Old article describes Kennedale?s step into the future
A Fort Worth Star Telegram article written after an election that was held in July, 1947 for Kennedale to become a ?village?, described the rolling hills of Kennedale, the rural feel and the close knit relationships of its inhabitants. {{more: Real More …}}
It describes the vote, which was 42-7 for village status, as one that caused little stir unlike the building of what was to become Business 287 through Kennedale several year before. It was then call Highway 34 and bypassed Kennedale?s original business district on the old Mansfield Kennedale Road.
The old road traveled along what is now West Broadway and NewHope Road. It would connect to Mansfield Cardinal Road in the east side before winding around south to eventually hit the City of Mansfield.
It was highly controversial then but you can see how it shortened the time needed to go to Fort Worth. Especially since the old road followed the original wagon trail through the area.Times have changed. Here is the article by the Star Telegram.
Fort Worth Star Telegram article July 11, 1947 by C. L. Richard?Staff Writer
KENNEDALE CALM OVER VILLAGE STATUS ELECTION FAILS TO JAR EASY, RURAL LIFE
Kennedale, July -Everything is about the same and the folks don’t seem the least bit excited over the fact that this sprawling Tarrant County farm community and fast growing rural residential area now has become a village.
The vote last week to incorporate Kennedale after 66 years as a school district community center was a light one but legal, and sometime within the next two or three weeks another election will be held to choose a mayor and other town officials.
Kennedale always has been a closely-knit community, taking the bad years and the good years in stride. Becoming a village has not caused anything like the interest among Kennedale residents that the building of Highway 34 ? the old-timers still call it the “slab road? – inspired in the community about 13 years ago.
The highway followed a line straight through the school district, bypassing the center of the original settlement on the old “hot top” road to Mansfield and along the old H&TC Railway (now Southern Pacific). Most of Kennedale’s business establishments have since located along the highway that carries a parade of heavy traffic, but the post office and few stores still cling to the original site mapped by O, S, Kennedy about 1881.
The decision to develop a settlement at the site came after Kennedy, John D. Hudson and Col C. Teague had dug a water well. They struck mineral water and had visions of building up a health resort. The original well and one other one dug later still are in use in a stone building near the old community center. The wells have been owned and the water prescribed for many years by Dr. J. A. Hammack, 83-year old physician who has practiced in the community since 1901.
One of the oldest native residents of Kennedale, Robert C. (Bob) Williamson, 71 year old landowner, is proud of Kennedale’s past and enthusiastic about its future. He was one of the 42 residents who took enough interest to go to the poll and vote for incorporation. Only seven votes were cast against the move.
Boundaries of the new village, now only three miles south of Fort Worth’s expanded limits, will be the same as those of the school district area of which is about 13.5 square miles.
Leaders of the move to incorporate are A. L. Bulin, a building contractor and chairman of the citizen’s committee and J.A Arthur, superintendent for 12 years of the Kennedale 10-grade school. The district?s school census shows 323 children of school age.
Many new homes are being built in the Kennedale area and many of its estimated 800 or 900 residents are in business or are employed in Fort Worth. Arthur is developing a residential area himself, planning 142 lots for homes near the school.
Kennedale?s rolling hills are dotted with big post oak and other trees. Most of the residents have an acre or more of land and many of them have a cow, chickens and a garden. Most homes have gas, electric lights, running water, furnished from their own wells. Many of them also have Fort Worth telephone listings.
Perhaps the dream or surveyor Kennedy (that’s where Kennedale got its name) to build a town at the site is just beginning to come true.Thanks to Rhonda Barnes for her contribution of the source for this story.
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