the home greets guests with a sweeping grand staircase, coffered ceilings, and marble floors. It has three living spaces, a billiard room with oak paneling and highly detailed oak coffered ceilings, six bedrooms, six bathrooms, large storage spaces, and room for eleven cars. The master suite has a private balcony with Fort Worth views.
David Chapman Bennett House
List $1,800,000
This historic riverfront home has ±1.472 acres of land with 2,540 sq ft directly on The Trinity River. Built circa 1865 in the Italianate style, the current owners purchased it in 1997 and have restored it with period-specific details throughout the home. Much of the original millwork has been preserved. The grounds along the river have been cleared for better access and views. Inside are three bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and 2,500 sq ft. It has original fireplaces, a spacious dining room, and a back staircase. The original carriage house has been restored.
Berkeley Place home
List $1,150,000
This Berkeley area home built in 1934 has three floors with beautiful wood floors and fantastic windows throughout. Inside are five bedrooms, four bathrooms, and over 4,000 sq ft of living space. The first floor features a formal living with a fireplace, a dining room, and a kitchen with a large island open to a second living room. The second floor boasts secondary bedrooms and baths. Large office-game room or 5th bedroom with full bath sealed and plumbed to add a steam generator for a steam room. The third floor features an owner's suite with a fireplace. Exterior includes in-ground pool and spa and outdoor kitchen on second-floor deck with pergola. Also includes a double carport in front of a large double garage in front of a nice sized workshop.
Midcentury Lake View
List $1,800,000
This 1968-built south Lake Worth home exemplifies the midcentury architectural style. The lake views are framed like a work of art, perfectly fitting the open living room. A chef's kitchen features Kitchen Aid appliances such as double ovens, a six-burner gas cooktop with a griddle burner, pot filler, a large prep island, an ice maker, and more! Additional features are a game room with an AV closet, a study, and a detached three-car garage.
Traditional home in Tanglewood
List $999,999
This traditional gem is situated on a corner lot in Tanglewood proper. It is located directly across the street from Tanglewood Park. This lovely two-story home has approx. 3027 sq. ft. with five bedrooms and three bathrooms. Conveniently located to TCU campus, Colonial Country Club, Chisholm Trail, I20, I30, Clearfork, Waterside, and more. The mature trees, walking, and biking trails convenient to Tanglewood Elementary can all be yours.
Monticello Home
List $874,900
Built in 1940, this Monticello home features almost 5,000 square feet with four bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms. A large open living area has wood floors and a formal dining area. The kitchen features granite countertops, an island area, double ovens, a compactor, and walnut cabinets. The master bedroom is 21x20 with a large walk-in closet and a bank of French doors overlooking the sparkling pool. Outside enjoy the sparkling diving pool and outside bath. The home has three-car covered parking.
University West
List $695,000
Located two blocks from TCU in the University West neighborhood, this 1931-built home has a spacious backyard with an oversized wooden deck great for entertaining. The open floor plan downstairs has an updated kitchen and bathroom.
Craftsman Bungalow
List $595,000
This 1925 historic Craftsman Bungalow is in the process of being completely renovated. The first floor will boast a large living and dining area with a study and a spacious master down. A large second-story addition will have a second living and three additional bedrooms with two bathrooms. The home boasts the original acme brick and a beautiful tile roof. This property is located on a large corner lot in the sought-after cultural district.
Fairmount Craftsman
List $549,511
This craftsman home in the heart of Fairmount dates to 1911. A flexible floor plan offers three bedrooms and two full baths. A study could be a fourth bedroom or additional living area. Lots of historic character and an abundance of natural light. Original hardwood floors. The home also has an additional carriage house apartment with a workshop on the first floor. Updated separate apartment upstairs has living, kitchen, dining nook, a full bathroom.
Arlington Heights
List $525,000
Located in Arlington Heights, just one block from Westover Hills. This 1951-built home was built in a traditional style. Ample natural light highlights modern finishes. Original hardwood floors, working gas fireplace, tankless water heater, and security gate are just a few examples of what this house offers. Mature trees shade the backyard and make it the perfect place to entertain or simply relax.
Finding your Fort Worth historic home
There are many historic homes in Fort Worth to choose from. These homes offer the character, charm, and modern amenities you could want. Whether you're looking for a traditional home, a craftsman bungalow, or something in between, you can find it here. Start your search today with Chicotsky Real Estate Group and find your perfect Fort Worth historic home.
