During some of the darkest days in American history, Fort Worth workers created an urban oasis. Photos from the era capture construction from preparing the ground to welcoming guests.
Like most cities in the United States–indeed, like much of the world–Fort Worth was hit hard by the Great Depression of 1929-1939. Businesses closed, farm revenues plummeted, and unemployment soared. In 1932, 165,000 people lived in Fort Worth; 20,000, roughly twelve percent, received public assistance.
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When Franklin Roosevelt took office in 1932, his administration rolled out numerous public works programs intended to pump money into local economies, provide jobs for the unemployed and improve quality of life with new parks, schools, roads, and other infrastructure.
Fort Worth embraced these programs. Buildings constructed under the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC), Works Progress Administration (WPA) and Public Works Administration (PWA) between 1932 and 1938 continue to play important roles in the community nearly a century later. Among the completed projects are five area high schools (Carter-Riverside, Arlington Heights, North Side, Poly, and I.M.Terrell), numerous elementary and middle schools, Farrington Field, the former City Hall (now the Public Safety and Courts Building), Will Rogers Coliseum and Tower, and the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge.
Nevertheless, the Fort Worth Botanic Garden was recognized as the greatest achievement of public works programs in Fort Worth even at the time.
“Out of a mud hole and weed patch there has been created a magnificent Botanic Garden which has come to be known not only throughout this country, but also in many parts of Europe,” reads the 1938 report “United States Community Improvement Appraisal: Fort Worth Texas Before & After Work Relief.” It goes on to describe the Garden as “a monument to work relief.”
These programs concentrated on hiring individuals–men, on the whole–who were otherwise unemployed. On-the-job training was provided; at the Garden, forty men were trained as stonemasons. The enduring beauty of the stonework at the Shelter House, Rose Ramp, Rose Garden and Rock Springs Building are a testament to the hard work and skill of these workers. (You can see the stonemason crew in the photo at the top of the page.)
Workers at the Garden became deeply invested in the project, working overtime and on their days off to complete their work. As the Garden neared completion, the workers voluntarily raised $70 toward the purchases of roses. That may not seem like much today, but $70 in 1937 is equivalent to about $1500 today. And remember these were men who until recently had been unemployed during the worst financial crisis in American history.
The Great Depression hurt families and devastated cities, but in the end some good came out of the crisis. The Garden exists today because members of the Fort Worth community came together to build something beautiful in a time of darkness. We thank them for their vision and their labor.
