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Tarrant County Courthouse Historical Marker, Fort Worth

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Tarrant County Courthouse Historical Marker

Since the establishment of Tarrant County, there have been three permanent courthouses. The first burned in 1876. The second was quickly outgrown by the 1890s due to the increasing population of Tarrant County.

In 1893, the County Commissioners voted to provide $500,000 to build a new courthouse. The building was designed by architects Frederick C. Gunn and Louis S. Curtiss, who were based in Kansas City. Probst Construction Co. out of Chicago was the general contractor.

Tarrant County Courthouse, Fort Worth, Texas

The building was built with red Texas granite in the American Beaux Arts Eclecticism style. It was completed in 1895 at a cost of $408,840. Even though this was within the allocated funds, Tarrant County citizens were upset. They voted out all the County Commissioners during the next election.

The building was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1969, listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and designated a State Archaeological Landmark in 1981.

Historical Marker Inscription

Designed by firm of Gunn & Curtis and built by the Probst Construction Company of Chicago, 1893-1895. This red Texas granite building, in Renaissance Revival style, closely resembles the Texas State Capitol with the exception of the clock tower.

The cost was $408,840 and citizens considered it such a public extravagance that a new County Commissioners’ Court was elected in 1894.

Recorded Texas Historic Landmark – 1969

Entered in the National Register of Historic Places – 1970

Location

32° 45’ 25.998” N, 97° 19’ 58.968” W
100 W Weatherford St, Fort Worth, TX  76196, United States

St. Patrick Cemetery Historical Marker, New Orleans, LA

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St. Patrick Cemetery Historical Marker, New Orleans, LA

Established in 1841 by the Parish of St. Patrick’s Church, the St. Patrick Cemeteries are located on Canal Street and City Park Avenue. The vestry of St. Patrick’s purchased the land in 1841. The parish soon received permission from the City Council of New Orleans to build the cemetery.

Due to the layout of the site, the cemeteries had to be broken out into three areas. This resulted into three cemeteries: St. Patrick Cemetery No. 1, 2 and 3.

Initially, the cemetery offered in-groun burials due to preferences and cost considerations. Later, above-ground tombs became the preferred method.

St. Patrick Cemetery Entrance, New Orleans, LA

While St. Patrick No. 2 and 3 have a more traditional layout, St. Patrick Cemetery No. 1 is more chaotic. This is due to the yellow fever epidemics of 1847 and 1853. Thousands died within a short period of time. This meant the dead had to buried quickly, resulting in less organized rows.

Since the initial parish was founded by Catholic Irish immigrants, St. Patrick Cemetery No. 1 is mainly comprised of tombs of the Irish – who were hit especially hard during the epidemics.

No. 2 and 3 reflect the changing demographics of the congregation with English, Italian and French tombs.

The cemetery is still in use.

Historical Marker Inscription

St. Patrick Cemetery

Established 1841

Welcome to the Holy Place

The Catholic Cemetery is the last resting place of the bodies of the faithful departed awaiting reunion with their souls at the resurrection on the last day.

Blessed by the church and dedicated to God the Catholic Cemetery testifies to a faith in the immortality of the soul and the promise of resurrection with Christ the Lord. Here the living find comfort and are consoled by visiting burial places of their loved ones and praying for them.

New Orleans

Archdiocesan Cemeteries.

Location

29° 58’ 57.492” N, 90° 6’ 34.770” W

St. Patrick Cemetery #1, 143 City Park Ave, New Orleans, LA  70124, United States

Department of Justice Santa Fe Internment Camp, New Mexico

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Department of Justice Santa Fe Internment Camp Historical Marker, New Mexico

Located within Frank S. Ortiz Park, this marker commemorates the Santa Fe Internment Camp (SFIC), which was once located here. The camp was created during World War II to house Japanese immigrant men. It was run by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).

Starting in March 1942, over 4,500 Japanese men were moved here, mainly from the West Coast and Hawaii. This camp was one of the largest prison camps in America for resident aliens.

The camp initially housed Issei (Japanese immigrant) men who had been arrested right after Pearl Harbor. Soon after the camp opened, these men were allowed hearings and were either paroled to other camps or released. The camp closed in September 1942.

It was reopened in March 1943, and the INS began moving more civilian internees into the camp. By the time the camp was closed in May 1946, it had housed 4,555 Japanese Americans throughout its operation.

Historical Marker Inscription

Department of Justice
Santa Fe Interment Camp

At this site, due east and below the hill, 4555 men of Japanese ancestry were incarcerated in a Department of Justice Internment Camp from March 1942 to April 1946. Most were excluded by law from becoming United States citizens and were removed primarily from the West Coast and Hawaii.

During World War II, their loyalty to the United States was questioned. Many of the men held here without due process were long time resident religious leaders, businessmen, teachers, fishermen, farmers, and others. No person of Japanese ancestry in the U.S. was ever charged or convicted of espionage throughout the course of the war.

Many of the internees had relatives who served with distinction in the American Armed Forces in Europe and in the Pacific.

This marker is placed here as a reminder that history is a valuable teacher only if we do not forget our past.

Information about the camp may be found at the Fray Angélico ChávezHistory Library and Photographic Archives of the Palace at the Governors Museum or the New Mexico State Library.

Dedicated on April 20, 2002

Location

35° 41’ 47.238” N, 105° 57’ 46.020” W
The Frank S. Ortiz Dog Park, Santa Fe, NM  87501, United States

Historic Compagno Magazine Triangle, New Orleans, LA

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Historic Compagno Magazine Triangle Historic Marker

The Compagnos were Italian immigrants who moved to New Orleans in 1887. They lived on the second floor of a building located on Felicity and Magazine Streets. The building was triangular-shaped due to its location on the corner of two streets.

The son, Peter, bought the building when he was 20 years old. He opened New Orleans’ first oyster bar, Compagno’s. After Peter died, his son, Nick, took over the operation of the oyster bar, naming it Nick’s Bar. The family owned the restaurant until 1979.

Over the years and several owners, the building started to deteriorate. It was purchased in February 1984 by Joseph Compagno, Peter’s grandson. He restored the building to its original condition.

Historical Marker Inscription

Historic Compagno Magazine Triangle

May 31, 1859

Location

29° 55’ 56.562” N, 90° 4’ 23.040” W

1601 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA  70130, United States

Historic Cemetery, Antietam National Battlefield

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Historic Cemetery, Antietam National Battlefield Historical Marker, Maryland

The cemetery, along with the farmstead, belonged to Samuel and Elizabeth Mumma during the American Civil War. The structures on the farm were burned in 1862 by the Confederate soldiers, but were rebuilt in 1863.

The cemetery on the property dates back to the 1700s. The Orndorff family were the original owners of the farm. The Orndorffs are also buried in the cemetery, but the locations of their graves are unknown.

The Orndorff family sold the property to Jacob Mumma, father of Samuel, in 1810. However, when Elizabeth Hoffman Orndorff, wife of Christian II, died in 1829, she was allowed to be buried next to her husband in the graveyard.

The Mummas were German Baptist Brethren. People who were members of this congregation were called Dunkers. Samual Mumma donated a portion of his land to the Dunkers in 1852. In 1873, he enlarged the cemetery and allowed members of the congregation to be buried here.

Historical Marker Inscription

Historic Cemetery

Although now part of the Mumma Farm, and known as Mumma Cemetery. This site was first established as a burial ground by the Orndorff Family. Living on this farm at the time of his death, Major Christian Orndorff II was buried here in December 1797.

Orndorff came to the Sharpsburg area in 1762 from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and settled on the banks of Antietam Creek where he established a milling operation. A known patriot, he became an active organizer and leader during the Revolutionary War. He was commissioned a major in the American Army in 1776. In September of 1781, at the request of General Washington, he returned home and operated his flour mill to furnish supplies for the Continental Army. Christian acquired large tracts of land and settled on this property after retiring from milling in 1790.

The Orndorff heirs sold this farm to the Mumma Family in 1811. When Elizabeth Hoffman Orndorff, wife of Christian II, died in 1829, it is believed that she was also buried here. The exact location of these early Orndorff graves has unfortunately been lost to time and the elements.

In 1873, the cemetery was enlarged, the stone wall was constructed and the Mumma family deeded to specific members of the Dunker Church the right to be buried here.

Location

39° 28’ 42.330” N, 77° 44’ 30.468” W
Antietam National Battlefield, 5919–5923 Mummas Ln, Keedysville, MD  21756, United States

Wall Drug Store Historical Marker, Grapevine, Texas

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Wall Drug Store Historical Marker, Grapevine, Texas

In 1888, Zachary Taylor Wall (also known as Z.T. or Zac) was a Texas pharmacist. He opened the first drug store in Grapevine, Texas. Z.T. was a charter member of the Texas State Pharmaceutical Association.  He was named one of “The Immortal Eighteen” founders of the association in 1879.

Z.T. and his brother Benjamin came to Grapevine in 1872. He married Virginia Araminta in 1874. While they were honeymooning, the Wall Drug Store burned. They used money given to them as a wedding gift to help rebuild and restock the store. The couple had four children, including Benjamin Richard Wall, who was Grapevine’s second-longest serving mayor.

The drug store stayed in the family until 1917.

Historical Marker Inscription

Wall Drug Store

320 South Main Street

In 1888, Zachary Taylor Wall and his wife, Virginia Araminta Jenkins Wall, daughter of Eli M. Jenkins, purchased this building for their drug store and confectionery. In 1871, Rev. E. N Hudgins, founder of the Methodist Church in Grapevine, owned the property. It had four subsequent owners before the Wall family purchased it. In 1904, Wall Drug Store was bequeathed to their son and pharmacist, Clifford Jenkins Wall. In 1917, John and Mamie Spinks acquired the drug store and operated it until the late 1950s.

2012

Location

32° 56’ 18.960” N, 97° 4’ 42.160” W

311 S Main St, Grapevine, TX  76051, United States

The Auraria Townsite and Ninth Street Historic Park, Denver, Colorado

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The Auraria Townsite and Ninth Street Historic Park

Comprised of 1 city block and 14 homes, the Ninth Street Historic Park preserves homes built between 1872 and 1906. It is located on the Auraria Campus, which holds the colleges of the University of Colorado Denver, the Community College of Denver and the Metropolitan State College of Denver.

In 1858, the town was established by William Green Russell and his brothers who had discovered gold in the nearby area. The first two houses were built in 1872.

The park is the oldest restored residential area within the City of Denver. The block was saved from demolition due to a grassroots movement in the 1970s. The park officially opened in 1977.

Historical Marker Inscription

The Auraria Townsite and Ninth Street Historic Park Historical Marker, Denver, CO

The Auraria higher education center is located on the site of Denver’s oldest continuously occupied settlement. In 1858, William Green Russell and his brothers found gold nearby and established this pioneer town of Auraria, which merged with Denver in 1860.

Auraria continued to flourish between 1872 and 1906 when the houses preserved on Ninth Street Historic Park were constructed. The oldest restored residential block in Denver, Ninth Street incorporates a variety of architectural styles ranging from Carpenter Gothic to Brick Bungalow.

The city’s ethnic diversity also has been reflected by the Auraria neighborhood. Arapahoe Indians once camped here, and the community subsequently included German, Scots-Irish, Jewish, Hispanic and other residents. Ninth Street Park and other historic campus buildings remain as a reminder that Auraria was the place where Denver began.

Location

39° 44’ 31.170” N, 105° 0’ 15.490” W

Ninth Street Historic Park, Ninth Street Park, Denver, CO  80204, United States

J.E. Foust & Son Building Historical Marker, Grapevine, Texas

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J.E. Foust and Son Building Historical Marker, Grapevine, Texas

John E. Foust was an entrepreneur who formed many businesses in the town of Grapevine. In the beginning, he sold snow cones during the 1890s. Later, he introduced the telephone to Grapevine and ran the Foust Store. The store carried nearly everything anyone could need – farm equipment, groceries, garden supplies, appliances and coffins.

J.E. Foust’s son eventually joined the business. The store was operational for 73 years. The family still owns the J.E. Foust & Son Funeral Home, which was founded in 1880. It is one of the oldest funeral homes in the Grapevine area.

Historical Marker Inscription

John E. Foust came to the Grapevine area in 1876 and began a general mercantile business in 1880. This brick building was built in 1889. A visionary entrepreneur, he sold snow cones from a pass-through window in the 1890’s, brought the telephone into Grapevine and was instrumental in bringing gas to the town. The Foust Store carried groceries, general merchandise, hardware, farm equipment, seeds and garden supplies, coffins, and later furniture and appliances. His son joined the family business, and the store operated here for 73 years. The family owns a funeral business, also dating from 1880.

1994

Location

32° 56’ 16.872” N, 97° 4’ 42.510” W

336 S Main St, Grapevine, TX  76051, United States

Wedell-Williams Airport Site Historical Marker, New Orleans, LA

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Wedell Williams Airport Site Historical Marker, New Orleans, LA

The Wedell-Williams Air Service came into existence on May 1, 1929. It was operated by James Wedell, Vice President, and Harry Williams, President. They had bought out the Menefee Airways in New Orleans, for which Wedell had previously worked.

The company’s original location was Wedell-Williams Airport in Patterson, Louisiana. During this time, however, more air routes were being added due to increased traffic.

The company decided to expand its business into New Orleans. The new airport was finished in 1931. The company’s height was between 1933 and 1934. It began to decline after that, partly because of the new Shushan Airport (now the New Orleans Lakefront Airport). And the death of Jimmy Wedell in 1934 was a major blow to the organization.

Following that, Jimmy’s brother, Walter Wedell, who also worked for the company, died in 1935. Finally, the president of the company, Harry Williams, died in 1936. In 1937, Harry Williams’ widow sold the company to Eddie Rickenbacker, General Manager of Eastern Airlines.

Historical Marker Inscription

During 1930-42 this airport operated passenger, charter, and mail service and a flying school. The company of James R. Wedell and Harry P. Williams designed, built and flew some of the fastest planes in the world. Wedell set a world speed record in 1933. By 1936 both had died in air crashes. The routes were sold to Eastern Airlines. During WWII this site became part of U.S. Army Camp Plauche.

Erected by Jefferson Historical Society of Louisiana, 1990

Location

29° 56’ 54.852” N, 90° 10’ 51.102” W

Walmart Supercenter, 5110 Jefferson Hwy, New Orleans, LA  70123, United States

Johnny Graham and Graham’s Barber Shop Historical Marker

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Johnny Graham and Graham's Barber Shop Dallas, TX

Johnny Graham was an influential Dallas barber who founded Graham’s Barber Shops and Graham’s Barber College. He opened his first barber shop in 1951. Graham would open several more barber shops across the Dallas area.

Johnny Graham was named Texas Businessman of the Year in 1969, and he was given the first Johny Graham Progressive Achievement Award from the Professional Barbers Committee (1984)

Johnny Graham died in 1990, but his legacy lives on through his employees and the students who graduated from the college. There is now a Johnny Graham Scholarship for those who want to learn how to be a barber.

Historical Marker Inscription

Texas Historical Commission

Johnny Graham and Graham’s Barber Shop

Born in Mayo, Florida, to Will and Bertha Graham, Johnny Graham (1918-1990) served in the United States Army from 1942-1945 and moved to Texas shortly after. In 1948, he began school at Fort Worth Barber College and passed the Texas State Board of Barber Examiners. Johnny cut hair in Lucy King’s Barber Shop and traveled to Kaufman on weekends to cut hair in the local barber shop. On one of these weekend trips, he met LaFrance Moody whom he married in 1949. In 1951, Johnny Graham opened his first barber shop on Southland Street in Dallas. The shop was a success and seven years later, he opened a second shop and a third in 1960. During this time, African American communities were growing with bustling business districts in many areas which often included barber shops and beauty salons. Because of this boom and his commitment to respect, fairness and courtesy, Johnn Graham’s holdings grew to include seven barber shops, a barber college (1965) and a shopping strip by 1969.

Beyond haircuts, Johnny Graham’s barber shops provided a unique space for social discussion and support. Customers could get barber service and also talk about important issues in the community. Johnny’s hard work and dedication to the profession, his employees and the community earned him several awards, including the Texas Small Businessman of the Year Award (1969) and the inaugural Johny Graham Progressive Achievement Award from the Professional Barbers Committee (1984). The barber shop donated barber services to clients in need, traveled to the St. Paul Industrial Training School near Malakoff to provide free haircuts and participated in back to school events, cementing its reputation as a significant fixture in Dallas history, business and culture.

Marker is Property of the State of Texas

2019

Location

32° 46’ 39.450” N, 96° 45’ 55.212” W
Grand Ave, Dallas, TX  75210, United States