Through The Lens: Thistle Hill's Storybook Christmas

Tucked in between the hospitals in Fort Worth is a magnificent piece of the city's history.  Thistle Hill is an 11,000 square foot mansion that was built in 1904 for Electra Waggoner by her husband A.B. Wharton.  Waggoner was the daughter of one of the wealthiest cattle barons around Fort Worth.  Wharton would become the first car dealer in Fort Worth.

I went to Thistle Hill to do a story on their upcoming fund raiser called "A Storybook Christmas."  Historic Fort Worth Inc. now owns the sprawling mansion on Pennsylvania Avenue and has transformed the house into "The Night Before Christmas" as illustrated by Tasha Tudor.  They have replicated Tudors drawings and brought them to life in the historic home.  It's quite a feat to look at an illustration and decorate the house exactly like the book, but they have managed to pull it off.

The home is a wonderful place to visit and just imagine the grand parties and lifestyle the Wharton's must have had.  I remember visiting Thistle Hill several times when I was a child because my younger brother loved the house and wanted to buy it to live in when he grew up.  Now everyone can buy the their own Thistle Hill because Historic Fort Worth Inc. has turned the house into a Christmas ornament.  If you have never been to Thistle Hill I highly recommend it be on your list of places to visit and this event is a wonderful way to see the house and get in the Christmas mood.