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Spring Garden Community
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Located at Spring Garden Cemetery, Cheek Sparger Rd.,
1 mile east of Jackson Dr., Bedford.
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The first permanet settler to this area was Samuel
Cecil Holiday Witten of Spring Garden, Missouri, who
came here in 1854. In 1865, with Milton Moore, he
built a schoolhouse here which was named for his
Missouri home. The building also served as a Chapel
and Meeting Hall. Once the site of churches, a Grange,
and a Justice of the Peace Court, Spring Garden
declined in the 1870s because fire and the nearby
development of Bedford. Only the pioneer burial ground
at this site marks the location of the early
settlement.
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Site of Arlington Downs Racetrack
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Located at 2225 East Randol Mill Rd., Arlington.
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Wealthy rancher and oilman W. T. Waggoner (1852-1934)
developed a stable of fine Thoroughbreds and quarter
horses at his ranch here in the 1920s. At this site he
built Arlington Downs, a one-and-one quarter mile race
track with a 6,000-seat grandstand. Racing days drew
thousands of spectators including numerous
celebrities. Waggoner and his sons Guy (1883-1950) and
Paul (1889-1967) campaigned for pari-mutuel betting,
which was legalized in Texas from 1934 to 1937. The
Racetrack was used for rodeos and other events before
the buildings were razed in 1958. (1978)
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Near Site of Azle Post Office
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Located at 124 W. Main St., Azle.
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Originally named O'Bar, the Azle Post Office opened in
1881. The name was changed in 1883 for Dr. Azle
Stewart, who gave land for the townsite. Initially the
Post Office was located in a store. Postmaster Cora
Lovell moved the operation to a frame building at 141
W. Main, where it remained from 1916 to 1953. The Post
Office became a community gathering place. During the
38-year term of Postmaster Elsie Gipson Parker, it
also housed a small public library. A larger postal
facility was erected in 1970-71, after Azle attained
the rank of First Class Station. (1979)
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Barron Field
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Located on Oak Grove Rd., 1/10 mi. S. of Everman Rd.,
near Everman.
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One of three World War I fight training centers in the
Ft. Worth area, Taliaferro Field No. 2 was built on
this site in Nov. 1917. First used by Canadian cadets,
it was occupied in April 1918 by American military
units. In May, the facility was renamed Barron Field
for Cadet Robert J. Barron, who was killed at another
flying school. Covering over 600 acres, the camp
housed as many as 150 officers and 900 enlisted men.
Barron Field sent six Air Squadrons to France before
the war ended, Nov. 11, 1918. The training facility
closed in 1921, and today only the munitions building
remains. (1976)
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Site of Bird's Fort
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Located 1 mile south of Calloway Cemetery Rd.on FM
157, Arlington.
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Established in 1840 by Jonathan Bird on the Military
Rd. from Red River to Austin. In its vicinity an
important Indian treaty, marking the line between the
Indians and the white settlements, was signed
September 29, 1843, by Edward H. Tarrant and George W.
Terrell, representing the Republic of Texas. The
ragged remnant of the ill-fated Snively expedition
sought refuge here, August 6, 1843. (1936)
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Site of Bird's Fort (One Mile East)
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Located on FM 157, 1 mile north of Trinity River,
Arlington.
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In an effort to attract settlers to the region and to
provide protection from Indian raids, Gen. Edward H.
Tarrant of the Republic of Texas Militia authorized
Jonathan Bird to establish a settlement and military
post in the area. Bird's Fort, built near a
crescent-shaped lake one mile east in 1841, was the
first attempt at Anglo-American colonization in
present Tarrant County. The settlers, from the Red
River area, suffered from hunger and Indian problems
and soon returned home or joined other settlements. In
August 1843, troops of the Jacob Snively expedition
disbanded at the abandoned fort, which consisted of a
few log structures. Organized to capture Mexican gold
wagons on the Santa Fe Trail in retaliation for raids
of San Antonio, the outfit had been disarmed by United
States forces. About the same time, negotiations began
at the fort between Republic of Texas officials Gen.
Tarrant and Gen. George W. Terrell and the leaders of
nine Indian tribes. The meetings ended on September
29, 1843, with the signing of the Bird's Fort Treaty.
Terms of the agreement called for an end to existing
conflicts and the establishment of a line separating
Indian lands from territory open for colonization.
(1980)
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Camp Bowie Boulevard
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Located in Veterans Park, 4100 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort
Worth.
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In 1917-18, this roadway was the main artery through
Camp Bowie, a World War I training center. Narrow
strips of asphalt paving flanked streetcar tracks that
ran the length of the avenue, then called Arlington
Heights Boulevard. After the war, business and
residential development spread into this area. In 1919
the street was renamed Camp Bowie Boulevard. In
1927-28, like many of the major thoroughfares in Ft.
Worth, it was paved with durable Thurber bricks. Today
this street is a reminder of Ft. Worth's heritage and
a source of pride to area residents. (1979)
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Camp Bowie in World War I
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Located in the City Park, 4100 block Camp Bowie Blvd.,
Fort Worth.
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Headquarters, 36th Division, United States Army,
1917-1919. Established to train Texas National Guard
and Oklahoma National Guard, after the U.S. entered
World War I April 1917. Named for James Bowie
(1795-1836), one of the commanders who died at the
Alamo in Texas War for Independence, Camp Bowie was
occupied in July 1917. First troops to arrive slept in
deep Johnson grass that covered the site, an
undeveloped suburb. By Nov. 1917, the 36th Division
had 25,000 men here, and on July 8, 1918, they were
shipped to France, to form reserve for French Armies
of the Center. After nightfall, Oct. 6, the 36th
occupied a segment of the fighting front; on Oct. 8
joined by elements of the U.S. 2nd Division, it
captured St. Etienne-A-Arnes. It fought Oct. 10-28 in
the Meuse-Argonne operation that shattered the German
Army and assured victory to the Allies, bringing
Armistice on Nov. 11, 1918. The 36th Division,
embarking for home the next May, had all its men on
U.S. soil by June 11, 1919. Soon demobilized, it saw
its "Home" at Camp Bowie revert to civilian uses
between July 1919 and Aug. 1920. When the Texas
National Guard entered World War II its new camp at
Brownwood was also named Bowie. (1973)
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Chase Court
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Located just inside entrance of Chase Court, 1700
block of Hemphill, Fort Worth.
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When E.E. Chase purchased the property that is now
known as Chase Court, the area was some distance from
the City of Fort Worth. Chase, a business man and
investor, built a house in the center of the court and
raised horses on his land. In 1900 his home was moved
to what became lot No. 4 in 1906, when the property
was bought and subdivided by the Consolidated
Improvement and Construction Company of Fort Worth.
Throughout its history, the neighborhood has been the
home of many distinguished Fort Worth businessmen and
professionals. (1984)
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Cross Timbers
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Located at 2602 Mayfield Rd., Grand Prairie.
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This narrow strip of sandy timberland, called "The
Eastern Cross Timbers", separates the Blackland
Prairie and the Grand Prairie. It covers about one
million acres. Indians camped here because the mild
climate, good soil, frequent rains and nearby prairies
supported large herds of buffalo and horses. There
were salt licks, fresh water springs, trees for fuel,
and good grass. They also found game for food and
hides. West of the Grand Prairie, covering about 2.7
million acres, is "The Western Cross Timbers". During
the 18th century Wichita Indians, of Caddoan stock
roamed this area. Southern plains tribes, such as the
Kiowa and the Comanche, often wintered here and traded
with them. Cultural exchanges occurred here as trade
routes developed between flint sources in the south
and tribes from the north. By 1720 French traders
came. They opened the trading posts and bartered with
the Indians. The Spanish moved through, traveling to
their Mission outposts. Settlement in the 1840s by
Anglo-Americans led to clashes. A turning point came
on May 24, 1841, with the battle of Village Creek, a
few miles west of this site. The Indians withdrew to
the west, leaving the land to the white settlers.
(1979)
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Eastern Cattle Trail
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Located in Heritage Park, 100 N. Commerce, Fort Worth.
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This native stone, dug from the Trinity River Valley,
marks the route of the Eastern Cattle Trail, where
cattle were driven north on Rusk Street, now Commerce
Street, through the City of Fort Worth, Texas, to the
bluff and then across the Trinity River to the broad
valley below, where they rested before continuing
their long drive north. From the end of the Civil War
to the bringing of the railroad in 1876, great herds
of cattle passed this way to Abilene, Kansas. The
Eastern Trail, also called the McCoy Trail, became the
Chisholm Trail when it reached the Red River. Fort
Worth, the last place for provisions before Indian
Country, received its name, 'Cow Town', and it first
major industry, from this period.
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Elizabeth Boulevard
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Located at the northwest corner of Page & College
Aves., Fort Worth.
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This Boulevard, named the wife of developer John C.
Ryan, was designed as the first phase of a residential
district known as Ryan Place. Elaborate entry gates
and the first house, the W.T. Fry home at 1112
Elizabeth, were built in 1911. Construction here
peaked in 1920 and declined as a result of the
economic depression at the end of the decade. The
exclusive area was the home of many prominent Fort
Worth oilmen and business leaders. Detailing of the
elegant houses reflects the variety of architectural
styles popular during the early 20th century. (1981)
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Fort Worth Zoological Park
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Located at 2727 Zoological Park Dr., Fort Worth.
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The oldest continuous Zoo site in Texas, the Fort
Worth Zoological Park has provided its visitors with
many recreational and educational opportunities since
1909. The first Zoo in Fort Worth was a small
menagerie then located in an old City Park and
operated by the newly established Park Board. After a
1909 flood destroyed the animal collection, George
Vinnedge, the city's first Park Superintendent, chose
this site for a new Zoo. Over the years, the Zoo has
experience a steady growth in facilities and additions
to its collection, largely due to community support
and concern. (1983)
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Hell's Half Acre
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Located at the corner of 12th & Houston Streets,
Fort Worth.
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A notorious red light district known as Hell's Half
Acre developed in this section of Fort Worth after the
arrival of the Texas and Pacific Railway in 1876
launched a local economic boom. Fort Worth was soon
the favorite destination for hundreds of cowboys,
buffalo hunters, railroad workers, and freighters
eager to wash off the trail dust and enjoy themselves.
To meet the demand, a large number of saloons, dance
halls, gambling houses, and bordellos opened between
the Courthouse Square and the railroad depot. Illegal
activities in Hell's Half Acre were tolerated by city
officials because of their importance to the town's
economy. The district prospered in the 1880s and added
to Fort Worth's growing reputation as a rowdy frontier
town. Famous gamblers Luke Short, Bat Masterson and
Wyatt Earp and outlaws Sam Bass, Eugene Bunch, Butch
Cassidy and the Sundance Kid are known to have spend
time in Hell's Half Acre. A 1906 newspaper headline
calling the district Fort Worth's den of sin and
refuge of criminals was representative of periodic
efforts to clean up the district. These efforts proved
unsuccessful until Army officials at Camp Bowie,
established here during World War I, helped local
officials shut the district down. (1993)
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Marrow Bone Spring
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Located on the trail in Founders Park, corner of
Matlock & Arkansas Sts., Arlington.
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An Indian habitat in the 1700s or earlier, Marrow Bone
Spring in 1843 was visited by President Sam Houston's
envoys seeking peace. A trading post licensed by the
Texas Republic opened in 1845 near the Spring. Hiram
Blackwell of the Peters Colony pioneered here before
1848. Soldier-statesman Middleton Tate Johnson
(1810-1866) posted troops nearby in the late 1840s.
The first Post Office in Tarrant County opened on Oct.
31, 1851, at Johnson's Station. In 1852 Blackwell sold
Johnson his rights to land surrounding the spring. The
Village of Johnson's Station flourished for many
years. (1979)
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Missouri Colony
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Located near the Tarrant/ Dallas County line on SH 121
about 4 miles from Grapevine.
Marker is on north side of SH 121 access road.
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In 1844 related families from Platte County, Missouri,
settled in this area. James Gibson, one of the
earliest settlers in Tarrant County, owned this site.
In 1845 more relatives and friends arrived. They
became known as the "Missouri Colony". The pioneers
raised cattle and grain. John. A Freeman taught school
and preached to the settlers at Lonesome Dove. Some
original colonists moved to pioneer other frontier
regions. Others remained to help build the
northeastern section of Tarrant County, the first
permanently settled area in the county. (1979)
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Site of Confederate Park
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Located on FM 1886 (Confederate Park Rd.), 1.5 miles
west of SH 199 (Jacksboro Hwy.), Fort Worth
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Local businessman Khleber M. Van Zandt organized the
Robert E. Lee camp of the United Confederate Veterans
in 1889. By 1900 it boasted more than 700 members. The
camp received a 25-year charter to create the
Confederate Park Association in 1901, then purchased
373 acres near this site for the "recreation, refuge
and relief of Confederate soldiers" and their
families. Opening events included a picnic for
veterans and families on June 20, 1902, and a
statewide reunion September 8-12, 1903, with 3,500
attendees. The park thrived as a center for the civic
and social activities of Texas Confederate
organizations. By 1924 the numbers of surviving
veterans had greatly diminished, and the Confederate
Park Association voluntarily dissolved when its
charter expired in 1926. (2000)
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Village Creek
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Located on the 7th Tee at Arlington Golf Course,
Arlington.
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Archeological excavations along the course of this
Trinity River tributary have unearthed evidence of
several prehistoric villages. Artifacts from the area
date back almost 9,000 years and represent a culture
of food-gatherers and hunters. In the 1830s the Creek
served as a sanctuary for several Indian tribes who
made frequent raids on frontier settlements. The
conflict grew worse in 1841 when major attacks were
reported in Fannin and Red River Counties. Brigadier
General Edward H. Tarrant (1796-1858) of the Republic
of Texas Militia led a company of volunteers in a
punitive expedition against Indian villages in this
area. On May 24, 1841, following brief skirmishes at
several encampments, two scouting patrols were
attacked near the mouth of the Creek and retreated to
the main camp. Reportedly twelve Indians and one
soldier, Captain John B. Denton, were killed. As
result of the Battle of Village Creek, many tribes
began moving west. Others were later removed under
terms of the 1843 Treaty signed at Bird's Fort (10 mi.
NE) which opened the area to colonization. Much of the
battle site is now located beneath the waters of Lake
Arlington.
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Ann Waggoner Hall
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[location not given]
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[text not given]
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Arlington Heights Lodge No. 1184, A.F.
and A.M
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Located at 4600 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth.
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Chartered on December 9, 1921, Arlington Heights Lodge
No. 1184 is located on land donated by Lodge members
W.C. Stonestreet and F.H. Sparrow. This building,
designed by Lodge member John C. Davies (1885-1963),
was dedicated January 3, 1923. The Classical Revival
structure with strong Greek temple influence features
pedimented gables, brick pilasters with stone
capitals, round-arch upper windows and entry, stone
motif details, and art glass transoms. Recorded Texas
Historic Landmark-1987.
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Atelier Building
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Located at 209 W. 8th, Fort Worth.
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Developer Thomas S. Weaver had this structure built
about 1905. Named "Atelier", the French word for an
artist's studio, it has housed the offices of
architects and contractors, a restaurant, and
financial institutions, including the banking firm of
W.R. Edrington, a noted Fort Worth benefactor. In 1936
the building served as the temporary location of the
Carnegie Library. Built of brick, it features two
chimneys with terra cotta ornamentation. Recorded
Texas Historic Landmark-1980.
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