1616 W. Abram St. (at the Historic Fielder House) Arlington, TX 76013 817-460-4001 Geraldine Mills, Director fielderh@swbell.net www.historicalarlington.org Hours: Fielder House: Tues. through Sat. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (or by appointment) Knapp Heritage Park: Sat. & Sun. 1-4 p.m. Newsletter Editor Tom Dodson at jeantom@sbcglobal.net Newsletter Dec 2011/Jan 2012 Stories from the Arlington Archives! Founding of the Metroplex Arlington, Texas as compiled by Steve Barnes October 2008 Part 2 of 2 During the period of around 1842, another visitor to the Bird s Fort was a man named John Neely Bryan. Bryan had come to the area originally in hopes of opening his own trading house. However, as a result of this new treaty, his plan did not work since his location was east of the proposed new boundary. John Neely Bryan now had thoughts of building a town at his site, which was located roughly 25 miles east of Bird s Fort. Over the next couple of years he would continue to make trips between his property, Bird s Fort, and other fledgling communities, recruiting settlers to join him in building his new town, which was later named Dallas. After discovering that the fort was built on land belonging to the Peters Colony land grant, the Rangers soon abandoned Bird s Fort in 1843. Additionally, the Major was not reimbursed for his expenses incurred while building and maintaining the fort. Settlers remained in the area around the fort until the next summer. Things were not very pleasant for those who chose to remain due to the lack of food and unbearable winters. The Indians continued to be a menace; they had burned off the grasses, running off all of the wild game. They left when Sam Houston would (continued on page 2) In this Issue Arlington Archives Founding of the Metroplex Part 2 of 2 How well do you your Arlington history? 1 Doland Maner solves the mystery of the photograph in the last issue Exciting News!! - Restoration and repair of the Fielder House for the home s 100th Anniversary in 2014 Christmas at Knapp Heritage Park Friday, December 2. Don t miss it!! Were you aware of the many uses of the Fielder House property? Do you have any historic photographs of Arlington? Old Timers Schedule through April 2012 6 How well do you know your Arlington history? 1. In the 1940s & 50s there were two private airports in what is now present-day Arlington. What were their names and locations? 2. In the early 1970s the City of Arlington decided to enter the theme park business. What was the name of this theme park? 3. In the 1930s-40s there were two movie theaters in old Downtown Arlington. What were their names? 4. Before Arlington had its first hospital (Arlington Memorial), it had a medial clinic (in the 1930s-40s) that served many of the townspeople. What was the name of this clinic? 5. Interurban electric trains ran between Dallas and Fort Worth, down Abram Street, through Arlington, during what years? (answers on page 6) 1 4 6 5 4 6
News from Arlington Historical Society Dec 2011/Jan 2012 P. 2 Founding of the Metroplex (continued from page 1) not honor the settlers land claims, for they, too, were located in the Peters Colony Land Grant. Terms of the Bird s Fort Treaty called for the establishment of a line populated by forts and trading houses separating Indian lands from territory open for colonization. President Sam Houston proposed commissioning three trading houses. In 1845, Isaac Spence and a partner obtained the rights to open a trading house on the Trinity. This would be known as Trading House number One. In his letter dated September 9, 1845, Spence reported to officials in Austin, I have stopped at what is called the Marrow Bone Spring in the Lower Cross Timbers. About two or three miles from the West Fork of the Trinity River, the same place where a council was held with Indians some two or three years ago. Col. T.I. Smith went with me to the spot in company with two Indian Chiefs and pointed it out as the most suitable place for the Trading House and the one whom all the Indians wish it to be placed. I have put up a House 36 feet long by 16 ft. wide with a frame Roof Covered with two foot boards nailed and enclosed with half logs as pickets fastened togather in a substancil manner [sic] He further stated, My object has been, and ever shall be to conduct the business intrusted to my charge in such a way as to strengthen the friend ship between the Indians and the white man [sic] On December 29, 1845, Texas became a state, sparking a war with Mexico. As the armies moved to the south, the frontier was left unprotected. The governor ordered new Ranger companies to protect the settlements. Captain Andrew Stapp's company from Collin County took charge of the Marrow Bone Spring Station. In January 1848, Capt. Middleton Tate Johnson was ordered to move his company to Marrow Bone Spring, which was renamed Kaufman Station but was widely known as Johnson Station. Johnson was also placed in charge of Indian Trading Post No. 1. Marrow Bone Spring Park, south of Arkansas Lane and east of Matlock Road. For his service during the Mexican War, Johnson was awarded "immigrant headrights" to 640 acres in part of Navarro County that later became Tarrant County. Early in 1849, after leaving the military, Colonel Johnson claimed the Marrow Bone Spring area, as the last of the Peters Colony contract had expired. He soon developed a plantation near the spring where his many slaves raised hundreds of acres of cotton and other crops. His land holdings continued to increase to thousands of acres in the surrounding area. The settlement that grew up around his plantation was commonly known as Johnson's Station. With its trading house and other resources, it succeeded where Bird's Fort had not, providing pioneers with end of the trail necessities to settle in their new homes and thrive. As well, the station provided provisions to those continuing further west on the Butterfield stage. Col. Johnson soon expressed his growing dissatisfaction with the fact that countless settlers on the northwestern frontier were left unprotected. The army responded by establishing a series of new forts in the territory. In February 1849, General Worth commissioned Major Ripley Arnold to found two of the forts in the chain. The eastern end of the cordon of forts was to begin, in the words of official instructions, "somewhere near the confluence of the Clear and West forks of the Trinity River." (continued on page 3)
News from Arlington Historical Society Dec 2011/Jan 2012 P. 3 Founding of the Metroplex (continued from page 2) By April 17, 1849, Major Arnold had established one of the forts, Fort Graham. With a detachment of dragoons, he proceeded to Mary le Bone Springs (Marrow Bone Spring) with a letter addressed to Colonel Johnson from General Worth. Arnold gave Johnson a letter of introduction from Johnson's Mexican War friend, Gen. William J. Worth, asking for help selecting a site for an Army post and fort on the Trinity River. The General wanted assistance, and Johnson was the man he knew could best advise Major Arnold about the new site. After staying about a week at Johnson's Station, the group departed from Mary le Bone Springs early one May morning in 1849. The party was comprised of Major Arnold's escort of blue uniformed dragoons and Colonel Johnson in command of Rangers Henry Clay Daggett, W. B. Echols, Simon B. Farrar, and Charles Turner. They camped for the night, probably northwest of where the present-day town of Handley is located. Early the next morning, the group of men rode to the area of the confluence of the Clear and West forks of the Trinity River. The chosen site was on the property owned by Colonel Johnson and his partner, Archibald Robinson. There was no quibbling about price. Johnson and Robinson were settling a frontier. They gave the land to the United States government for use until the post should be abandoned, at which time it was to revert to the owners. On November 14, 1849, an event occurred which caused rejoicing. The War Department lifted the military post from the rank of a camp to that of a fort. 1936 State Marker of Gravesite of Col. Middleton Tate Johnson, in the Cemeteries on Arkansas Lane (just east of Matlock) The military closed and left Fort Worth in 1853, departing for Fort Graham. As agreed by the government, the property reverted to its original owners. With a community already growing around the fort, citizens of the town kept the well-known name, and the city of Fort Worth continued to grow. However, Colonel Johnson did donate to the town the land where the original Tarrant County Courthouse is located. His likeness was also included on the first Tarrant County seal. Following his many accomplishments in the area, on May 15, 1866, while returning to Johnson's Station from Austin, Colonel Middleton Tate Johnson had a stroke and died. He is buried in the Johnson family cemetery near Marrow Bone Spring in the city that would later become known as Arlington, Texas. Text sources include Arlington, Texas Birthplace of the Metroplex by Arista Joyner; Dallas historian Gerald Harris, forttours.com; Fort Worth, A Frontier Triumph by Julia Kathryn Garrett; The West Texas Frontier by Joseph Carroll McConnell; historian Clay Perkins; Bill Fairley as published in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram; Texas State Library.
News from Arlington Historical Society Dec 2011/Jan 2012 P. 4 Were you aware of the current multiple uses of the Fielder House property? 1. Museum of a historic Arlington home 2. Museum for display of other artifacts of Arlington s history (both permanent and special exhibits) 3. Storage of artifacts currently not on display 4. Storage of archival materials (papers, books, photographs, etc.) available for research 5. Regular meeting place for the Arlington Historical Society and several other volunteer community organizations 6. Office space for the Arlington Historical Society Doland Maner identifies the men in (and the occasion for) the mystery photograph included in the last issue of the Newsletter! Doland Maner graciously offered the following with respect to the above photo This photo is of the Board of Directors of the North Texas Fair Association and was made before the second annual Arlington Downs Rodeo in 1947. The men are (left to right) E. Paul Waggoner, Julian Blackwell, Glenn Turpin, H. C. Custard (I think), John Vernon, C. H. Wilemon, Harold Epps, and J.R. (Red) Wright. I spent many hours working on this project (the 1947 Rodeo) while being paid by Mr. John Vernon. There are not many people still alive who remember that the Grand Ole Opry of Nashville, Tennessee, was in Arlington that year and the regular Opry program was broadcast nationwide from Arlington Downs. The entire group was here Red Foley, Minnie Pearl, Eddie Arnold, Ernest Tubb and his band, Tex Ritter, and others. We had people assigned to each star to take care of the needs of the Grand Ole Opry people. My long-time friend and fellow employee Mrs. Maggie Purdue Hardin was Minnie Pearl s aid, and for many years, Minnie and Maggie corresponded, with letters back and forth. Thank you Doland!
News from Arlington Historical Society Dec 2011/Jan 2012 P. 5 8th Annual Christmas at Knapp Heritage Park Friday, Dec. 2 6-8 p. m. Children s Choir Cabin Tours by Oil Lamp Refreshments Resident Artisan/Blacksmith James Ryan Hanging of the Ornaments Lighting of the Tree
News from Arlington Historical Society Dec 2011/Jan 2012 P. 6 Do you have any historic photographs of Arlington? Let us scan them and add them to our extensive digital collection! Call Tom Dodson 817-548-5984 (or email: jeantom@sbcglobal.net) OLD TIMERS SCHEDULE Old Timers is now meeting at the Fielder House on the 3rd Thursday each month at 2 p.m. Old Timers: where long-term Arlington residents (and other speakers) have opportunity to tell stories (and spin yarns?) about Arlington in days past. Everyone is invited to attend these informative and entertaining sessions. Dates and speakers for the balance of this year and into 2012 are: December 15 Doris Kittlehut (Old Toys) January 19 Jim Strickland February 16 Kathleen Smith March 15 Dan Dipert April 19 Effie Foster May 17-Jane Santeere June 21-Dan Smith, author July 19-Faye Reeder (Star-Telegram) August 16-Ethel Elazner September 20-Phyllis Forehand October 18-Cormen Gooden E x c I t I n g N e w s!!! In anticipation of the 100th Anniversary of the Fielder House in 2014, the Arlington Historical Society is working on a Master Plan for the restoration and repair of this historic home. The initial planning for this task (analysis of needs, obtaining estimates, strategies for funding, accommodating the current multiple uses of the Fielder House, etc.) is being financed by a $10,000 grant from the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation. Watch for more news!!! Answers to How well Do you know your Arlington history? 1. Pulley Airport, on land now occupied by Arlington Memorial Hospital, and Lucas Airport, on the southeast corner of present-day Arkansas Lane and Bowen Road. 2. Seven Seas, a sea-life/marine park. It operated from 1972 to 1975. 3. The Texan, on the south side of the 100 block of West Main Street, and the Aggie, on the north side of the 100 block of East Main Street. 4. The Bobo Hospital/Clinic Dr. Zack Bobo, Jr. It was on the east side of the 300 block of South Center Street. Much of Dr. Bobo s medical equipment and supplies are on permanent display at the Fielder Museum.