by Timothy Appling
In 2004 Chelsie Zachman was shopping for her first home to buy. Driving around town with her mother, she decided to check into the Fairmount neighborhood. She was somewhat familiar with the area, having had a good friend during her college days who rented an apartment here. When they passed the house at 1824 Henderson Street, her mother exclaimed, “That’s it! That’s your house!” Chelsie eyed the dilapidated structure she thought surely needed to be condemned. “You’ve got to be kidding,” was her response. Nevertheless she checked into it and became convinced the house did, indeed, have potential. Chelsie closed on the house in January of 2005 and moved in by April. An extensive restoration has resulted in a beautiful home that epitomizes the Fairmount renaissance.

1824 Henderson

When the Fairmount Neighborhood Association recently held its annual holiday decoration contest, Chelsie’s glittering display garnered the most Facebook votes, earning her the Holiday Yard of the Month title. The prize-winning panorama included oversized ornaments hung between the columns, which were wrapped with red ribbon, candy cane style. White lights outlined the yard and house. A sparkling Christmas tree, also illuminated with white lights, was visible through a front window and complimented the outdoor décor. A traditional evergreen wreath on the front door greeted visitors and completed the scintillating scene.

Creating a tableau that would earn the most Facebook “likes” was a team effort between Chelsie and her fiancé, Joe Synatschk, a chef at Meddlesome Moth in Dallas. Chelsie is the director of marketing and events at Bonnell’s Restaurant, here in Fort Worth. Fairmount residents also know her as a former Home Tour director and active member of the FNA. As YOTM winners, they have been awarded a gift certificate from C. C.’s Touch of Nature. We congratulate them and all the Fairmount residents whose festive displays helped to make the holidays in Fairmount truly special.

Yard of the Month will be on hiatus for the next two months as landscapes take a needed winter rest. But at the first sign of spring, we will be out again looking for those Fairmount homes whose botanical curb appeal represent the beauty of Fairmount. Please send any recommendations for YOTM consideration to Tim Appling, applingtimothy@sbcglobal.net.

Photo by Stacy Luecker