Wilson Block (Dallas, Texas)
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. 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. The District encompasses a city block, , bounded by Swiss Avenue, Floyd, Oak, and Liberty Streets. 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 -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 -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. The Wilson House was the only house on the block with servant's quarters and a carriage house. Early history 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. 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), 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. Laurence also attended Highland Park Academy, and continued to live in the Wilson