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| Thistle
Hill
1509 Pennsylvania Avenue
Fort Worth, Texas 76104
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is said that W.T. Waggoner, one of the wealthiest of the Fort
Worth Cattle Barons, paid $38,000 for the construction of an 11,000
square foot "honeymoon cottage" to keep his only daughter,
Electra, from moving to Philadelphia.
In 1901,
Electra had met Albert Buckman Wharton, a prominent Philadelphian,
while touring the Himalayas. They were married in 1902 at her
family home in Decatur, Texas-El Castile.
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Electra
Wharton |
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Completed
in 1904, Thistle Hill graced the crest of Summit Avenue in the
fashionable residential district known as Quality Hill and quickly
gained a reputation for opulence and lavish entertainment.
Albert owned
and managed the first Fort Worth Auto and Livery Stable and dealt
in Winston and Franklin cars.
Thistle Hill was sold to
Mr. and Mrs. Winfield Scott in 1911, longtime acquaintances of
Electra's parents. Mr. Scott, a successful cattleman and prominent
Ft. Worth businessman, embarked on an extensive remodeling of
the mansion, converting it from Colonial to Georgian Revival.
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Winfield Scott, Jr. |
Sadly, Mr. Scott died in 1911 and Elizabeth
Scott and their son, Winfield Jr. moved into the mansion in 1912.
During her 26 year residency, Elizabeth expanded the gardens and
added a tea house and pergola to the grounds. She was known as
an elegant hostess and her dinner parties were very formal affairs.
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After his mother's death in 1938, Winfield,
Jr. sold the mansion to the Girls Service League. The League,
founded in 1917, is still in operation today and is dedicated
to the assistance of young women. In 1968, the League put the
mansion up for sale.
In 1974, after watching
many of the mansions on Quality Hill abolished to make room for
" progress", a group of concerned citizens formed a
committee called "Save the Scott Home" and embarked
on an all-out fund raising project. After several failed attempts,
they finally succeeded in purchasing Thistle Hill in 1976 for
$240,000.
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One of
the premier residential landmarks of Fort Worth, Thistle Hill
is the most impressive surviving mansion of the “cattle
baron” era. The main wing of the house is a two and one-half
story gambreled mass with flanking semi-circular bays. Tall chimneys
and an immense portico with Tuscan columns accentuate the vertical
thrust of the composition. Red brick walls are sumptuously rimmed
in cast stone; roofs are clad in lustrous green tile. Interior
features include entry hall with grand staircase and extensive
woodwork. The fenced grounds, including a very fine carriage house,
have survived. The house was designed by Sanguinet & Staats
and built in 1903-1904. The property was designated a Recorded
Texas Historic Landmark in 1977, and has been placed on the National
Register.
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| 1110
Penn Street
Fort
Worth, Texas 76102 817.336.2344 |
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