Come see the elegant Queen Anne architecture of the Wilson Block any time you like - with our self-guided walking tour. Just print out this page, head on over to the tour’s starting point at the Wilson House, 2922 Swiss Avenue, and see what Dallas was like at the turn of the century.

2922 Swiss - The Wilson House

The Wilson House, built in 1899, late in the Victorian period, is a variant of the Queen Anne Style, which dominated American house design from about 1880 until 1910. The house is large, over 6,000 square feet. It was adapted in the mid-1980s by the Meadows Foundation. The original architect is unknown, but the restoration architect was Keith Downing, who supervised the adaptive rehabilitation to the entire Wilson Historic District.

The Wilson House is the only house on the block that was build with a Servants Quarters and a Carriage House. At the time the Wilson Block houses were built, the middle and upper class still employed domestic workers. Inside kitchens were the norm rather than the exception in these houses, and many had an indoor bathroom. Elsewhere, in poorer neighborhoods and even in the adjacent servants’ quarters, outdoor facilities were still common. Electric lights were recent innovations, but because of their perceived lack of reliability, most fixtures were both gas and electric. Telephones were rare at this time and almost unheard of in private homes.

The Wilson House has an asymmetrical façade and a front porch that wraps around one side of the house. Areas of patterned wooden shingles decorate the gables and walls. The Wilson House also has a turret, found in only the most elaborate Queen Anne designs and on no other houses on the Wilson Block. The exterior of the turret is covered with wood shingles cut in a fish-scale pattern. Originally, the rear of the house had screened porches both up and downstairs. The upstairs porch was a sleeping porch most Victorians believed in the beneficial effects of abundant fresh air. The back downstairs porch was an open space for household chores such as washing, ironing, and food preparation. All of these houses on the block had cisterns on each porch.

The Carriage House and Courtyard

In 1899, transportation was still almost exclusively by horse and carriage. The Wilson’s Carriage House, built in that year, originally had stalls for five horses and space for three vehicles. Tack was stored upstairs and feed for the animals was delivered there as well. In fact, each horse stall had a feed box situated directly beneath an opening in the ceiling. This opening could be uncovered and the animal’s feed delivered directly into the feed box, an example of 19th Century efficiency. When the Carriage House was first built, it had two shed wings, which were enclosed during the rehabilitation to provide more space, although the early footprint of the building has been preserved. The brickwork in this courtyard was done in the mid-1980s. During the adaptive-use rehabilitation project, the Carriage House was moved closer to the back of the Wilson House in order to provide more room for parking.

2914 Swiss - The Downing House

The Downing House is the only house on this block not built by the Wilsons. They originally left the lot vacant as a play yard for their children. Named for the rehabilitation architect; the Downing House was moved into the block in 1982. It stood originally on Cole Avenue near the Quadrangle and was slated for demolition. The Downing House has scaled down Queen Anne architectural elements, including an asymmetrical façade, steep hipped roof, classical columns, modillions and a decoration in the small gable.

2910 Swiss

This house was badly damaged by fire in the 1970s and was extensively rebuilt. Notable architectural elements include the curved shingled sidewalls on the dormer, squared pillars and balusters instead of rounded, and diamond shaped panes in the upper windows.

2906 Swiss

At one point occupied by famous architect Charles Hill, this house has an unusual projecting double window in the main gable. It also features the asymmetrical façade, steep hipped roof, wraparound porch and the classical pediment decoration associated with later Queen Anne houses.

2902 Swiss - The Arnold House

Named for its occupant optometrist Dr. Arnold, the Arnold House is perhaps the most architecturally interesting house because of its eccentricities and Victorian exuberance. Paired and tripled columns support arched lintels. A round-headed triple window in the main gable, diamond paned windows, roof finials and the round glass in the main entry door adorn the façade.

Liberty Street

The Arnold House is at the corner of what is now Liberty Street. Originally the street was named Germania, probably because of the many German-speaking people in the neighborhood. During and after World War I, anti-German sentiment in the U.S. caused a general rejection of Germanic names and customs. In 1914 the street name was changed to Liberty - considered a more patriotic name at the time.

Across Swiss Avenue, several warehouses have been adapted and new buildings constructed to house non-profit organizations. Nearer to Live Oak Street, the Center for Non-Profit Management improves non-profit effectiveness by providing individual counseling, offering seminars and workshops and maintaining an extensive library on non-profit management.

All of the buildings in the block between Liberty and Texas were moved here from other Dallas locations; all were threatened with demolition on their original sites. The roses growing along the picket fence are all antique varieties and robustly fragrant - worth a sniff any time they are in bloom.

2824 Swiss

Although the detailing is much simpler, this house retains many of the traditional characteristics and features associated with Queen Anne architecture.

2816 Swiss

This heavy shingled style Victorian house has a low-pitched roof, plain triple sash windows, and a spreading main gable.

2812 Swiss

This Queen Anne cottage has angular window heads in the gable. The front door with its squared panels, windows and shelf, resembles the entryways seen on post Queen Anne period doorways.

2808 Swiss

The only gingerbread design in the district, this house has unusual separate porches. The jigsaw was invented around the turn of the last century making it possible to create the ornaments and spindles.

2800 Swiss - The Beilharz House

The Beilharz House was built in 1896 by German stonemason Theodore Beilharz, who was married to Henrietta Wilson’s older sister, Laura. The house was originally built on a lot diagonally across the street and moved during the rehabilitation of the block. This house has sparked discussion about whether the style was influenced by the Shingle style or was merely a reflection of Mr. Beilharz’ naturally Germanic tastes. He probably acted as his own architect, using details he had seen or constructed elsewhere.

This Victorian house has a gambrel roof (meaning it has a double pitch), a spreading main gable with arched openings, a bow window (similar to a bay window, but rounded) on one side and a low turret on the other. The front entryway is very clearly classical, with Ionic columns and a classical entablature over the top of the door. The front room has a muraled ceiling. Mr. Beilharz’s background as a mason is reflected in the limestone porch steps and rough-faced limestone wall. Around the corner, the columns on the front porch and those on the side porch are distinctly different, adding to the whimsy of the styling.

Swiss and Texas Corner - St. Andrew Kim Catholic Church

Built in 1911 as St. Joseph’s German Catholic Church for German-speaking Catholics, this church now serves the Korean population.

Central Park Square

Across the street is Central Square Park, the second oldest park in Dallas, originally acquired by the City in 1908. During its early years there were frequent band concerts here. It was the Wilsons’ custom to sit on their side porch with friends and neighbors for this event, to listen to the music and to watch their children play.

We hope you have enjoyed learning more about Dallas’ history and the beautiful Victorian architecture that is part of our heritage. Preservation Dallas is dedicated to rescuing and protecting important areas such as the Wilson Block so that our history is preserved for future generations. Please stop by the Wilson House at 2922 Swiss Avenue to learn more about the neighborhood and Preservation Dallas and how you can get involved in saving Dallas’ architectural treasures.