A Block of Mansions

 Last year I decided to join the Ft. Worth Woman’s Club. The main reason was that I found out that the club was made up of over thirty different study groups, mainly studying history. 

We all know that I love history and I can’t think of a better way to meet new friends with similar interests.

The club actually comprises four old mansions surrounded by what is now the medical center. So many of the beautiful old homes, in that area that once was referred to as Quality Hill, met the wreaking ball.

One of those mansions that was saved  has an interesting history. Built in 1907 by wealthy Fort Worth businessman James Moore at the huge cost of $20,000. Unfortunately Mr. Moore died in 1911 at the young age of forty four. His widow remarried in the mansion in 1912 but sadly four years later she and her new husband were killed in a car accident.

 The house then became a dormitory for nurses working at a nearby hospital. That is,

until 1929 when it became a funeral home.

To make a long story a bit shorter. In 1959 The Woman’s Club of Ft. Worth bought the old funeral home to add to the other three mansions they owned on the block…making the whole block the domain of its prestigious club which  now has over nine hundred members.

Which brings me to this week. The study club within the Woman’s Club that I joined had their annual Christmas luncheon in one of the beautiful rooms.. (that’s not me). We were entertained by a musical ensemble playing  beautiful and familiar Christmas songs.

Sitting next to the Christmas tree, it was hard to get a full shot, but notice the decorations on the tree. This room is the music room so the tree has violins, trumpets and bows with musical notes on them.

The music sure put me in the Christmas spirit as we were invited to sing along.

I hope that you too are experiencing moments of joy this special time of year.

  * some research borrowed from the blog Fort Worth by Handlebar