included a rescue boat capable of helping
neighboring communities with flooding
evacuations and rescues. The Village
also began addressing the need for water
supply. Initially, homes were supplied
by individual water wells. In 1949, the
Worth Water Company was granted a
25‐year franchise to install and operate
a water system to serve the Village. The
Benbrook Water and Sewer Authority
was created in April 1955 by the Texas
Legislature and assumed the assets of the
Worth Water Company.
BENBROOK AND THE 1950S
By 1950, the new City had three stores
and 617 residents. The Dunlap Addition
on Llano Street was platted in 1949.
The Benbrook Lakeside Addition was
platted in 1950 on the site of the old
Benbrook Air Field, with typical lots of 225 feet by 225 feet.
This was in the spirit of Frank Lloyd Wright’s ideal subdivision
where everyone owned an acre of land. However, to stimulate
sales the subdivision was replatted within a few years to 75
by 225‐foot and 75 by 150‐foot lots and homes were sold for
about $8,500. At about the same time in 1950, North Benbrook
Addition was platted into lots 50 by 100 foot in size. The lots
along Chapin Road were replatted about ten years later into
larger lots. A new City Hall and fire station was built on Del Rio
Avenue, just off U.S. 377, in 1951. In 1953, the City disannexed
about 1.5 square miles in the future Westpark area. The City
adopted its first subdivision
ordinance (Number 74) in
August 1955, which required
developers to dedicate and
construct adequate street and
drainage facilities. The First
Baptist Church of Benbrook
was organized in August
1954 on McKinley Street.
The Benbrook Methodist
Church moved to its present
location in 1956. The
Benbrook School building
was abandoned and moved
to its present location on
Mercedes Street in 1953, on
land donated by Mrs. Grace
Cozby and Duane Johnson.
Construction was funded by
school improvement bonds
817-244-3570
JAMES D. SCHULL
Attorney At Law
Phone: 817-249-5300
Fax: 817-249-5312
E-Mail: james@benbrookattorney.com
www.benbrookattorney.com
8507 Hwy. 377 S.,
Suite F
Benbrook, TX 76126
70 BENBROOK AREA Chamber of Commerce | MEMBER DIRECTORY & COMMUNITY GUIDE
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