Hells Half Acre in Fort Worth, Texas
The red-light district known as Hells Half Acre was in Fort Worth, Texas. It was first designated as such during the early to mid-1870s, and was also known as the “Bloody Third Ward”. Because of its violent reputation, the area suffered from a lack of law and order. While there were no laws in place, this did not stop the illegal activity that took place. During its heyday, the neighborhood attracted a large population of people.
The Fort Worth version of Hells Half Acre started as a drover’s stop in the early 1870s. In 1874, the name of the neighborhood first appeared in the local newspaper. It was composed of saloons and dance halls that sat on the lower end of town. However, there were some legitimate businesses that were located within the neighborhood. In 1889, the city’s rulers began paying their members of the police force, which helped prevent bribery and extortion. This prompted a series of new laws that closed the saloons at noon on Saturdays and Sundays.
In the early 1900s, Hells Half Acre was a popular location for cattle drives. It was home to a variety of notorious characters, including Bat Masterson, Doc Holliday, Luke Short, and Butch Cassidy. The Wild West atmosphere of this area was very embarrassing for the city’s rulers, who sought growth through growth. In 1889, the local police began to be paid by the city, which prevented bribery and prostitution. The district was eventually regulated to close the saloons at noon on Saturdays and midnight on Sundays. The new laws curbed the violence in the neighborhood, but some of the activities continued.
At its peak in the late 1870s, Hells Half Acre was the hub of a cattle drive. There were many saloons, dance halls, and “bawdy houses” in the area. This area became disreputable as an economic powerhouse, largely due to the influence of the controversial pastor John Franklyn Norris, who was the pastor of the First Baptist Church. In 1919, the area’s economic prosperity declined, and the town’s reputation as a city infamous for its prostitution and violent behavior decreased.
Until World War I, Fort Worth was a cattle drive stop. The city’s population grew rapidly, and the area was considered to be a “bawdy” neighborhood. A few years later, the area was considered a criminal-friendly place. Its violent reputation drew many people to the area. During this time, the streets in the city’s downtown were more dangerous and a more prosperous neighborhood.
In the late 1870s, the district was a cattle-drive stop. Its residents were cattle drive cowboys and railroad men. The neighborhood was a hotbed of vice. It was a mix of dancing halls, bars, and saloons, along with several legitimate businesses. In the late 1800s, Fort Worth was a small, thriving city that flourished economically. Its popularity decreased, however, after prohibition and the World War I ended.
During the late 1870s, the Hells Half Acre was an important cattle drive stop for cattle drives in the south. The area was known as “the bloody third ward” and included dance halls, saloons, and other places of booze. Although the city’s leaders deemed it unfit for public use, the district continued to attract people of all walks of life. Sadly, it has not changed.
While the city is now much more a modern city, the district’s history is still filled with stories of its wild west past. It was the first city to have a railroad depot and was the first to have a train station. The railroad depot and a vacant lot near the intersection of Main and Seventh Street were two prominent landmarks of the area. But the infamous area was not just a neighborhood. It was a hub of crime.
The name Hells Half Acre was originally a small area from Tenth Street to Fifteenth Street. The neighborhood quickly became a den of sin, and its popularity sank when prostitution ended. The neighborhood is now known for its high-quality food, but it’s no longer a thriving business. With its location near the Convention Center and Water Gardens area, the restaurant is a popular destination for visitors.
a part of Fort WorthSeaQuest Fort Worth