July 10, 1941: Grapevine Mayor B. B. Wall, providing cantaloupes to out-of-town visitors at theCantaloupe Festival From left, Misses Jane Mangold, Granbury; and Betty Jo Quillin and Edith Lipscomb,Houston
Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections
Newcomers might just understand the North Texas city of Grapevine for its wineries, charming downtown, yearly celebrations and stretching Grapevine Mills Mall.
But there’s a lot more history to Grapevine, the earliest settlement (1844) in Tarrant County, called for the wild grapes in the location. For the majority of its 178 years, Grapevine was an agrarian farming town with large cotton fields and countless acres of cantaloupe vines (and for a quick time, a big Cantaloupe Festival total with a queen). Post- war building and construction of the dam made Grapevine a household entertainment location.
Here’s an appearance back at Fort Worth Star-Telegram images recording daily life in Grapevine from the 1920s through the 1950s. See more historical images from the Star-Telegram archives here.
June 21, 1952: Arriving in Grapevine from Washington, D. C., the household of Congressman Wingate Lucas begins unpacking Saturday by getting rid of 4 bikes from the top of the vehicle. Left to right are Mary Ann Clark, niece ofMrs Lucas, holding the pet, Weinie;Mrs Lucas, and the 5 Lucas kids, Ellen, Will, Wink, Mary Dell andChristine Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UT Arlington Special Collections
June 1940: View of Grapevine, Texas’, Main Street (Highway 121). On the left side of the roadway are different companies, consisting of a gasoline station, Willhoite Garage, a pharmacy and a drug store. There are ads for Coca-Cola on the structures. In the background, center, is the Grapevine, Texas, water tower. On the best side of the roadway is a laundromat and other companies. The indication outside the laundromat checks out, “Help U Self Laundry.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UTArlington Special Collections
Nov 17, 1953: “Titled ‘SHOUT LEADERS,’ imagined here are the 5 Grapevine trainees in charge of directing the cheering area at high school football video games. They are, from delegated right, standing, Jessie Lou Hall, Wanda Tillery,Nelmarie Shofner Allison Thomas kneels. Sherly Jo Gay, the 5th leader, is not imagined.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UTArlington Special Collections
Aug 12, 1953: This unusual albino raccoon, a freak of nature, likes watermelon as much as his owner,Dr J.H. Hicks, a vet atGrapevine Dr. Hicks’ pets treed the animals while searching just recently. Because albino coons are so unusual,Dr Hicks is keeping him as an animal and intends to get a female albino. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UTArlington Special Collections
Jan 14, 1951:Mr andMrs Joe Hilliard of Grapevine got a surprise when Walter Kidd, 17, of Smithfield, stopped working to turn a corner and rammed his vehicle through their front door and marched on the living-room flooring unscathed. The Hilliards were shocked however not injure. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UT Arlington Special Collections
April 6, 1950: “Mrs William R. Nichols of Grapevine, a rural census enumerator, discovers barbed wire fences and forbidding-looking cows all in a day’s work as she treks from a farm, taking the farming and population census inTarrant County She is among 51 enumerators operating in county, omitting Fort Worth.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UT Arlington Special Collections
July 13, 1958: “Craig Norman, conserved from downing by siblingJames Lee Norman Craig, who hasn’t got his sea-legs yet, fell off a dock into Grapevine Lake lateSaturday More utilized to variety than the water, Craig started to go to pieces.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UTArlington Special Collections
Oct 24, 1941: Early season heavy rains have actually postponed the cotton harvest a complete month in Tarrant County,Texas Local farmers are doing their finest to get the last of the crop to the gin prior to the winter season weather condition ruins their item. Riding on top of a load of cotton is Patsy Lee McPherson. She is the 4-year-old child ofMr andMrs T. W. McPherson, of Grapevine,Texas Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UT Arlington Special Collections
June 23, 1939: Helen Hall, child ofMr andMrs A.L. Hall of Grapevine, delights in a bite from a peach, among the greatest and most irregular of little cash crops in Tarrant and surrounding counties of North Texas Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UTArlington Special Collections
Oct 31, 1950: This air view reveals the $630,000 grade separation of State Highway 121 to Grapevine, left, and State Highway 183 to Dallas, right. Tarrant County’s bundled town – Richland Hills – a domestic task, is at the leading left. Along the brand-new four-lane highway to Dallas, building and construction of a shopping mall was underway. A 2nd domestic advancement was under method south off 183. Herbert, Key Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UTArlington Special Collections
Oct 24, 1950: Grapevine school trainees collected outside the structure to see Harry Fielder, sophomore boy ofMr andMrs D. H. Fielder, raise the American and United Nations flags. Members of the Grapevine Home Demonstration Club made the U. N. banner and provided it to the school. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UT Arlington Special Collections
June 22, 1952:Mr andMrs F.L. Bass of Grapevine commemorating their Golden Wedding anniversary. She finished from Baylor College in 1900 and taught school in Grapevine andPecan Gap Her hubby was born in 1880 in Hattiesburg,Mississippi He was a worker of Santa Fe Railroad and remained in the grocery service here. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections
June 1940: The crossway of Highway 114 (Northwest Highway) and Highway 121 in Grapevine,Texas On the side of the roadway, far left, are different structures and companies, consisting of a Mobil gasoline station. An indication on the structure checks out “Willingham Service” Another structure has an indication out front marketingSouthern Select Beer Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UT Arlington Special Collections
July 3, 1941: Darlene Jackson, queen of theGrapevine Cantaloupe Festival Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UT Arlington Special Collections
July 6, 1939: Large crowd participates in Grapevine’s 5th yearly Cantaloupe Festival, with a dance, baseball video game, melon evaluating, carnival flights, and crowning of a queen Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UTArlington Special Collections
Aug 30, 1929: Main Street in Grapevine, Texas Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UT Arlington Special Collections
July 13, 1940: The W. C. (Mann) Lucas household, at Grapevine, Texas, is revealed unwinding in yard furnishings exteriorMrs Lucas’ studio, transformed from a 40-year-old smokehouse. Pictured areMr andMrs Lucas and their boy and child. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UT Arlington Special Collections
May 1958: Sarah Bunnell, 17, of Grapevine, 4-H Girl Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UT Arlington Special Collections
May 12, 1952:Mrs Ruth Hahn is extremely pleased with her 2,000-pound Milking Shorthorn bull, Ma’s Fearless, which she utilizes on her farm nearGrapevine Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UT Arlington Special Collections
June 23, 1939: Grapevine Cantaloupe Festival: Festival Queen prospects, Helen Hall, Mildred Hines and Darlene Jackson Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UTArlington Special Collections
Aug 26, 1952: New Church of Christ structure in East Grapevine Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UT Arlington Special Collections
March 21, 1946: From front, J.W Morris, Henry Emery, Gaylen Cowley and Bill Pair, all of Grapevine,Texas The group of 4 are Grapevine’s winning 440-yard relay group in the 11-A track satisfy that happened atFarrington Field Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UTArlington Special Collections
Dec 5, 1947: Grapevine Dam and Reservoir groundbreaking. Left to right, Mayor Floyd Deacon of Grapevine ofDallas Frank Wilson, Dallas; John W. Carpenter, Dallas, president of Trinity Improve Association; Congressman Wingate Lucas of Grapevine,Col Henry Hutchings Junior, Dallas; Mayor Edgar Deen, Dale Temple of Dallas, Amon Carter, previous Congressman Hatton Summer of Dallas;Col Bernard L. Robinson, Galveston, and John M. Founts, basic supervisor ofTrinity Improvement Association Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UT Arlington Special Collections
July 3, 1952: At Grapvine Dam, delegated right, George Bennett, Fort Worth; R.C. Coffee of University Park; C.C. English, Dallas; J. B.Adoue Jr of Dallas; John W. Carpenter of Dallas;Col Herbert D. Vogel of Dallas; H. R. Hallock of Fort Worth and Gordon Tate ofGrapevine McAulay, Joe Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UT Arlington Special Collections
July 3, 1952: Grapevine dam Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UTArlington Special Collections
Sept 14, 1953: Looking south towards Grapevine, the brand-new Grapevine dam is revealed as water develops into a genuine lake that – follow June – ought to be among the most popular fishing holes inNorth Texas At preservation level it will cover 7,300 acres and at flood phase, 10,000 acres. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UTArlington Special Collections
Jan 29, 1951: Catholic clergy from Dallas and Fort Worth assisted commitSt Francis Church in Grapevine Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UTArlington Special Collections
Sept 29, 1951: Superintendent Ben Stone of the Eagle Mountain state fish hatchery launches fish stock in theGrapevine Lake Standing behind him are D. R. Wiley, left, president of the Fort Worth Anglers Club, and Gordon Tate, mayor of Grapevine, who anticipates that city to benefit from the lake. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UT Arlington Special Collections
June 1939: Grapevine’s WPA canning plant, which produces countless containers of fruit, veggies and meat. From left,Mrs A.J. McCord,Mrs Ruth Long,Mrs S.D. Coursey and J.W. Barnett Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections
April 9, 1947: W.E. Keeling, editor and publisher of the Grapevine Sun Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UT Arlington Special Collections
June 19, 1940: Four of the 23 prospects who will complete for choice as queen of Grapevine’s 6th yearly Cantaloupe Festival on June 28. The candidates are, delegated right, Gladys M. Vaughan, Ola Mae Black, Charlotte Allison andLoveta Buckingham Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections
March 24, 1942: Exterior of the brand-new First National Bank structure at Grapevine,Texas Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UT Arlington Special Collections
March 24, 1942: D.E. Box, president of the brand-new First National Bank at Grapevine, Texas, revealed standing inside the bank structure. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UTArlington Special Collections
Nov 18, 1958: Grapevine Gallopers– Backs who will see action for Mustangs versus Bowie Friday night are, delegated right, James Davis, Wayne Quenichet, Daryll Hawkins, Johnny Bowen, Jackie Dyer,John Fielder Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UTArlington Special Collections
Aug 26, 1952: A cattle ranch type house ofMr andMrs A.C.Stone The yard slopes toGrapevine Lake Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UT Arlington Special Collections
May 13, 1958: Highway Patrolman Howard L. Robuck of Grapevine and curious onlookers analyze the vehicle in which Sidney A. Morse of Denton was riding when it rammed a freight train. Morse was eliminated as the vehicle was torn down embankment into an utility pole. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UT Arlington Special Collections
July 13, 1940: Jim Daniel is the city marshal of Grapevine,Texas Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UTArlington Special Collections
Feb 14, 1955: Grapevine dam Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UTArlington Special Collections
Nov 19, 1958: Cheers for the Grapevine High School Mustangs are led by delegated best top, Judy Gee, Margaret Ann Davis, Jean Parker, and bottom, Patsy Miller, Jana Brackney and Mattie louBaze Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UT Arlington Special Collections
May 22, 1945: Grapevine, Texas, school kids checking out Forest Park inFort Worth James Sanders, first-grader, and Julie Ann Melton, second-grader, get ready for a trip on the swings. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UT Arlington Special Collections
Undated: Early leader William Giddens and his house near Grapevine,Texas Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UT Arlington Special Collections
April 16, 1940: Mayor B.R. Wall of Grapevine, Texas, will be honored as his town’sNo 1 resident on Wednesday night. He is displayed in his law workplace, appreciating among the presents he got – a string of beads fromPitcairn Island A copy of the “Grapevine Sun” is shown on his desk. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UT Arlington Special Collections
MORE: Check out more historical picture galleries from the Star-Telegram archives here, consisting of:
This story was initially released October 30, 2022 10:42 AM.
Matt Leclercq is senior handling editor at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram He formerly was the 1A editor at U.S.A. Today in Washington, D.C.; nationwide news editor for Gatehouse Media in Austin; and editor of The Fayetteville (NC) Observer.
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