Contemplate for a moment the stories whispered by these historic houses before you at Wilson Block. The Wilson Block stands as a testament to Dallas’s vibrant past. It offers a glimpse into the lives of its early residents.
The Wilson Block is significant. It represents one of Dallas’s first residential developments. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, the Wilson Block showcases turn-of-the-century Victorian revival architecture. The houses have been carefully restored. They are maintained to preserve their original charm.
The Wilson Block includes four original single-family dwellings. These are located at 2902, 2906, 2910, and 2922 Swiss Ave. This district covers an entire city block. It is approximately 95000 square feet bounded by Swiss Avenue, Floyd, Oak, and Liberty Streets.
These houses were built between 1899 and 1902. The first one was the Wilson House. It is located at 2922 Swiss Ave. It is a one-and-a-half-story residence. Six additional rental houses followed. Three of these still stand at 2902, 2906, and 2910 Swiss Ave. Each house has a unique layout and character. They all share common characteristics of late 1800s revival styles. These include steeply pitched roofs and dominant front-facing gables.
The homes are one-and-a-half-story single-family dwellings made of wood with milled details. The siding features textured shingles and clapboard. Some have front porches. Others wrap around to the sides. The back of some houses had screened porches on both levels. Upstairs porches were for sleeping. Downstairs porches offered open space for household chores. All had cisterns on each porch. The Wilson House was unique. It had servant’s quarters and a carriage house.
J.B. Wilson and his brother Frederick P. Wilson were the names behind the Wilson Block. They emigrated from Canada. They became successful cattlemen and entrepreneurs. In 1898, Frederick and his wife Henrietta Frichot Wilson acquired the land. They built their residence and six other houses. The houses remained in the Wilson family for almost eighty years. They formed the nucleus of the Wilson Block.
Henrietta’s uncle, Jacob Nussbaumer, was an early Dallas settler. He came to North Texas as part of the utopian La Reunion colony in the 1850s. Frederick and Henrietta had two children. Their daughter Irma was among the first Texas women registered to vote in the 1918 primary election. Their son Laurence lived in the Wilson house. He lived there with his first wife Era Craft until she died. He later lived there with his second wife Venna Lee Burnett until 1977.
By the late 1970s, old East Dallas was declining. Laurence Wilson’s health was also failing. He established trusts. These trusts ensured that the property would be preserved as a historical site.
In 1980, the Dallas Historic Preservation League sought help for restoration. The Meadows Foundation acquired the Wilson Block. They restored it. They offered rent-free use of the homes to non-profit organizations.
The Wilson House became the center of the Wilson Block Historic District. It expanded to include other Victorian houses from the area. These houses were moved to Swiss Avenue and restored. The Meadows Foundation and the City of Dallas restored Central Square Park.
Today, Preservation Dallas occupies the Wilson House. It focuses on protecting Dallas neighborhoods and historic buildings. They conduct tours of the Wilson Block. It is home to thirty-nine non-profit agencies. These agencies occupy rent-free office space in the district.
As you leave the Wilson Block, remember its legacy. It is a story of family, preservation, and community service. The Wilson Block stands as a reminder of Dallas’s rich heritage.