TCU Area

HISTORY

The TCU neighborhood gets its name from the major land owner in the area, Texas Christian University. The original grantees were Maria Josepha Arocha in 1875, and John W. Asbury in 1863. The university began in Fort Worth in 1873, but left due to the raucous character of this western town. In 1910, the college returned, lured by an offer of 56 acres and $200,000. Fort Worth's population in the 1910 Census was 73,312, and T.C.U. was then located a long way from the city. The presence of the school encouraged development to the southwest as the street car line was routed to the campus, and streets were paved soon after. The area was not annexed by the city until 1922.

The areas to the east of the present campus, including what is known as Park Ridge and Forest Park Village, have legal descriptions of Frisco Heights, platted in 1906, and Prospect Heights, platted in 1890, but are commonly known as the TCU area. T.C.U. was an early owner of some of that land in 1929, but sold it to individuals soon after. Part of the area was occupied as early as 1907 with many lots being purchased before 1910. The Fort Worth Development Company began developing some of the land in 1908. One early owner was the McCart family. The area was annexed by Fort Worth in 1922.

In 1914, Fort Worth was made a mobilization point for the volunteer army if peace negotiations fell through and President Wilson declared war against Mexico. Major Davis picked out the "prairie" near Forest Park as an area where large bodies of soldiers could be placed and have a pure drinking water supply at hand, as well as surface water for stock, washing and other purposes.

In 1923, the City of Fort Worth developed the Worth Hills Golf Course. In 1962, needing more campus space, T.C.U.'s President, Dr. M.E. Sadler, made a trade with the City. He agreed to pay a large sum for the golf course so that the city could buy land near Benbrook Lake for a municipal course, if the city would pay an equal sum to make a boulevard around the new campus area. This boulevard is now part of Stadium Drive and Bellaire Drive South, and the old golf course is where the TCU sorority and fraternity dorms and the soccer field are now located.

On the east side of the TCU. area, Paschal High School occupies the building which was originally Southwest Fort Worth Junior High School, built in 1935, and later called W.P. McLean Junior High School. It was remodeled and enlarged in 1955 to become Paschal. McLean moved to Stadium Drive, and Technical High School took over the old Paschal building on Cannon St.

North, west and south of the T.C.U. campus are sometimes called the TCU area also, but are properly listed as University Place, University West, Colonial, Bellaire and Bluebonnet Hills neighborhoods.

NEIGHBORHOOD DESCRIPTION

The majority of homes in this area are typical of those built in the early 20's and 30's. They are small cottages of varied construction with either detached garages in the rear or none. The lots are small. East and north of Paschal most homes are frame with siding and many would be considered tract housing. Some of the area has sidewalks, but most do not. Along Sandage and McCart where there were apartments and duplexes, T.C.U. has purchased the land and is building graduate student and Brite Divinity School student residential housing. The majestic structure of St. Stephen's Presbyterian Church dominates the area.

SCHOOLS

Elementary
Tanglewood, 3060 Overton Park W., 922-6815 (West of University Dr.)
Lily B. Clayton, 2000 Park Place, 922-6660 (East of University Dr.)

Middle
W.P. McLean, 3816 Stadium Dr., 922-6830

High School
R.L. Paschal, 3001 Forest Park Blvd., 922-6600

OTHER INFORMATION

Nearest Fire Station: 3501 South Hills Ave., 871-6800, emergencies 911
Nearest medical facilities: All Saints Hospital, 1400 Eighth Ave., 927-6102
Nearest Post Office: 3110 Townsend, 924-0673
Nearest grocery shopping: Westcliff Center, Berry Street.
Nearest Mall: Hulen Mall, Fort Worth Town Center
Nearest Park: Forest Park
City Council District Number: 9
School District Number: 5
Voting Precinct Number: 1081, 1298, 1108, depending on location of residence.

WILLIAMS TREW

FORT WORTH REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE

Williams Trew is a Fort Worth real estate brokerage specializing in residential real estate and offering some commercial real estate properties throughout Tarrant, Parker and Johnson Counties and serving the following cities: Aledo, Azle, Arlington, Benbrook, Burleson, Crowley, Fort Worth, Hurst-Euless-Bedford, Haltom City, Keller, Kennedale, Mansfield, Mid-Cities, North Richland Hills and Watauga.