Hotter 'n a fur coat in Marfa

hiuhime.com

For those of you not familiar with Marfa, Texas...it gets pretty hot there. However, today it's only 94 degrees in Marfa, but it's forecast to reach 110 in Fort Worth. It was 109 yesterday, and it's supposed to be 110 again tomorrow. (That's 43 C for you folks in other areas.)

And my air conditioner isn't working...again.

Ah, the joys of owning an old home. The last time a repairman came, he said the current unit was installed sometime in the 1980s, so I'm sure it's time for a new one. I imagine it's only the second central air system that's been in this house, which was built in 1950 (and probably only had window units then). I'm guessing the first central air unit was put in sometime in the 1960s.

You know things aren't good when you get an automated message that says, "Because of extreme weather conditions, we are experiencing an unusually large number of request for repairs. Please stay on the line. Estimated wait time is approximately 20 minutes."

I finally talked to a human, and my request for service was duly noted, but no one has called back to schedule. In the meantime, I've pulled out all the fans I own, and the grandsons and I are hunkered down in the only room in the house that is shaded on both sides by huge trees. So far, it's only 84 in the house.

Till I hear from a repairman, I guess I'll be going through a list of other Texanisms, like "hotter than whoopee in woolens," "hotter than a tater bug" or "hotter than a two-dollar pistol."

You think all those McMansions are having a/c problems too?

Nick of time

In January of this year, I posted about an A. Quincy Jones house not far from my own home in Fort Worth, Texas, that was in danger of being demolished. In a subsequent update in March, I was able to report that the house had a better chance of survival, since the asking price had been lowered.

I am happy to report that the 8400-square-foot home was purchased last Friday by a Fort Worth couple who appreciates the architecture and has the resources to restore the one-of-a-kind house, built for oilman Andrew Fuller and his wife almost 60 years ago.

The property on Charron Lane in west Fort Worth had been held by a Frost Bank trust in the name of Amon Carter III, the son of former Star-Telegram publisher Amon Carter Jr. and the grandson of Fort Worth legend Amon Carter Sr., according to an article by Star-Telegram reporter Chris Vaughn, who has followed the story from the beginning.

The house was threatened with demolition earlier in the year because no one would pay the original asking price of almost $1 million, since the house had fallen into such disrepair since Carter moved out four years ago. Vaughn's story in January generated interest in the fate of the property, and the price was dropped considerably in order to make a sale.

The Fuller House had been listed as one of the city's "most endangered" properties by Historic Fort Worth, a preservation group. The sale of the house will be celebrated by local mid-century enthusiasts, as well as those around the world.

Andrew and Geraldine Fuller, who had many friends in Hollywood, commissioned A. Quincy Jones to design the house, which was completed in 1953 on 17 acres in the Ridglea neighborhood. They hired William Haines, a former actor and famous mid-century interior designer, to oversee the decor. Every room is a different geometric shape--a circle, a trapezoid, a rhombus, to name a some.

T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings designed custom furniture to fit the gigantic rooms with 20-foot ceilings. The Fullers entertained lavishly in the home, with guests including Jimmy Stewart and Joan Crawford.

Thanks to all of you who have followed my posts about this beautiful piece of mid-century history. Many of you have commented here and elsewhere, helping to create a climate of support for the property, which made it less likely that the former owner would raze the house.

And, most of all, thanks to the buyers who saved this important landmark from the wrecking ball. I hope they will share photos of it with all of us when the restoration is complete.

Photo courtesy Historic Fort Worth

View of Fuller house from pool