1010 E. Fourth Street [ESHD(NR)], House, c.1908. This shotgun style residence, in one of Fort Worth’s older African-American neighborhoods, was constructed about 1908. The first tenant was Ruth Simpson who lived 1991 photograph here from 1908 until 1912. The one-room deep, wood ~— frame house has an enclosed porch which may be a later alteration. … Read more
1109 E. Fourth Street, House, c.1908. This shotgun house is a good example of vernacular or folk architecture. Such houses were usually built to provide basic shelter, without regard for style or decorative trends. Shotgun houses, once common in Fort Worth’s older working class neighborhoods, were built here from the 1890s through the 1950s. This … Read more
1020 E. Fourth Street [ESHD(NR)], House, c. 1909. Located at the foot of Harding St. near the railroad tracks, this simple frame house with a gabled roof has long been a meeting place for residents of this Mrican-American neighborhood. Myra Watson both operated a lunch stand from and lived in this structure from 1909 … Read more
1501 E. Fourth Street [GEHD(NR)], Ralston Purina Co. and Fort Worth Elevators Co., 1911; 1918; 1923; 1929; 1931. Although the Ralston Purina Co. feed mill, initially constructed in 1918 and enlarged in 1929 is the best known part of this plant, it actually consists of two facilities that were merged when Ralston Purina bought the … Read more
903 E. Third Street [ESHD(NR)], Morning Chapel Colored Methodist Episcopal Church/Morning Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, 1934-36; 1958. According to a “Sketch of History of Fort Worth Methodism” by W. Erskine Williams, Morning Chapel e.M.E. Church was founded in 1868 under the leadership of Rev. W.H. Coger. This building, designed by local architect W.e. Meador, … Read more
512 W. Fourth Street [NR/RTHL/CFO(NR)],Fort Worth Lodge 134 Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks~W.C.A.,1928; 1990. Originally built in 1928 as the Elks Lodge, this modified Georgian Revival building was designed by Wyatt C. Hedrick and constructed by Thomas S. Byrne, Inc. The large buff brick building has five stories and a full basement as well … Read more
511 E. Fifth Street [EWHD(NR)], Ellison Furniture and Carpet Co. Mattress Factory/Tindall Record Storage Warehouses, 1913. This mattress factory and warehouse was constructed by Ellison Furniture and Carpet Co. in 1913 to replace a facility that had been destroyed by fire. The furniture company has a long history in Fort Worth. It was founded in … Read more
701 E. Fifth Street, St. Louis Southwestern Railway of Texas (Cotton Belt Route) Freight Depot/Printing Center, 1914.15; 1981-82. Located just north of the old Cotton Belt Route tracks and east of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe tracks, this freight depot was constructed in 1914-15 as part of a major freight terminal expansion project undertaken … Read more
512 Main Street (formerly 106 W. Fifth Street), Sinclair Building, 1930; 1942; 1990. Oil money flowed into Fort Worth during the 1920s, and the downtown skyline reflects this infusion of capital in a number of elegant buildings. Among them is the recently restored Sinclair Building. Oilman R.O. Dulaney, president of the Fort Ring Oil … Read more
800 W Fifth Street [NR], First Methodist Episcopal Church South/First Methodist Church/First United Methodist Church, 1929-30. Ground was broken for the construction of First Methodist Church on October 29, 1929. Designed by Wiley G. Clarkson, the church is a fine example of the Gothic Revival, a perennially popular style for ecclesiastical work in America. Harry … Read more