17 replies to this topic

[johnfwd]

I looked to no avail for other posts on this historic building, which I didn't know was a 19th Century stagecoach hotel (and I was born in and grew up in Fort Worth).  Just wondering what the new owner plans to do with the building.  Brief details in the Fort Worth Business article.

 

http://www.fortworth...dd46dc444d.html

[JBB]

There's a little more info from the S-T:

http://www.star-tele...e118191333.html

[AndyN]

The 1860 date cited in the Star Telegram article seems suspect to me. I would speculate that it was probably more contemporaneous with the Union Depot a few blocks to the north and competition to Ginocchio's Hotel.

[Doohickie]

The 1860 date cited in the Star Telegram article seems suspect to me. I would speculate that it was probably more contemporaneous with the Union Depot a few blocks to the north and competition to Ginocchio's Hotel.

 

For those of us that are not almanacs of Fort Worth's past, where were those buildings and when were they built?

[Not Sure]

I've always been curious about this place: was the curved alley (for what I can only assume was a railroad spur) cut into one building or were two buildings built on either side of it?

[qmcgown]

I agree with Andy that the date may not quite ring true. We only have a couple of documented structures dating to the 1860's, but news accounts do indicate that the current OB Macaroni complex began when Fort Worth Macaroni Company acquired an existing structure on the site in 1905. It's unlikely, though, that any structure at that location would have been there for 40 or so years. Prior to the arrival of the T&P railroad in 1876, there was very sparse development south of town. The original stockyards stood near the site, with the pens concentrated along the rail lines just east of what's now Vickery and I-35. It's certainly possible that some sort of lodging house may have serviced the yards. The 1876 birdseye view does show a couple of structures in the vicinity. The first Union Depot opened in 1876 and Ginnochio Hotel came along many yaers later. Both stood north of the T&P tracks close to where Tower 55 remains today, just south of I-30 west of the mixmaster.

 

It would be fun if the new owners of the O B Macaroni buildings have found some evidence of prior use of the property, because we just don't have that much documentation of the early years. We know that the first stage lines operated from various locations from the courthouse square to the old hotel corner at 4th and Main, and I've never come across information about stage runs from anywhere else. There's a lot of unplowed history out there, though. I'm just grateful that the buildings have found new owners and can stick around for a while longer.

[Doohickie]

Just wondering what the new owner plans to do with the building. 

 

Me too.  Any ideas? 

 

I would think it would have to be a "destination" kind of business that would draw people to its location which, while not too far off the beaten path, is nevertheless remote from any kind of neighborhood, or more of a wholesale operation that doesn't depend on the retail market.  A brewery/distillery could work for that site since they, a. will draw people to odd locations (think of Panther Island, Wild Acre and even Rahr) for brewery tours, and, b. they aren't necessarily dependent on retail business to make a buck since most of their product is shipped to retail locations.

 

I think I heard talk this fall that Collective Brewing on St. Louis Ave. between Vickery and Daggett would like to expand.  They could conceivably start a wholesale brewery in the OB building while keeping their retail location on St. Louis.

[AndyN]

 

For those of us that are not almanacs of Fort Worth's past, where were those buildings and when were they built?

 

 

1885 Sanborn Map Sheet 11 shows the early Union Depot and Gnocchio's Hotel. basically underneath or obliterated by the highways now.

 

http://www.lib.utexa...rth-1885-11.jpg

 

The first Sanborn Map that you can see the Macaroni Building in is Sheet 36 of the 1898 edition.

 

http://www.lib.utexa...rth-1898-36.jpg

 

The first map that it is labelled as OB Macaroni is 1911, Sheet 130

 

http://www.lib.utexa...th-1911-130.jpg

[RD Milhollin]

Italian restaurant?

[johnfwd]

Some more history from the company's website.  A "converted carriage house" at Daggett and Vickery?  A carriage house is not a stagecoach waystation, but maybe the reporter was confused about this?   And, with people named Laneri and  Bicocchi coming to town, no wonder we had an Italian restaurant back then!  Momma Mia!

 

http://www.obmacaroni.com/history.html

[Not Sure]

Not to drift away from the topic, but those Sanborn links are a serious time sink for me. I spent an hour just going through the north Fort Worth maps. I sent my friend a link to the Dallas maps yesterday and other than a surprise emoji I haven't heard from him. He must be in heaven going through those maps!

[Doohickie]

 

 

For those of us that are not almanacs of Fort Worth's past, where were those buildings and when were they built?

 

 

1885 Sanborn Map Sheet 11 shows the early Union Depot and Gnocchio's Hotel. basically underneath or obliterated by the highways now.

 

http://www.lib.utexa...rth-1885-11.jpg

 

The first Sanborn Map that you can see the Macaroni Building in is Sheet 36 of the 1898 edition.

 

http://www.lib.utexa...rth-1898-36.jpg

 

The first map that it is labelled as OB Macaroni is 1911, Sheet 130

 

http://www.lib.utexa...th-1911-130.jpg

 

 

Very cool, although I can't get my bearings on that first map.

[Doohickie]

Some more history from the company's website.  A "converted carriage house" at Daggett and Vickery?  A carriage house is not a stagecoach waystation, but maybe the reporter was confused about this?   And, with people named Laneri and  Bicocchi coming to town, no wonder we had an Italian restaurant back then!  Momma Mia!

 

http://www.obmacaroni.com/history.html

 

I think the story evolved here:  Hay Storage (1898 map) -> Carriage House (OB History site) -> Stagecoach Hotel (FWBP article).

 

Hay storage = barn, not stagecoach hotel.

 

(Not that there's anything wrong with revisionist history.  In my family history, my great grandfather was brought to the US from Poland as a young boy by his older sister after his mother died in childbirth and his father, a game warden on an estate, was killed by poachers.  That's the "official" story.  I wonder, though, if maybe he was a poacher and was killed by the game warden!)

[AndyN]

Very cool, although I can't get my bearings on that first map.

 

 

 

Dimensions and bearings are approximate.

 

[Doohickie]

Ah, very good.  Thanks!

[johnfwd]

Since we've apparently concluded the FWBP reporter was incorrect about O.B. Macaroni building once being a stagecoach waystation circa 1860, I thought to check out other possible locations for an FW station for a stage line (not intending to stray too far from the topic at hand). Wells Fargo sponsors the website below...

 

http://www.fortworth..._From_Here.html

[supersleuth901]

So OB Macaroni is now owned by M2G Ventures, who are also developing The Foundry District (among others) and have a love for colorful murals.  Right now they are calling the space "OB Mac" and plan to lease to niche/small batch manufacturing.  What would you like to see this building called?  Pay hommage to the pasta factory history or something totally new? Should they paint a mural on this building too like their other properties?

[Austin55]

We have tenants, a few local brands are moving production into the building.

 

http://www.fortworth...8c0625d359.html