Fort Worth, Texas – A historic home in Fort Worth, known as “The Mansion House”, suffered extensive damage in a fire on Tuesday night. This landmark, deeply ingrained in the community’s history and memories, faced a devastating blaze.
Nayeli Díaz DeLeon, who grew up and currently resides in the neighborhood, reminisced about the house’s significance. “It was there for a long time and known as The White House or The Mansion House,” she said. “It made a big impact on this neighborhood, and it has been very special to us. And we’re not going to see it the same anymore. Sadly.” Her words reflect the emotional attachment the community has had with this historic structure.
The Fort Worth Fire Department arrived at the scene at 2117 Northwest 24th St. in the Rosen Heights neighborhood to find the house engulfed in flames. Efforts to battle the fire were challenging. Firefighters initially attempted to enter the house but had to retreat when they discovered the staircase was missing. They then continued to fight the fire from the outside. “Those flames were almost up to eight feet, and it was really hard to put out. They had to get more firefighters on the line,” DeLeon recounted. The intense battle against the blaze took around an hour to extinguish.
The house, a three-bedroom, 2,000-square-foot property with distinct white columns, was over a century old and possessed a City of Fort Worth Landmark plaque. Until about a year ago, a family lived in the house, which is now under the ownership of a trust. The house held the title of Historic and Cultural Landmark since the mid-90s. Known as the Brown/Tadloch House, it was constructed in 1909 in the Colonial Revival style for Benjamin B. Brown, an employee of Swift and Company. In 1919, James A. Tadlock, a livestock dealer and broker, purchased the house, which remained in his family’s possession until 1978.
DeLeon’s memories of the house paint a picture of its iconic status in the neighborhood. “When we were kids riding the bikes around here, we would just see that white house and say, ‘Hey, look at The White House! The White House! The big mansion. And, now to see it. It’s sad.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the fire department. The loss of “The Mansion House” marks a poignant moment for the community, as they grapple with the destruction of a landmark that stood as a symbol of their collective childhood and heritage.
