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Originally posted 2/15/04:
The Ridglea Hills neighborhood, where I lived during part of my childhood, presently has two lakes located within, as it also had when I was growing up. One is Luther Lake, most notable where Clayton Road West becomes Clayton Road East at the bridge/dam between Rowan Dr. and Brants Ln. This lake is a common Oooh and Ahhh spot around Christmas when everyone rubbernecks along Clayton Rd. to see the lights reflecting upon the water. The lake is barely noticeable to people driving along Rowan and Brants, because the lake is in the back yards of homes facing these streets..
Bal Lake is even more unseen to most passersby. It shares the back yards of people living in a block bordered by Bal Lake Dr., Clayton Rd. West, Angus Dr., and Chickering Rd. I remember walking down CRW and Chickering on my way to school at Ridglea Hills Elem. and seeing swans on this lake through the gaps between people's houses.
I also remember when I was young that many older people asserted that what is now Ridglea Hills had three lakes before the neighborhood was developed from ranch land. (One of these was no less than the Rev. James P. DeWolfe, Jr., who was rector of All Saints Episcopal Church on Crestline for most of the church's existence, as well as its founding pastor.)
I'm curious if anybody on this forum knows what happened to this third lake and where it was located.
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Third Ridglea Hills Lake
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#2 pmburk
Posted 02 May 2004 - 12:38 PM
We live in Ridglea Hills now and only recently found out about (and drove past) Bal Lake. Luther Lake is only a couple of blocks from our home (walking distance), so we frequently walk down there to feed the ducks and at Christmas to enjoy the lights. I'd be interested in knowing more about the neighborhood and the possibility of an original third lake!
#3 dismuke
Posted 02 May 2004 - 12:39 PM
normanfd, on May 2 2004, 01:38 PM, said:
I'm curious if anybody on this forum knows what happened to this third lake and where it was located.
Have you tried going to the library and looking for old Tarrant County maps? I have seen maps of counties that have been detailed enough to show rural stock ponds. Presumably they had similar maps at the time that third lake existed and, if you can locate one, it will probably give you a decent idea as to where the third lake was in relation to the other two.
#4 normanfd
Posted 02 May 2004 - 12:39 PM
I may do that next time I'm in town (whenever that may be). I am curious as to how big it was, how many home lots were able to be built by draining it, and how many lots would have been along its shore with presumably higher sale values as a result. I don't know who the developer was that subdivided Ridglea Hills back in the '50, and I'm curious as to what the motivation was for draining the lake.
#5 JOCOguy
Posted 02 May 2004 - 12:40 PM
It seems to me that many years ago, in the early 60's there was some sort of smaller lake near the intersection of Vickery Blvd and SW Boulevard (Now 183 then 217).
I am not certain if this was the lake or not, it was much smaller than Bal Lake. It may had been an old stock pond.
This pond was near the ruins of a structure that was never finished. It had limestone walls. I remember my father telling me it was an old country club that was never finished. It was south of Vickery and the railroad tracks and east of SW Blvd/183.
This lake was not far from Ridglea Hills Elementary, but not adjacent or part of the housing development of Ridglea Hills proper. I think it must have been demolished in the late 70's or 80's.
I am not certain if this was the lake or not, it was much smaller than Bal Lake. It may had been an old stock pond.
This pond was near the ruins of a structure that was never finished. It had limestone walls. I remember my father telling me it was an old country club that was never finished. It was south of Vickery and the railroad tracks and east of SW Blvd/183.
This lake was not far from Ridglea Hills Elementary, but not adjacent or part of the housing development of Ridglea Hills proper. I think it must have been demolished in the late 70's or 80's.
#6 John T Roberts
Posted 02 May 2004 - 12:40 PM
The old ruins were the remains of an old country club that was never finished. If you look through some of the old threads here on the forum, you will find the discussion.
#7 JOCOguy
Posted 02 May 2004 - 12:41 PM
In the right center of the photo. I thought it was on the other side of Vickery, I guess I remembered it being on the wrong side. I know my mom took Vickery downtown because she did not like driving on the W.Freeway or Camp Bowie.
When I was a teenager, the farm beside it had a big sign on the red roof saying "Arabian Stud".
This is still not really close to Ridglea Hills, but it is the only other lake I ever remember. I think it was there for quite a while until the 70's
JOCOguy
The link:
http://www.texasfreeway.com/dallas/histori..._worth_1958.jpg
When I was a teenager, the farm beside it had a big sign on the red roof saying "Arabian Stud".
This is still not really close to Ridglea Hills, but it is the only other lake I ever remember. I think it was there for quite a while until the 70's
JOCOguy
The link:
http://www.texasfreeway.com/dallas/histori..._worth_1958.jpg
#8 normanfd
Posted 02 May 2004 - 12:41 PM
Thanks for the photo, JOCOguy. I remember the horse stable with the "Arabian Stud" sign on the roof as well. It was located just beyond the back fence of Ridglea Hills Elementary School. I remember our teachers admonishing us not to pet the horses from the fence and how we'd ignore them and do it anyway.
The lake is actually quite close to the neighborhood. In my day, we recognized those railroad tracks as being the boundary of the neighborhood. Not far out of that picture, a second track branches off of the main line and heads due north where it runs between Ridglea Hills' Piedmont Rd. and Ridglea West's Marks Pl. then continued on a trestle over Camp Bowie between the FWISD's old Nieman's building and the Buddies/Winn Dixie, and then up to Carswell and Lockheed. As a result, everything inside that railroad bend across Southwest Blvd, including the Clover Ln. area, we considered part of Ridglea Hills.
The lake is actually quite close to the neighborhood. In my day, we recognized those railroad tracks as being the boundary of the neighborhood. Not far out of that picture, a second track branches off of the main line and heads due north where it runs between Ridglea Hills' Piedmont Rd. and Ridglea West's Marks Pl. then continued on a trestle over Camp Bowie between the FWISD's old Nieman's building and the Buddies/Winn Dixie, and then up to Carswell and Lockheed. As a result, everything inside that railroad bend across Southwest Blvd, including the Clover Ln. area, we considered part of Ridglea Hills.
#9
djold1 
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Posted 02 May 2004 - 06:41 PM
For what it's worth I pulled about 10 of my older Fort Worth maps from 1950 until abut 1960. These were done by J. Foster Ashburn, Universal or Allstate Maps. On none of these maps were any of the two or three lakes shown. Bal Lake road did not show up until quite late in the '50's, but no lake is shown. However, Lake Como, and Lake Worth show up as well as areas with trees like gold courses.
Early maps didn't show this area because it was not in the city limits.
Generally far west Fort worth has never been done well on maps until after the freeways and ramps were built. If I get time I will see if I have any 60's & 70's FW maps although I don't keep a lot of those.
Pete Charlton
Early maps didn't show this area because it was not in the city limits.
Generally far west Fort worth has never been done well on maps until after the freeways and ramps were built. If I get time I will see if I have any 60's & 70's FW maps although I don't keep a lot of those.
Pete Charlton
Pete Charlton
270+ Pages of Historic Maps & Views of Old Fort Worth on CDROM (New Edition)
350+ Pages of Antique Maps of Texas on CDROM (Edition 4)
www.lectricbooks.com
Large format reproductions of original antique and vintage Texas & southwestern maps
~Critical, rational, independent comment on the historical & current events of Fort Worth~
270+ Pages of Historic Maps & Views of Old Fort Worth on CDROM (New Edition)
350+ Pages of Antique Maps of Texas on CDROM (Edition 4)
www.lectricbooks.com
Large format reproductions of original antique and vintage Texas & southwestern maps
~Critical, rational, independent comment on the historical & current events of Fort Worth~
#10
djold1
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Posted 03 May 2004 - 04:29 AM
Add on..
Later Fort Worth maps of the 70's and 80's show Luther (Or Rowan) Lake and sometimes Bal Lake. Nothing I have shows a third lake anywhere near.
PC
Later Fort Worth maps of the 70's and 80's show Luther (Or Rowan) Lake and sometimes Bal Lake. Nothing I have shows a third lake anywhere near.
PC
Pete Charlton
270+ Pages of Historic Maps & Views of Old Fort Worth on CDROM (New Edition)
350+ Pages of Antique Maps of Texas on CDROM (Edition 4)
www.lectricbooks.com
Large format reproductions of original antique and vintage Texas & southwestern maps
~Critical, rational, independent comment on the historical & current events of Fort Worth~
270+ Pages of Historic Maps & Views of Old Fort Worth on CDROM (New Edition)
350+ Pages of Antique Maps of Texas on CDROM (Edition 4)
www.lectricbooks.com
Large format reproductions of original antique and vintage Texas & southwestern maps
~Critical, rational, independent comment on the historical & current events of Fort Worth~
#11
JOCOguy
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Posted 04 May 2004 - 05:01 PM
djold1, on May 2 2004, 07:41 PM, said:
For what it's worth I pulled about 10 of my older Fort Worth maps from 1950 until abut 1960. These were done by J. Foster Ashburn, Universal or Allstate Maps. On none of these maps were any of the two or three lakes shown. Bal Lake road did not show up until quite late in the '50's, but no lake is shown. However, Lake Como, and Lake Worth show up as well as areas with trees like gold courses.
Early maps didn't show this area because it was not in the city limits.
Generally far west Fort worth has never been done well on maps until after the freeways and ramps were built. If I get time I will see if I have any 60's & 70's FW maps although I don't keep a lot of those.
Pete Charlton
Early maps didn't show this area because it was not in the city limits.
Generally far west Fort worth has never been done well on maps until after the freeways and ramps were built. If I get time I will see if I have any 60's & 70's FW maps although I don't keep a lot of those.
Pete Charlton
I still have a few of the old Ashburn maps of FW. I think to '63
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