Fort Worth flood of 1949: Historic Photos depict the Destruction caused by the terrific flood

Fort Worth had been fighting the Trinity River for decades by 1949. In 1922, Fort Worth was hit by one of the most devastating floods on that river. The Trinity River flooded Fort Worth in May 1949, and flood protection measures of the previous quarter century proved insufficient. Flood stages exceeded those of 1922. Levee’s failures added to the Destruction in Fort Worth. May 1949 saw deadly tornadoes strike Amarillo for the first time in sixty-three years. Typical May weather conditions continued in North Texas in mid-May. On the night of May 16, a slow-moving frontal storm approached Fort Worth, traveling along the West Fork and Clear Fork River basins. During the early morning hours, it was near Wichita, Kansas, and then moved east of Wichita Falls to Junction and Del Rio. Thunderstorms formed along its entire length. Nearly midway between Cresson and Benbrook, near the county line between Parker and Tarrant counties, eleven inches of rain had fallen by the storm’s end at the junction of Bear Creek and South Bear Creek. Twelve inches of rain fell near the Sycamore Creek watershed southeast of Fort Worth.

The floodwaters reached Camp Bowie Boulevard, Seventh Street, University Drive, and Bailey Street. West Seventh Street was under floodwaters ten feet deep at the west end of the Van Zandt viaduct. The viaduct washed away houses ranging from shanties to six-room homes. Homes were smashed to pieces by the impact, which caused the concrete bridge to shake. Crestwood and Linwood additions residents evacuated after four levee breaks prompted police to use loudspeakers. As residents tried to beat the floodwaters, Fort Worth’s streets were hopping with activity. During the evacuation, there was bumper-to-bumper traffic on the roads early in the morning. A significant flood also damaged Colonial Country Club and Rockwood Golf Course.

The flood damaged Fort Worth’s water pumps because they were covered in water. Due to their failure, the Fort Worth City Council ordered all non-essential businesses without private water supplies to close until the situation improved. Ten people lost their lives in the flood, surpassing landmark floods in 1908 and 1922. It is estimated that the flood caused over $15 million in damage, with the city of Fort Worth contributing $11 million.

Here are some historical photos that depict the magnitude of Destruction in Fort Worth from the 1949 Flood.

#1 Flood scenes of commercial and residential buildings, 1949

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#2 WBAP cameraman filming Trinity River flood waters from the 7th Street bridge during 1949’s flood.

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#3 Montgomery Ward Warehouse after flood, 1949

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#4 Harvest Seed Company after the 1949 Fort Worth Flood. There is mud covering the ground all around the building.

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#5 Flood scenes of commercial and residential buildings, 1949

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#6 WBAP cameraman filming Trinity River flood waters from the 7th Street bridge during 1949’s flood.

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#7 Flood damage looking north, 1949

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#8 Aerial of 1949 flood in Fort Worth; Montgomery Ward store along West 7th Street, looking northwest.

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#9 Lloyd Patton Motors after flood, 1949

This photograph shows Lloyd Patton Motors after the 1949 Fort Worth flood.

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#10 Flood damage under the Lancaster Street Bridge, 1949

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#11 Flood damage looking north east, 1949

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#12 Flood scenes of commercial and residential buildings, 1949

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#13 Flood damage: University Drive and Texas & Pacific Railway, 1949

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#14 Flood damage at a park, 1949. Men observing the flood damage.

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#15 Coates Floor Covering and Curtains after flood, 1949

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#16 The Byrd Glass & Paint storefront after the 1949 Fort Worth flood.

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#17 Flood damage at what might be a park, 1949

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#18 Fort Worth, Texas flood, 1949

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#19 People lining street at water’s edge during flood, 1949

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#20 Fort Worth flood of 1949 showing 7th Street under water. The large Montgomery Ward building received extensive damage.

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#21 Cars parked in front of stores and shops with Coca-Cola sign in front after the 1949 Fort Worth flood.

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#22 Flood scenes of commercial and residential buildings, 1949

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#23 Flood damage looking south, east and across the levees, 1949

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#24 Flood at Fort Worth intersection of University and 7th Street near 7th Street Theater with people in boats, May 1949

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#25 Fort Worth, Texas, flood of 1949, showing flooded homes and apartment buildings. The large Montgomery Ward building pictured in the upper left received extensive damage

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#26 Flood scene at the Packard Company, Fort Worth, 1949

Some cars and broken trees stuck in ditch and some parking along the street outside a building named " Packard Ft. Worth". On the left side, there is a broken railroad with some boxcars and a tiny mobile house on it.

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#27 Flood damage at the Loma Plastic company, 1949

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#28 Fort Worth, Texas, flood of 1949, showing 7th Street under water. The large Montgomery Ward building received extensive damage. Downtown Fort Worth is visible in the distance.

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#29 Flood scenes of commercial and residential buildings, 1949

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#30 Men clearing concrete debris and wreckage after flood, 1949

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#31 Flood scene at the Old Plantation Cafe, 1949

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#32 Fort Worth, Texas flood, 1949

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#33 Damaged houses and debris on road from flood, 1949

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#34 Aerial view of the 1949 flood showing the 7th Street bridge and the Montgomery Ward building, Fort Worth, Texas.

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#35 Fort Worth Flood Scene Panorama, 1949. Buildings, trees and flooded area are seen.

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#36 Fort Worth, Texas, flood of 1949, showing a neighborhood of homes under water. The large Montgomery Ward building received extensive damage.

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#37 Fort Worth, Texas flood, 1949

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#38 Citizens Flood Control Committee men, along with city and county officials, attending a picnic marking completion of levee repairs.

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#39 Flood scenes of commercial and residential buildings, 1949

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#40 Fort Worth, Texas, flood of 1949, showing 7th Street under water.

The large Montgomery Ward building received extensive damage. Several buildings and houses are completely submerged, including the Gulf Tire & Supply Company building and the Stationers Distributing Company building.

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#41 Flood damage looking east from Henderson Street, 1949

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#42 Flood damage looking west, 1949

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#43 Debris on the side of a building after flood, 1949

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#44 Fort Worth flood of 1949 showing a neighborhood of homes under water, 1949

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#45 Levee break flood scene, 1949

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#46 Levee break flood scene, 1949

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#47 Aerial view of 1949 flood in Fort Worth showing Trinity River overflowing its banks, 7th St., and Montgomery Ward building

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#48 Fort Worth, Texas, flood of 1949, showing 7th Street under water. The large Montgomery Ward building received extensive damage.

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#49 Fort Worth Flood Scene Panorama.Buildings, trees and flooded area are seen, 1949

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#50 Panorama Fort Worth flood scene, 1949

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#51 Flood damage looking southeast from the levee to the park, 1949

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#52 Fort Worth, Texas, flood of 1949, showing a neighborhood of homes under water, 1949

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#53 Flood scenes of commercial and residential buildings, 1949

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#54 Flood scenes of commercial and residential buildings, 1949

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#55 Levee break flood scene, 1949

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#56 Fort Worth, Texas, flood of 1949, showing 7th Street under water. The large Montgomery Ward building in the upper center received extensive damage. Downtown Fort Worth can be seen in the distance.

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#57 Montgomery Ward & Company Retail Department Store after flood, 1949

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#58 Plastelite Engineering Company building after flood, 1949

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#59 Aerial of 1949 flood in Fort Worth; looking north from Farrington Field high school football stadium toward West Lancaster Street, West 7th Street, and Montgomery Ward.

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#60 Fort Worth, Texas, flood of 1949, showing a submerged neighborhood of homes. Downtown Fort Worth is visible in the distance.

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#61 Looking South from South Side of West 7th St. Viaduct, 1949

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#62 Flood damage to the interior of the Stationers Distributing Company, 1949

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#63 Fort Worth Flood Scene Panorama. Buildings, trees and flooded area are seen, 1949

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#64 Fort Worth, Texas, flood of 1949, showing 7th Street under water, 1949

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#65 Flood damage to the interior of the Stationers Distributing Company, 1949

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#66 Aerial of 1949 flood in Fort Worth, Texas; looking east along West 7th Street from where University Drive. and Bailey intersect with West 7th toward Montgomery Ward, Trinity River, and downtown, 1949

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#67 Flood scenes of commercial and residential buildings, 1949

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#68 Mother and daughter standing beside flood-destroyed home, Fort Worth, 1949.

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#69 Fort Worth, Texas, flood of 1949, showing 7th Street under water. The large Montgomery Ward building in the upper center received extensive damage. Downtown Fort Worth can be seen in the distance.

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#70 Flood scenes of commercial and residential buildings, 1949

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#71 Flood damage looking south, 1949

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#72 Fort Worth, Texas, flood of 1949, showing submerged homes. Downtown Fort Worth is visible in the distance.

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#73 Flood scenes of commercial and residential buildings, 1949

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#74 Lloyd Patton Motors after flood, 1949

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#75 Flood damage looking south at the Frisco Railroad tracks, 1949

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#76 Fort Worth, Texas, flood of 1949, showing a break in an earthen dam from a bird’s-eye-view.

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#77 Fort Worth flood of 1949 showing 7th Street under water.

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#78 Flood damage looking north and across the levees, 1949

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#79 This photograph shows the Container Corporation of America building exterior after the 1949 Fort Worth flood.

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#80 Fort Worth, Texas, flood of 1949, showing 7th Street under water. The large Montgomery Ward building in the upper center received extensive damage.

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#81 Flood damage looking south. 1949

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#82 Flood damage at the gates of Fort Worth Water Works, 1949

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#83 Flood scene at the Vergal Bourland Home Appliance store, 1949

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#84 Fort Worth, Texas, flood of 1949, showing a submerged neighborhood. Atop one home sits the residents’ possessions. A few people can be seen standing on the roof of another home.

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#85 Flood scenes of commercial and residential buildings, 1949

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#86 Cox Brothers Gas station after flood, 1949

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#87 Fort Worth Stockyards post-flood, 1942

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#88 Men walking alongside debris on the side of a road after flood, 1949

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#89 Fort Worth Flood Scene Panorama. Buildings, trees and flooded area are seen.

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#90 Fort Worth Stockyards post-flood, 1949

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#91 Flood damage from the north railroad track off the levee off of Henderson Street, 1949

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#92 Citizens Flood Control Committee men, along with city and county officials. Amon Carter Sr. and group gathered around a picnic table.

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#93 Flood scenes of commercial and residential buildings, 1949

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#94 Flood damage at Henderson Street, 1949

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#95 Debris on the side of a building after flood, 1949

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#96 The Fort Worth Stockyards after a flood. Two men are standing by a fence looking at the damage.

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#97 Levee Break–Flood Scene. There is automobile on the road.

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#98 Levee break flood scene, 1949

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#99 1949 flood, flooded street, Green Stamps sign and Mobil Gas station, 7th St., University Dr., Camp Bowie intersection, Fort Worth

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#100 The Fort Worth Stockyards after a flood. A building has water coming up the front steps. A person is standing at the top of the steps

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#101 Fort Worth Flood Scene Panorama. Buildings, roads, trees and flooded area are seen, 1949

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#102 Fort Worth Flood Scene Panorama. Buildings, trees and flooded area are seen.

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#103 Flood scenes of commercial and residential buildings, 1949

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#104 Flood damage looking west from the south side of the viaduct.

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#105 Fort Worth Flood Scene Panorama. Buildings, trees and flooded area are seen, 1949

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#106 Side view of the Plastelite Engineering Company building after flood, 1949

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#107 Debris on the side of a building after flood, 1949

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#108 Levee break flood scene, 1949

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#109 Detour bridge across Live Oak Creek, 1949

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#110 Levee break flood scene, 1949

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#111 Aerial of the Fort Worth stockyards and Armour & Company during 1949’s flood.

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#112 Flood scenes of commercial and residential buildings, 1949

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#113 Flood damage to the interior of the Stationers Distributing Company, 1949

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#114 Aerial of 1949 flood in Fort Worth; looking east-northeast along West 7th Street toward Montgomery Ward, Trinity River, and downtown.

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#115 Village Creek at normal stage along the Fort Worth-Dallas pike.

Probably the most famous road block in Texas is the one put on the Fort Worth-Dallas Pike by Village and Rush Creeks, between Handley and Arlington, in flood stage. Shot of Village Creek at normal stage.

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#116 Train unloading shale in front of the Montgomery Ward building, 1949

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#117 Pig Stand restaurant partially under water during the May 1949 flood in Fort Worth, Texas

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#118 Aerial of flooded neighborhoods along University Dr., Forest Park, Park Hill, 1949

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#119 Farrington Field, 1948

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#120 Flooding along North Main St., Fort Worth, aerial of flooded LaGrave Field, Cats baseball park, 1949

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#121 Flood Damage–Center of North Bridge. Automobiles are on the road and people are walking at the side of the street, 1949

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#122 Man standing in front of remains of damaged house, 1949

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#123 Farrington Field, 1948

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#124 Fort Worth, Texas flood, 1949

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#125 Looking west on Seventh Street for storm damage, 1949

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#126 LaGrave Field at night, 1948

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#127 Montgomery Ward car service station, 1949

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#128 Group planning repairs after the Trinity River flooding in Fort Worth, Texas.

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#129 Fort Worth, Texas, flood of 1949, showing a flooded neighborhood. There are few cars on the roads that have not been completely flooded. Groups of people are gathered in front of their homes and in the streets.

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#130 The flood of Marine Creek which submerged Maverick Café, 1942

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