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Ft. Worth History and gunslingers


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#1 Rodeo4Phun

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Posted 15 May 2015 - 07:33 PM

Being a history buff, Just curious if anyone knows of any famed gunslingers that come through Ft. Worth? Any tales or even better Pics would be interesting.



#2 detail larry

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Posted 17 May 2015 - 07:44 AM

Are you talking 1800s or 1900s - either way there's lots of both -

#3 John S.

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Posted 18 May 2015 - 02:59 PM

Dr. Richard Selcer's book Hell's Half Acre  (TCU Press) has an extensive list about the old gunslingers and characters that passed through Fort Worth in the 19th century and beginning of the early 20th. Dr. Selcer spent a decade carefully combing though old archival sources for information. When the book is read and summarized, it reveals the legends connecting Fort Worth and the old West in the early days were true. However, the often-repeated tale of the "Crucifixion of Sally" who was alleged to have been found dead and nailed to a door behind a Half Acre dive, appears to be a myth, perhaps concocted by city leaders who periodically called for taming the illicit activities going on in the town's red light district. It would take until the coming of World War I and establishment of Camp Bowie in 1917 to finally accomplish the crusade to clean up the area. According the the Texas State Historical Society handbook: (In) "the February 18, 1918, issue of Pass in Review, the bimonthly newspaper of camps Bowie and Taliaferro (near Saginaw), announced a base-mandated "purity crusade" designed to close down the brothels that thrived near the camp."  Of course, vice never goes out of style, it merely moved over to Jacksboro highway where lots of action took place after prohibition arrived in 1916. Plenty of murders and gunfights occured there too. Mike Nichols, formerly with the Star-Telegram, published a new book last year titled Lost Fort Worth and it goes into some detail about the "social scene' along the infamous highway.



#4 detail larry

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Posted 21 May 2015 - 07:30 PM

So your wanting to know about Jax highway or thunder road . John , if you will call me at 817-335-2011 and we can talk , I have a museum with lots of materials and photos about what your looking for. If I don't answer just leave your name and number, thanks , Larry Oneal




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