USA > Texas > Tarrant County > Fort Worth > History of Texas : Fort Worth and the Texas northwest edition, Volume II > Part 22
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In the summer of 1873 the bank of G. Van Winkle & Co. was opened. It was composed of G. Van Winkle and A. P. Wroten. It was short-lived. The panic of 1873 closed its doors.
After disposing of his interest in the bank of Loyd, Marklee & Co., Captain Loyd proceeded to the organization of the First National Bank, of which he became president, and so continued until his death in April, 1912. D. C. Bennet was the first vice-president and C. H. Higbee, cashier. Of the directors, Zane-Cetti and S. B. Burnett remain at this writing.
The situation remained unchanged until the year 1882, when H. C. Edrington came to Fort Worth from Bryan and established the Trad- ers National Bank, of which he was president and W. J. Boaz vice- president and George H. Mulkey cashier. In October, 1876, John E. Barlow and Nelson Mccrary opened a private bank and continued in business until the extension of the Texas & Pacific Railway to the west. when they followed it to Abilene, where the bank was discontinued and the proprietors engaged in other lines of business.
In 1889 Mr. John Hoxie, who came hither from Chicago, organized the Farmers & Mechanics National Bank, with a capital of $1,000,000. Mr. Hoxie was evidently a poor judge of credit, and loaned money to whosoever he took a fancy, and it was not long before the resources of the bank were exhausted. It was reorganized with J. W. Spencer as president and Ben O. Smith as cashier. Its doubtful assets were charged off and the capital reduced, and the new management pro- ceeded to build it up until it became one of the solid and reliable insti- tutions of the section.
Other banks were organized and established, among them the American National and the Live Stock National banks. The latter was of short duration, but the American continued in business until
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about two years, when it was merged with the Farmers & Mechanics National Bank.
At this time there are fourteen banks in the city, five of which are National Banks, with a capital and surplus of $6,600,000. There are
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eight State Banks, with a capital and surplus of $9,384,758.58. There is one unincorporated bank, owned and managed by negroes, with a capital of $100,000. There are three mortgage and loan companies, all doing a thriving and successful business.
LIFE INSURANCE
About the year 1907, the State of Texas enacted a law requiring all insurance companies doing business in Texas to invest a certain per-
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centage of the premiums received in Texas securities and deposit them with the State Treasurer. This resulted in the withdrawal of a large number of "Old Line" insurance companies.
Prior to this time, in the year 1906, a number of the enterprising public-spirited citizens of Fort Worth organized the Fort Worth Life Insurance Company, with a capital of $100,000. The subscribers paid
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in 125 per cent of their subscriptions, thus creating a surplus of $25,000.
For the year ending December 31, 1920, this company had insurance in force amounting to $15,480,000, had a reserve of $1,442,300, a surplus to policy holders of $244,006, and had paid-up policy holders and bene- ficiaries since organization of $712,022.
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Its officers, directors and stockholders are among the most promi- nent and substantial business men of Fort Worth.
Its present offcers are: N. H. Lassiter, president; J. W. Spencer, vice-president; Dr. J. W. Irion, vice-president and medical director ; P. V. Montgomery, secretary, actuary and general manager ; C. W. Nelson, agency director.
FIRE INSURANCE
The Millers' Insurance Company, a mutual institution, was organ- ized in Fort Worth in the year 1900 by Mr. Glen Walker and asso- ciates. It has been conservatively managed and has been a pro- nounced success from its inception.
It has recently erected a handsome and commodious office building for its business home.
Mr. Glen Walker and E. K. Collett are secretary and assistant sec- retary and manager, respectively.
It has a surplus fund of $450,000, and is one of the substantial and progressive institutions of the city.
REAL ESTATE PROMOTIONS ARLINGTON HEIGHTS
The rapid growth of Fort Worth and the surrounding country has made this an attractive field for the real estate promoter.
The first enterprise of this nature of any considerable magnitude was Arlington Heights, which the Chamberlain Investment Co. of Denver started about 1889. This company had had successful ventures in Denver, Seattle, Salt Lake and other Northwestern cities, and selected Fort Worth as an another field for their activity.
It purchased between 4,000 and 5,000 acres of land west of the city, constructed a magnificent boulevard and a street railway, built a beau- tiful hotel, waterworks and all the other conveniences for a suburban addition. The panic of 1893 caused the suspension of their activities and a disastrous failure of the enterprise. The phenomenal growth of this suburb and its present success is evidence that the judgment of Mr. Chamberlain was good, and but for the panic he would have made an immense sum of money.
NORTH FORT WORTH TOWN SITE COMPANY
When the packing houses and stock yards were located here, men who had invested capital in these enterprises organized the North Fort Worth Town Site Company, of which Mr. J. B. Googins was vice- president and F. P. Hopkins manager. It had a capital of $500,000 and purchased about 1,200 acres of land adjacent to the packing plants, and commenced the erection of houses for their employes and others. The venture was a complete success. One thousand and forty houses were built by the company and sold on easy terms to willing purchas- ers. The company has been liquidated, having disposed of its hold- ings.
ROSEN HEIGHTS
About 1904 Sam Rosen, a retail clothing merchant, "an Israelite in whom there is no guile," bought a large tract of land lying northwest
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of the packing houses and promoted a suburb known as "Rosen Heights." It was a success from start to finish and is now the most thickly settled section of that part of Fort Worth.
HEMPHILL HEIGHTS
Mr. William Capps, one of the leading attorneys of the Fort Worth bar, astonished his friends and acquaintances by the purchase of the major portion of the Warwick Survey and laying it out in streets and blocks and putting it on the market at from $250 to $400 per lot. Everyone predicted a disastrous failure of this enterprise, but time has shown that Mr. Capps had a broader vision than his friends, as the entire tract is almost entirely covered with substantial homes of the residents of the city.
RYAN ADDITION
Mr. John C. Ryan purchased a large tract of land south of the city, a long distance from the nearest improvements, and laid out a re- stricted residential suburb. A magnificent boulevard, known as Eliz- abeth Boulevard, extends across the northern portion of the tract. He constructed wide sidewalks, planted trees and made other improve- ments before selling a lot. The success of the enterprise demonstrates his good judgment, for this is one of the most beautiful suburbs of the city, and his many friends and admirers congratulate him on his success.
SYCAMORE HEIGHTS
This suburb was promoted by Mr. F. R. Scott of Toronto, Canada, and the late D. T. Bomar of the Forth Worth Bar.
It is a delightful and attractive residential district and a credit to the enterprise of its promoter.
MISTLETOE HEIGHTS
This is the latest of the successful real estate ventures in the city. It is on the elevated plateau southwest of town and is the home of many of the prosperous and successful business men of the city.
Not a large but a very attractive addition to the many beautiful resi- dential additions to the city is Chettenham.
It comprises only forty-three acres and lies just east of the entrance to Forest Park. The promoters bought the land from Mrs. Cynthia Sisk, who had owned it for more than fifty years. Her deed of acquisi- tion does not mention Forth Worth, but describes the land as lying seven miles southwest of Birdville.
More than one hundred and fifty thousand dollars has been expended in construction of paved streets, sidewalks and curbs and the installation of water and sewer mains. It is a "restricted" addition, and a number of high class homes have already been erected. It lies on a beautiful plateau overlooking the valley of the Trinity and the southern and east- ern portions of the city.
CHURCHES
Fort Worth is an important center of religious activities. It is recognized throughout the Southwest as "A City of Churches." There
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are in the city and its immediate suburbs 111 churches, embracing all the more prominent and well-known sects and denominations, and sev- eral that are more obscure. There is approximately a church for each 1,000 inhabitants. Many of these are handsome, commodious and substantial structures, costing from a few thousand to many hundreds of thousands of dollars. One of them has the largest auditorium in the South and boasts of the largest Sunday school in the country. This is an indication of the high moral character of the people who call Fort Worth home.
The first church edifice in the city was that of the Christian Church. It was a modest, unpretentious structure, which occupied the entire block bounded by Main, Houston, Fourth and Fifth streets. Although its proportions were small, it was sufficient to accommodate the small congregation that met there for worship. Elder J. A. Clark was the minister.
The Presbyterians had no organization until 1873. The five mem- bers who formed the organization met once a month in the court house and was served by an evangelist who lived at Waxahachie. Soon after Rev. W. M. Kilpatrick, who was traveling in a covered wagon through North Texas, was called, and thereafter regular service was had in a room over Knight's Livery Stable, at the corner of Third and Calhoun Streets.
The Methodists, with Rev. J. R. Masters as pastor, met on the first and third Sundays, at the Masonic Building, which stood in the middle of Belknap Street, near the corner of Elm.
The Cumberland Presbyterians held service once a month at the same place, with Rev. W. D. Wear as pastor.
The Catholics met on the last Sunday of the month at the resi- dence of Mrs. Louise Scott on Main Street, between Third and Fourth Streets.
The Baptists, with Rev. R. H. H. Burnett as pastor, worshiped in the court house once a month. This congregation started the con- struction of their first church edifice on the fifteenth day of August, 1874, on the grounds where the City Hall now stands.
On May 15, 1874, the Methodists commenced the construction of a church edifice at the corner of Fourth and Grove Streets, where they continued to worship until the erection of their present pretentious and commodious building at the corner of Seventh and Taylor Streets, and which is easily one of the finest and most attractive church build- ing in the South.
In May, 1877, the Presbyterians commenced the erection of what a local writer described as a large and commodious building at the cor- ner of Fourth and Jones Streets. That it was commodious is evi- denced by the fact that the same writer, that he might verify his statement, gave the dimensions as being 30 by 50 feet and would seat 350 people.
The Episcopalians seem to have left no record that is accessible to the writer, but they were in small numbers, making up in enthusiasm what they lacked in numbers. In November, 1877, they purchased a lot at the corner of Third and Fifth Streets for the munificent sum of
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$325.00 and announced that they would soon proceed to build a church edifice that would be a credit and an ornament to the city. They kept the promise and erected a building with a seating capacity of 280, which was dedicated on April 15, 1878. From these small beginnings has grown the present unequalled facilities for the people of Fort Worth to worship in their own church homes.
FRATERNITIES
In keeping with all other activities for the advancement of moral and civic improvements and advancement Forth Worth occupies an enviable and prominent position in the matter of fraternal organizations.
There are at this time in the city and its suburbs five Masonic lodges ; five Knights of Pythias; five Macabees; four Woodmen of the World : three Hybernians ; five Sons of Hermann ; two Royal Arch Chapters ; two Eastern Star Chapters; two Odd Fellow Lodges; one of the Knights of Columbus ; Red Men and Eagles, and one Temple of the A. A. O. N. M. S., which is known as "The Shrine." Places of meeting of the Shrine are called temples as distinguished from lodges. The Temple of Fort Worth is known as "Moslah Temple." It was instituted "under dis- pensation" in May, 1914, and chartered in June, 1915. It now has a membership of 3,806 and has the only "Mosque" in the Southwest. This, as its name implies, is of Arabian style of architecture. It is sit- uated on a promontory overlooking Lake Worth, and is a very imposing and pretentious structure and has every facility and convenience for the purpose for which it was erected. Its cost up to date is about $165,- 000, and the expenditure of many thousands additional to beautify and ornament the grounds is contemplated.
The first Potentate was J. F. Zurn, who has been followed by Wil- liam James, R. A. Massey, E. A. Levy, Geo. Stapleton and John A. Wal- drop in the order named. This much space has been devoted to the "Shrine," and it is the pride of every Mason in this jurisdiction.
Fort Worth Lodge No. 148, A. F. and A. M., is the largest and wealthiest lodge in the state. It was constituted April 14, 1854, "under dispensation" by M. W. Grand Master William M. Taylor and chartered January 18, 1854. Julian Feild was the first worshipful master and John Peter Smith its first secretary. Its first home stood in the street at the present intersection of Elm and Belknap streets. The lower story was used for church and school purposes, as is mentioned elsewhere in these pages.
The Masonic Home and School is the pride of every Mason and the admiration of every citizen of the state. It was located in Fort Worth in 1899. The Administration Building, dormitories for boys and one for girls, the chapel, laundry and all other buildings are commodious brick and concrete structures equipped with all conveniences for the pur- pose contemplated. There are at this writing 265 inmates, 134 boys and 131 girls, the sons and daughters of deceased Masons.
The Home for aged Masons and Widows of Masons is located a few miles west of Arlington, and is provided with every essential for the comfort of its inmates.
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The editor of these volumes is the senior past master of Fort Worth Lodge. The lodge now owns and occupies the three-story building at the corner of Main and Second streets.
The present worshipful master is G. W. Bell, and the secretary, E. S. Nelson.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS
The first meeting to perfect an organization of a Lodge of Knights of Pythias in this city was held on July 23, 1877. It was organized August 17. 1877, with G. M. Otten, P. C .; F. S. Levy, C. C .; Max Elser, V. C .; Chas. Gay, M. of A. It was christened Queen City No. 21.
Red Cross Lodge No. 14 was organized February 26, 1881, with S. Rosenfield, P. C .; Parnell, M. of A.
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HOME OF FORT WORTH LODGE NO. 124, B. P. O. E., FORT WORTH
These lodges at once took up the matter of the erection of a Castle Hall, and the money was subscribed, the building erected and on the 6th day of June, 1881, the cornerstone of the first Castle Hall to be built in the world was laid. The ceremonies were conducted by Justin H. Rathbone, the founder of the order, who came from Washington, D. C., for that purpose, and who delivered an address that was entertaining and instructive.
ELKS' LODGE
Fort Worth Lodge No. 124, B. P. O. E., was instituted in 1906. In 1910 it purchased a lot at Seventh and Lamar streets and erected the magnificent building which it now occupies, and which with the furniture and equipment has an approximate value of $175,000, and is free of indebtedness of any kind.
Its present membership is 1,340. Its contributions to benevolent and charitable purposes have been very large and liberal, but the laws of the order prevent any mention of the same.
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Space will not permit of a detailed account of the formation and activities of the lodges of other orders. Suffice it to say that all are successful and useful in their several fields of endeavor.
LABOR ORGANIZATIONS
Forth Worth is one of the most thoroughly unionized cities in the country.
There are eighty-four Union Labor Organizations in the city, repre- senting every trade and branch of skilled labor.
There are a few "open shops," but they are in a small minority. The Federation of Labor, which includes all of the organizations, is con- servatively managed and there is a minimum of friction between em- ployer and employe. A few ill-advised, hot headed create an occasional disturbance, but they are of short duration and the matters in dispute are usually adjusted without serious loss or inconvenience.
The carpenters, the strongest union in the city, is erecting a building of its own at a cost of around $75,000, which, it is contemplated, will provide quarters for all the unions with offices and place of meeting.
CARNEGIE LIBRARY
The Carnegie Library is an institution in which the citizens of Fort Worth feel a just pride and an absorbing interest. It was organized on the 2nd day of April, 1892, and every means and device known to the originators were applied, including teas, dances, dinners, cake walks and earnest solicitation, to secure the money for the foundation of a public library.
One of the most enthusiastic workers was Mrs. D. B. Keeler. Among other devices resorted to by this good woman to secure money was to solicit from every man who smoked the price of one cigar each day as a contribution to this fund. Following this means she addressed a letter to Mr. Andrew Carnegie asking him for the price of one cigar, or, possibly, two. On July 25th she received a letter from Mr. Carnegie, in which he offered to give the Forth Worth Public Library Association $50,000 for a library building, provided the association would furnish a site for the building and the city would appropriate $4,000 annually for its maintenance.
At a meeting of the association Capt. B. B. Paddock made a motion that a mass meeting of the citizens be called for July 26th, when resolutions were adopted conveying to Mr. Carnegie the heart-felt thanks from the entire community for his generous gift and promising to com- ply with the conditions stipulated.
At that time the association had a fund of about $12,000, and a con- tract was immediately entered into between that body and the City Council for the appropriation of $4,000 annually for the maintenance of the library, a certified copy of which was forwarded to Mr. Carnegie.
The cornerstone for the library building was laid by the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas on June 13, 1900, and the construction of the building was prosecuted with energy until its final completion.
The library was opened to the public on Thursday, October 17, 1901. Mrs. Charles Scheuber was appointed librarian on May 10, 1900, and
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she and a corps of assistants worked diligently and assiduously for more than a year collecting, cataloging and preparing the books for the library.
It now has about 35,000 volumes, including many valuable and im- portant text and reference books, with the usual complement of fiction. history and other works. It has been a pronounced success from the
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day of its opening to the present. Its reading rooms are almost con- stantly filled by students and others who enjoy its facilities. It has seven branches, located at convenient points throughout the city, where a large number of books are kept, and they undertake to supply all demands from the parent library with the least possible delay.
In addition to the thousands of volumes and current magazines kept on the shelves, the association has fostered the Fort Worth Art Associa-
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tion, dedicating a room for its use, in which are many valuable and attractive paintings, sculpture and other works of art. A loan exhibit, consisting of rare and valuable articles, has also been established, which is of great interest and affords much entertainment for visitors.
The association has about 500 members, all of whom are vitally inter- ested in the success of the library, giving their time and labor to the necessary work for which it was organized.
FORT WORTH PARKS
Fort Worth has one of the most complete and comprehensive systems of public parks of any city in the Southwest. Aside from the Hyde Triangle, a small park on Tenth Street between Houston and Throck- morton, the initial work of providing Fort Worth with parks was in 1909 and 1910, since which time every year has seen some addition to the park system. At this writing there are twenty-eight parks in the different parts of the city and suburbs, comprising in the aggregate approximately 4,500 acres.
The largest of these is Lake Worth Park, to which the surplus lands acquired in constructing the lake have been dedicated for park purposes. The second largest is Trinity Park, south of Seventh Street and west of Clear Park, which embraces a little more than 200 acres; then comes Forest Park, with seventy-five acres; Sycamore Park with forty-eight acres; Rock Springs Park with thirty-seven and one-half acres and Marine Park with twelve acres.
All of these parks are improved to some extent, Forest Park, Syca- more Park and Trinity Park having wide, beautiful and improved drive- ways and other attractive features.
Forest Park has a zoological garden, in which there are specimens of almost every kind of animal and bird life produced in Texas.
These parks have been acquired and improved from a fund provided by the city charter of five cents on each hundred dollars of the assessed valuation of the city. The parks are managed by a Board of Park Com- missioners, appointed by the city government, with a competent superin- tendent, who looks after the expenditures of the money under the direc- tion of the park commissioners.
Lake Worth Park already has many miles of broad driveways of gravel with bitulithic surface.
Fort Worth is justly proud of its park system and enjoys its advan- tages to the fullest extent.
YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
In the fall of 1906 Mrs. Ralph Smith and Mrs. Q. T. Moreland undertook to furnish a rest room and serve lunch to ladies in town at noon. They had in mind the organization of a Y. W. C. A. and solicited furnishings and other necessary articles. Rooms were rented at 702 Houston Street, and with the aid of donations and loans they installed there, in about one week's time, the first Y. W. C. A. in Texas. Mrs. Ralph Smith guaranteed the payment of the rent for a year. Mrs. W. A. Duringer and Mrs. W. R. Thompson each furnished a room. On January 18, 1907, a temporary organization was effected, with Mrs.
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Moreland as president and Mrs. T. R. Thompson as vice-president, Mrs. Pfeffer, secretary, and Mrs. R. P. Smith, treasurer. In March, 1907, permanent organization was effected with Mrs. R. P. Smith as president, Mrs. Moreland, vice-president; Mrs. J. W. Spencer, second vice-president ; Mrs. John F. Swayne, treasurer, and Mrs. C. C. Pfeffer, corresponding secretary.
A cafeteria was opened in 1906 and served twenty people the first day. Now more than 800 are served daily; while more than 200 patronize the North Fort Worth branch.
On October 1, 1907, under the direction of Miss Stella Evans, phy- sical culture classes opened with an enrollment of 100. Since Septem- ber, 1920, there have been 250 registrations.
Other classes were organized in 1907, among which was the Current Event Club, under the direction of Mrs. R. E. Bushannan.
A boarding house directory was established for the use of the women and girls who desired comfortable rooms at moderate prices. Also an employment bureau, which had for its object the securing of positions for girls, and a religious department, including Sunday afternoon Vesper services and Bible classes.
The first year's receipts and expenditures were $10,097.77 ; in 1915. $24,897.00, and in 1920 more than $164,000.
The membership the first year was 619, in 1920 it was more than 3,000. The association owned no property at the close of its first year.
In 1913 it bought the residence and lot located at 602 Lamar Street at a total cost of $16,000. At present it owns a recently purchased lot on the corner of Seventh and Taylor streets, valued at $100,000, upon which a building for new and extensive activities will be erected in the near future. The entire resources, including fund from the campaign, will pass the half million dollar mark.
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