The 100th Year Renaissance of White Rock Lake

   I ran into my friend Matt Nevitt last night. Matt is the realtor who sold us our house in east Dallas. Having grown up in this neighborhood, I often use him as a source about all things east of White Rock Lake.

   According to Matt and others I've interviewed, east Dallas was pretty hopping in the 1960s. Homes and businesses were relatively new, schools were highly rated. People were flocking to the area to raise their families. It was the Frisco of it's time.

   But according to Matt, back then, White Rock Lake was pretty much an afterthought in east Dallas. Its days of being the area's favorite swimming area had come and passed when the city closed the beach in 1958 and opened a number of segregated pools. Running and biking weren't as popular as they were today. Other than the famous "submarine races" White Rock Lake just wasn't a place to go.

The old pavilion and changing area sat vacant from 1958 to 1981. Today it's know as the Bath House Cultural Center

   Things started to change in the 1990s when the city spent 12 million dollars to dredge the lake. They also reconfigured Lawther Drive to make the area more park like and less of a cruising ground.  Last year, the city finished a 16 million dollar project to rebuild the century old spillway near the dam. A few weeks ago the city completed the bridges that connect the lake to the new Sante Fe Trail.  The investment in the area is paying off for the city in the form of higher property taxes they are collecting as real estate prices near the lake escalates. White Rock Lake is the jewel of east Dallas and has become a catalyst for economic growth. 

   This year, the lake is celebrating it's 100th year with a series of events. What a perfect time to reflect upon its 100 years past and its magnificent present. Did you know that besides running and cycling, the lake is home to a variety of other activities?

1. White Rock Lake host to two different sailing clubs, the 72 year old Corinthian Sailing Club and the 50 year old White Rock Boat Club.

   

2. The Lake has become a bird watchers paradise and recently a Bald Eagle has been spotted nesting near the spillway. 

3. White Rock Lake is home to an active rowing community. 19 area high schools have students who participate in Crew along with the a variety of rowers who are members at the White Rock Boathouse. 

4. White Rock Lake Park is now home to the Dallas Little League, with three new modern fields at Winfrey Point.

5. You can explore the lake via the water in a rented kayak, courtesy of White Rock Paddle Company.

   Perhaps this is the perfect time to revisit the city's jewel of the east side. Happy 100th birthday, White Rock Lake.

My Dog Murphy

I know that this has nothing to do with the Dallas-Fort Worth, but I put this video together just for fun and I thought I would post it. 

The Ruins of the Metroplex - Super Bowl Edition

   I decided to take a drive around Cowboys Stadium this morning and see the preparations for the upcoming Super Bowl. Some say the facility resembles a futuristic spaceship that landed in the middle of Arlington. A space age building that replaced an aging suburban neighborhood.

  I took a few moments to appraise the other development that has sprung up in the area since the ribbon was cut at the stadium. To be frank, more has closed than has opened. Other than a new wing restaurant in an old strip center, I can't see anything new that has opened since the Cowboys moved to Arlington.

   Instead of sparking development, one could easily argue that the exact opposite has happened. A drive along Division Street just south of the Stadium is a stark reminder that the millions of people who stream into Cowboys Stadium aren't sticking around long after the games. An abandoned Putt Putt, deserted businesses, seedy motels and vacant lots tell a sad story. If these properties weren't redeveloped in time for the world's biggest sporting event, they probably have a very grim future.

  Nothing illustrates this point as well as the Eastern Star Home. The once majestic facility which was built in the country in 1924, now sits in the shadow of the stadium. The 30 acre property, which was once home to widows and retirees in the female masonic-like order, is empty behind chain link and barbed wire at the end of a crumbling driveway.

The home in its heyday and how it looks today. 

   

   At one time, investors envisioned redeveloping the home into a hotel and conference center. But as I said before, if it hasn't happened by Super Bowl Sunday, will it ever happen?

    The Eastern Star Home, which is on Preservation Texas' Most Endangered Building List, serves a sobering lesson on the promise of redevelopment that is promised with new stadiums. Though one could argue that the Super Bowl would have never come to Arlington with out Cowboys Stadium, a drive around the area adds another chapter to the story.

Fort Worth's Forgotten Park

Note: This Story was originally published in 2011. This past week, the Fort Worth announced that they are taking bids to restore and reopen the park, Hopefully by 2016.

   Can you have a city park designed by a prominent landscape architect and have nobody notice when it closes?  The answer is yes, which is easy to understand when you consider that few people have ever noticed that the park even existed. What makes this story so unbelievable is that the park is on a busy downtown corner across the street from the Tarrant County Courthouse.

   Heritage Park was opened on the corner of Belknap and Main in downtown Fort Worth to commemorate the founding of the original military post in 1849. The park, designed by noted architect Lawrence Halprin, opened in 1976. It featured numerous water features intermingled with shaded paths and a cantilevered walkway built over the bluff overlooking the Trinity River.

  But even though the park was located on a busy intersection, it was one with little foot traffic. Few people noticed Heritage Park. And even fewer noticed in 2007 when the park fell into disrepair and was closed.

   It's been three years since the park has closed. But there is little public uproar to reopen the grounds. I contacted the city of Fort Worth and received a reply from Fernando Costa, the Assistant City Manager.  He wrote that the city is working with Downtown Fort Worth Inc. to raise funds to repair and upgrade the park. But in the past three years, little has been done. Meanwhile, the park is slowly being taking over by nature.

The cantilevered walkway can still be seen on the bluff above the Trinity, even though the trees  have begun to block the view. 

The Water Wall behind chain link.

An ironic caption 'The Vision Endures" on the sign outside the park

A Water Wall that includes the map of the original settlement sits behind chain link.

An urban oasis on the other side of the fence.

A diminished view of the park from the Main Street Street Bridge.


Heritage Park on North Main Street at the top of the Trinity River Bridge
Click Here for Directions

An Update - Fort Worth Finds a Waterfall

  
    Last year I wrote about the city of Fort Worth finding a waterfall on a piece of land it was given from the old Carswell Air Force Base. The fact that this waterfall existed and nobody in the city knew about it, is itself quite a story.

  As you may remember, the city built a trail complete with bridges to the site. Unfortunately, finding the trailhead proved to be a bit of a challenge. There was no sign marking the trail and no parking lot either. Though I gave directions to the unmarked trail, it was still a difficult to find. The city promised to finish the trailhead by the summer of 2010

   Recently I visited the waterfall to see the finished area. I was disappointed to find that little has changed. This temporary sign does mark the site but the parking lot has yet to be constructed.

  
   Still, it's worth a visit to this recently discovered natural wonder. It's a short 5 minute walk from the proposed parking area and the trail continues on and connects to the Trinity Trails.  It's been a rather dry winter and the falls and somewhat low, but it's still a spectacular find for the people of Fort Worth.


Directions to the Fort Worth Waterfall trailhead, just outside the main gate to Carswell JRB Naval Air Station.

Read to original post, on how the city discovered this waterfall.

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"Pretty Paper" - Willie Nelson's Christmas Tribute to a Fort Worth Man

    One of my favorite Christmas songs is Willie Nelson's Pretty Paper. It wasn't until a few years ago that I learned the inspiration for the song was a handicapped man from Fort Worth.

   Willie Nelson wrote the song after seeing a legless man outside Leonard's Department Store in downtown Fort Worthin the early 1960s. The man was a downtown fixture and could often be seen pulling himself down the sidewalks on his hands. He sold pencils outside the department store and during Christmas he also sold pretty paper and ribbons to wrap presents.

   The opening lines from the song was the man's sales pitch during the Christmas season.

 Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue

Wrap your presents to your darling from you

  The song was written in the early 60's and first became a hit for Roy Orbison. Willie later recorded it himself in 1964. 

See the video of 'Pretty Paper'

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The Ruins of the Metroplex - Fort Worth's Tandy Center Subway

The Tandy Center Subway at it's final stop, before the driver walked to the other side of the car and  drove it back to the parking lot

The Subway leaving the tunnel and headed back to the parking lots

A 1960's Post Card of the original Leonard Subway (later the Tandy Center Subway)
One of the original cars is now on display in Downtown Fort Worth

   Recently, Downtown Fort Worth unveiled a modern streetcar display, a prelude to a future that someday might include a sleek and efficient way to travel to and from downtown. For a moment, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of nostalgia. Didn't we already have this?

   For nearly 40 years, Fort Worth was home to the world's only privately owned subway. Born in 1963, it was built to connect Leonard's Department Store with its parking lots on the outskirts of downtown. It was later used to serve the Tandy Center, a downtown mall and corporate headquarters for the Tandy Corporation (Now Radio Shack). It took its last passengers into downtown in 2002.   

   Last week, I set out to see if I could find any remains of the Tandy Center Subway and if I could find the entrance to the tunnel leading into downtown. 

This sign still sits at the end of one of the decaying parking lots.

Unfortunately, it's no longer visible from Forest Park Boulevard because of overgrowth.

There were once four stops before the final downtown destination. The Yellow Stop still stands today.

  

A mattress in the old Red Stop suggest that is being used for some other purpose.

A simple but important warning from days gone by. 

Leaving the yellow station, the remains of the power grid overhead.

The path of the Subway before it hit the downtown tunnel.

The modern confines of Radio Shack Headquarters today. Using Google Earth Time Line I was able to determine the tunnel entrance is buried near the foot of the building on the left. 

   

A tree grows on the path to the rail barn.

Remains of the tracks leading to the rail barn and service yard.

Learn more about the Tandy Center Subway by visiting the Leonard's Department Store Museum

A great website for more on the Tandy Center Subway

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A Great Day Trip - A Train Ride to Small Town America (for only $4) Can You Guess Where I Went?

    I recently took a day trip via the train to one of the most charming towns in North Texas. A perfect excursion for antique shoppers, history buffs or just anyone who wants to spend a day in Mayberry USA. I bet you've heard of this town but didn't know about the train that stops in its downtown.  Peruse the photos and try to guess where in Texas I am.

This is one of the oldest train stations in the state. Stop in and get a historic walking guide to the city.

The original High School dates back to the 1920's

The High School Auditorium was built during the depression by the WPA

The spectacular lobby of the depression era auditorium

This home in the Historic District had a seven sided porch.

I love the native landscaping of this restored home.

A friendly neighbor who let me take his picture and told me the history of his 100 year old house.

The homes in the Historic District or just a few steps west of the rail station and downtown.

The view from across the street from the Train Station. I love the brick streets. Have you figured out what town this is?

The Filmore Pub in Downtown. A local favorite.

The original home of the Oddfellows Lodge, in the 1930s it was 'modernized' to look like a art deco structure. 

A new business opens up in the 100 year old town.

The George Building is 110 years old and houses a really cool Pizza Place with a Rooftop Lounge, a very hip surprise. 

Notice the new loft apartments that were recently built. This community's  downtown continues to thrive. 

Just east of Downtown is the Old Town District. One of the town's more prominent residents. 

The Carpenter House Bed and Breakfast in the Old Town District.

May I suggest lunch at Jorg's Cafe Vienna. The owner, Jorg, is from Austria and his food is both authentic and delicious.

Jorg met his American wife and moved with her back to her native Texas.  Quite a surprise to find a little piece of Austria  in this humble town. Where am I????

The Masonic Lodge is one of the oldest in Texas and still in use.

Have you figured out where I am? 


Scroll Down for the Answer

Did you guess

Plano?


Didn't know that Plano had a downtown? You're probably not alone. Downtown Plano is over 100 years old and has buildings that date back to the days when it was a small farming community, north of Dallas. In 1960, Plano only had 3600 residents. By 1970, the number grew to 17,000. Today, it has over a quarter million people. 


And the $4.00 round trip train ride? The was the Dart's Red Line from Mockingbird Station to the Downtown Plano stop. 

To find Downtown Plano take the 15th Street exit (Exit 29) off US 75 and head east.


Click Here to find out more about Historic Downtown Plano