Visionary Tom Vandergriff defeats incumbent B.C. Barnes to become Mayor of Arlington. Learn more about Mayor Vandergriff.
The following was the bold headline in an EXTRA edition of the Arlington Journal Sunday, August 5, 1951. Following is the text of that article.
General Motors announced at 3 p.m. Saturday that it has bought a 250-acre plant site on the east edge of Arlington. The announcement confirmed rumors which had been current in the city for many weeks. The text of the official announcement read as follows:
“The Buick-Oldsmobile-Pontiac Assembly Division of General Motors Corporation today announced the acquisition of a 250-acre tract of land situated between Fort Worth and Dallas for a possible future manufacturing or assembly operation. The land lies in Tarrant County on the eastern edge of the City of Arlington on U.S. Highway 80 adjacent to the Texas and Pacific Railroad. John F. Gordon, Vice President and Group Executive in charge of the Body and Hardware Assembly Division stated that future plans for development of the property depended upon availability of materials.” The release was issued by T. Grohn of the General Motors Public Relations Department.
Texas & Pacific Railroad Depot is demolished.
James Daniel Cooper's historical house is donated to the city and relocated to Meadowbrook Park, serving as a library. In 1953, the city takes over the public library from Tarrant County.
Ground was broken for the new GM plant on May 27, 1952, and construction commenced shortly thereafter.
General Motors (GM) opened its Arlington facility on January 6, 1954 as part of GM’s Buick-Oldsmobile-Pontiac Assembly Division. In addition to commercial automobiles, the intent for the “dual purpose” plant was to produce Grumman aircraft for the United States Navy.
Arlington Baptist College opens on the property of the old speakeasy Top O' Hill Terrace.
Arlington Downs is completely destroyed by commercial developers.
Courtesy: NBC5/KXAS News Collection, University of North Texas Special Collections
Vandergriff family donates land that becomes Arlington Memorial Hospital. Formal opening of Arlington Memorial Hospital’s 72-bed facility takes place February 10, 1958.
The 1960 City Charter Revision changed governing method of City. This led to the election of a Mayor and six City Council places instead of a Mayor and four City Commissioners.
Six Arlington High School girls riding in a car plunge off the embankment of a bridge on the old Arlington-Bedford Road, tragically killing three (the bridge had been intentionally burned down by high school boys on a previous night).
Located on 212 acres in Arlington, Texas, the park was the first to feature log flume and mine train rides and later, the first 360-degree looping roller coaster, modern parachute drop and man-made river rapids ride. The park also pioneered the concept of all-inclusive admission price; until then, separate entrance fees and individual ride tickets were the standard. The park, which took a year and $10 million to build, was the brainchild of Texas real estate developer and oilman Angus Wynne Jr., who viewed it as a short-term way to make a buck from some vacant land before turning it into an industrial complex.
ASC becomes first school in the Texas A&M System to integrate. Its athletics teams follow in 1963 when the college joins the Southland Conference.
Meadowbrook Recreation Center is built on the northern edge of Meadowbrook Park.
Dottie Lynn and Church Women United throw the first Annual 4 July parade.
Arlington State College transfers from the Texas A&M University System to the University of Texas System on September 1, 1965.
Texas Hall on the campus of The University of Texas at Arlington is a 76,000 sq. ft. proscenium theater. Full seating capacity for the building is 2,625 or 1,273 without balcony. Typical events include concerts, lectures, meetings, theatre, and dance.
Arlington State College becomes the University of Texas at Arlington.
Officer Ray served the citizens of Arlington from 1969 to 1971. He also served as a military police officer.
Six Flags Mall opened in August 1970 and was Arlington's first enclosed regional mall, named for the nearby theme park. A month later in September 1970, Forum 303 Mall opens featuring unique attractions like an ice rink and amphitheater.
American League owners voted 10-2 to approve the relocation of the Washington Senators to Arlington, Texas, ending 71 years of major league baseball in the nation's capital.
Martha Walker was the first woman elected to the Arlington City Council, serving from 1972 to 1982. The City of Arlington also recognized her lasting contributions by dedicating Opens in New WindowMartha Walker Park at 7509 Sharon Lee Drive in Southwest Arlington. Learn more about Mrs. Walker.
Seven Seas Marine Life Park in Arlington, Texas, opened on March 18, 1972, as a marine animal theme park featuring shows with sea lions, dolphins, and a killer whale named Newtka, though it closed just four years later in 1976, later becoming the site for the Sheraton Arlington Hotel.
The Texas Rangers first game at Arlington Stadium defeating the California Angles 7-6.
Martha Elliott Wilbanks is Arlington first female officer.