Masonic Mitey Mites

Twelve Mighty Orphans; The Inspiring True Story of the Mighty Mites Who Ruled Texas Football

Read Jim Dent’s book about the Mighty Mites

Fort Worth Masonic Home
Memorabilia Saved by NFWHS

The Fort Worth Masonic Home “Mighty Mites” were just one part of over one hundred years of Fort Worth history. Between the closing in 2005 and the sale of the property in 2007, the end came quickly and most of the memorabilia of those times hit the dumpster. The NFWHS managed to save a few things . . .

The old Fort Worth Masonic Home, first opened in 1899 in Southeast Fort Worth, is closed now. Shown above is a 1910 postcard reproduction showing some of the endangered buildings. It is hard to believe they probably are not going to integrate many of the great old buildings into the development.

The Stockyards Museum and the North Fort Worth Historical Society had the opportunity to help save a few items from the developers dumpster. Here is the story:

After a last minute call, several of the NFWHS members went to the site and saved few of the artifacts. The interior of many of the buildings had been stripped (trashed, really) internally and the contents were scheduled to go into the dumpster the next day. Tom Weiderhold, NFWHS President, who received the notification, called some other members and all went to one of the buildings to see if there was anything that could be saved for future documentation of one of Fort Worth's great landmark institutions. Not much was left. But, a great poster was found of one of the Mighty Mites, later identified as 1938 TCU great, Allie White.

The Allie White poster (pictured right) and documentation (shown above) are currently on display in the Stockyards Museum.

Another priceless slice of history saved is the class group picture below that is currently undated with only a few of those pictured identified.

A few other items were saved including an old hand printing press and type blocks. But most of it was trashed before anyone knew that the buildings were being stripped and everything thrown away.