Fort Worth Stockyards Archives - Page 2 of 4

Landmarks Commission Approves Expanded Stockyards Historic District

The Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission voted Monday to approve an expanded version of the Stockyards historic district and reject the smaller district that the Fort Worth City Council favors.

With the vote, the Landmarks Commission is recommending that the council approve the larger district when it votes on the issue April 5. Regardless of the Landmarks Commission’s recommendation, however, the final decision will be up to the council.

The Zoning Commission will also vote March 9 on the recommendations it will send to city council regarding the historic district. The council will consider the Landmarks Commission’s recommendations and the Zoning Commission’s recommendations before taking final action.

To Save the Stockyards’ Living History

Rows of dutifully preserved photographs in the Stockyards Museum are all that remain from much of Fort Worth’s early days. Several images capture the enormity of the meatpacking industry at the turn of the last century. Spread over 100 acres, 2,600 pins once held cattle, hogs, and sheep in what are now large parking lots flanking both sides of East Exchange Avenue.

The livestock was headed to either of two sprawling meatpacking plants: Swift and Company or Armour and Company. Throughout the early part of the 1900s, the Stockyards ranked among the top five meatpacking markets in the country.

Little of that era remains today. Both plants were largely destroyed by fires in the early 1970s. The wood that constitutes large chunks of the structures has been damaged by the elements, and few traces of the beams that once guided animals to slaughter lie intact today. The barns for …

The New Isis Theatre

The New Isis Theatre in the Fort Worth Stockyards is one of the last remaining single-screen movie theaters in Fort Worth, Texas. The original Isis Theater was a Victorian style theater built on the site in 1913 that opened in 1914. The theater burned in 1935 and the The New Isis Theatre art deco-style theater was built a year later. Last year, Fort Worth businessman Larry White Jr. bought the building, which had been vacant since 1988.

Fort Worth Stockyards National Day of the American Cowboy 2015

Come celebrate the history and heritage of the American Cowboy at the National Day of The American Cowboy (NDAC). Voted best cowboy tribute event in the nation by American Cowboy Magazine, NDAC gives families and the general public the opportunity to experience and appreciate the role cowboys and cowgirls of all ethnicities have played and continue to play in everyday life.

Free activities and contests include watermelon eating, seed-spitting, cow chip throwing and buckaroo coloring among others. There will also be a cowboy celebration parade, Cowboy karaoke and gunfight shows.

Schedule of Events: 10:00 World Championship Hay Stacking Contest 3 man teams compete for $400.00 cash 10:00- 4:00 Bill Picket Pictorial Exhibit– FREE Learn about the life of the famous Bill Picket 10:00-4:00 Cow Milking Contest – FREE Milk the cow the fastest and win a prize! 10:30- 12:30 Chuck Wagon …

M.L. Leddy A Stockyards Institution Since 1941

In 1918, M.L. Leddy left his family's cotton farm to go to work in a saddle and boot shop in the West Texas town of Brady. Four years later, he purchased that saddle and boot shop. In 1936, he and his brothers moved their growing business to San Angelo. In response to the demand for their boots, saddles and other products they opened a second location in the historic Forth Worth Stockyards in 1941.

The business remains in the Leddy family. It is men and women, like M.L. Leddy and his family, who do the hard work to build and sustain a business. A business does not exist for more than 90 years by accident. This happens when they produce a good product and provide exceptional customer service.