Karen
and Lee Duquette's FLASHBACK in Fort Worth, Texas
 
July 20-22, 2006
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Karen Duquette did not post
these pictures posted until 2023. In the beginning, Flashbacks were
not considered for this site, but they are now slowly being added. And
because they sold their house in 2008 and live full-time in their RV,
which has limited storage, many photos were lost long before this website
even existed. But as with all of the Flashback photos as well as current
photos, they are posted as a reminder of fun places and people, and
to maybe help people decide if they wish to visit these places. Karen
also tries to put a bit of history when possible. |
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Worth is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Texas and the 13th-largest
city in the United States. It is also the second-largest city in the
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area, which is the fourth-most
populous metropolitan area in the United States, and the most populous
in Texas. It is the county seat of Tarrant County, covering nearly 350
square miles into four other counties: Denton, Johnson, Parker, and
Wise.
The city of Fort Worth was established in 1849 as an army outpost
on a bluff overlooking the Trinity River. Fort Worth has historically
been a center of the Texas Longhorn cattle trade. It still embraces
its Western heritage and traditional architecture and design. USS Fort
Worth (LCS-3) is the first ship of the United States Navy named after
the city. Nearby Dallas has held a population majority as long as records
have been kept, yet Fort Worth has become one of the fastest-growing
cities in the United States at the beginning of the 21st century, nearly
doubling its population since 2000. |
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Hell's Half Acre was a precinct of Fort Worth, Texas
designated as a red-light district beginning in the early to mid 1870s
in the Old Wild West. It came to be called the town's "Bloody Third
ward" because of the violence and lawlessness in the area. |
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Over 14 city blocks (previously known as "Hell's
Half Acre" - as per the sign shown above) were demolished
to make way for a new facility, The Tarrant County Convention Center
that opened in 1968. It is now known as The Fort Worth Convention
Center, originally built in 1966. It is an indoor arena that opened
on September 30, 1968, and was expanded in 1983, 2002 and 2003.
Below are two photos of the exterior of the Convention
Center. The first one was taken by Karen Duquette in 2006. The second
photo is from the internet with the proposed upgrades.
Under the original plans, phase one of the expanded Fort Worth Convention
Center would have been near completion by 2023. But COVID-19 came
and Fort Worth’s culture and tourism fund — the source of the project’s
funding – took a big hit. Tourism revenue decreased by about $11 million
between 2019 and 2020.
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Below: More 2006 photos |
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Below: The reason that Karen and Lee Duquette
were in Fort Worth on this date in 2006 was because Lee was attending
an annual Electrical Seminar. And Karen enjoyed time with Helen Hodges-Moore,
who has remained a friend through all the years. Helen lives in Virginia,
and Karen and Lee visit her whenever they can. |
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Below: Lee Duquette and Karen Duquette
thought the animal bushes were interesting. |
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Below: Bass Performance Hall was built entirely with
private funds. The Hall serves as a premier venue for national touring
artists and Broadway productions, as well as a permanent home to the
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra,Texas Ballet Theater, Fort Worth Opera,
Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and the Cliburn. |
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Below: The Reunion Tower in downtown
Fort Worth |
Karen Duquette |
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Below: Lee Duquette outside the Cattle Raisers Museum,
which is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the vital history and
science of the cattle industry. |
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Below: The Fort Worth Stockyards are a National Historic
District. The Stockyards were once among the largest livestock markets
in the United States and played a vital role in the city's early growth.
At the Fort Worth Stockyards, Fort Worth is the only major city that
hosts a daily cattle drive. Karen and Lee Duquette really enjoyed the
cattle drive that took place on the main street. However Karen has not
been able to find those photos. |
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Below: Painted Columns under a bridge
in Fort Worth |
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Below: Karen Duquette photographed a
very unusual car in Fort Worth. |
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Below: "Man with Briefcase" located
in Burnett Park, downtown Ft. Worth. The sculpture was created in 2002.
It is fifty feet tall, twenty-two feet wide, and one foot thick. It
weighs 24,000 pounds. Artist: Jonathan Borofski Material: Brushed Aluminum. |
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Below: Statue of Quanah Parker, known as the last great
Comanche Chief, a prolific and fierce warrior who led his people into
battle. The Comanche's, known as "Lords of the Plains",
were regarded as perhaps the most dangerous Indian Tribes in the frontier
eras. One of the most compelling stories of the Wild West is the abduction
of Cynthia Ann Parker, Quanah's mother, who was kidnapped at age 9 by
Comanche's and assimilated into the tribe. At age 34, Cynthia Ann was
stolen from the Comanches by Texas Rangers and returned unwillingly,
to her former life. Quanah Parker was in the first group of Hall of
Fame inductees in 2003.
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Below: Fort Worth has a Hall of fame for the Texas
Cowboy and Cowgirl.
"These historical museums honors those men and women who have shown
excellence in the business and support of rode0 and the western lifestyle
in Texas." - quote from Wikipedia |
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Below: The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame
entry and statue. The Museum was established in 1975. It is dedicated
to honoring women of the American West who have displayed extraordinary
courage and pioneering fortitude. The museum is an educational resource
with exhibits, a research library, and rare photography collection.
It adds Honorees to its Hall of Fame annually. |
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Below: Billy Bob's Texas is a famed, huge country music
Honky Tonk with a live bull-riding area and dozens of bars. It promotes
itself as "World's Largest Honky Tonk," at 100,000 square
feet of interior space and nearly 20 acres of parking space. Karen Duquette
got kissed by two Cowboys as she entered Billy Bob's. Then Karen and
Lee posed for photos on a bucking bull. |
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Billy
Bob Barnett, a Texas A&M University graduate and professional
football player, teamed up with nightclub owner and former car salesman,
Spencer Taylor. They decided upon an abandoned 100,000-square-foot
department store that was at one time an open-air cattle barn. With
some additional investors, Barnett and Taylor renovated the building's
interior and exterior and opened the place to the public on April
1, 1981. Billy Bob's closed in January 1988 and reopened in October
1988 under new ownership and management. Holt Hickman, Don Jury, Steve
Murrin and Billy Minick formed the new ownership group.
Mostly known for country music, the venue has also hosted acts such
as Bob Hope and B.B. King.
In 1983, Merle Haggard, while on stage, offered each person in the
crowd of 5,095 a C.C. Waterback (a one-ounce Canadian Club Whiskey
with a water chaser) in honor of his song of that name. The drinks
totaled 40 gallons and at the time, cost $12,737.50. The stunt earned
Haggard a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the purchaser
of the biggest round ever.
In addition to the concert stage where the artists perform, Billy
Bob’s Texas also has a dance floor, music memorabilia museum, pool
hall, bar, restaurant, gift shop, and small dirt arena where professional
bull riding is held on the weekends during concert days.
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Below: Dance floor at Billy Bob's |
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Below: The Fort Worth Botanic Garden is a botanical
garden located at 3220 Botanic Garden Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas.
The garden was established in 1934 and is the oldest major botanic garden
in Texas. It is located in the heart of the cultural district. There
are sure to be a lot more to the garden now, then when these photos
were taken.
Below is a photo of Karen Duquette's dear friend, Helen Hodges-Moore.
They will remain friends forever, and Karen and Lee will visit Helen
when they travel in her direction. |
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Below: Helen Hodges-Moore and Karen Duquette
behind the water fountain. |
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Below: Side view of the above water fountain. |
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