The 2008 Saints and Sinners

Oakwood Cemetery Tour

Saturday, October 27, 2008

It took a mixture of virtuous, upright citizens and wayward scoundrels to make Fort Worth the spirited city it is today and many of both were laid to rest at Oakwood Cemetery. That eternal slumber was interrupted for a few moments on Saturday, October 27, when some of those saints and sinners got restless, began to wander about and talked about their life and times.

Historian Quentin McGown was the tour guide for both sessions  taking hundreds of people on a guided stroll under the famous towering oaks through this pioneer Fort Worth cemetery. Quentin introduced us to the "Father of Fort Worth," John Peter Smith and many more of Fort Worth's famous and feared.

Gambler Luke Short and one-time City Marshal long-haired Jim Courtright and Courtright’s sassy wife Betty confronted each other again, this time with words instead of pistols. Lynched outlaw Jim Miller was lurking nearby.

Ada Mustard relived the horrors of the Texas Spring Palace fire in 1890 and Belle Burchill looked back on her life as a champion of orphans, a suffragette, and Fort Worth’s first postmistress. 

The weather was perfect, the actors were terrific, the crowds were great and interacted spontaneously with the performers to add to the great moments. Many people strolled off on their own after the tours and explored and experienced the great history and beauty of Oakwood. 

Proceeds of this year’s tour benefited the North Fort Worth Historical Society and the Oakwood Cemetery Association.  Plans are already underway for the 2009 Oakwood Tour.  Dates will be on October 24 and 25 with afternoon and evening tours. Visit the Stockyards Museum website and the Oakwood Cemetery website for more information.

Lots of people from the North Fort Worth Historical Society, the Stockyards Museum and Oakwood Cemetery volunteered to help make everything go almost perfectly. If you would like to be a NFWHS volunteer and take part and help with the Museum and the several special events and the effort to preserve and restore the history of Fort Worth, please consider joining, attending the interesting monthly meetings and participating the expanding programs of the Society and Museum.

For more information, call 817-625-5082 or email nfwhs@sbcglobal.net.

About the Slides:

There are a lot of large slides from the 2008 tour so please be patient as it may take a few seconds to download the images.

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©2009 North Fort Worth Historical Society

Last Update: 12/30/2011

The 2009 Saints and Sinners—Oakwood Cemetery Tour Photo Album

2010 Saints and Sinners Oakwood Tour—Cast and Volunteers

Chuck Holland portrayed Oakwood’s devoted sexton, Phillip Morgett (1856-1913)

Loretta Hudson (right) portrayed the youngest daughter of the Halsell ranching family, Ella Halsell Waggoner, who married W. T. Waggoner, Sr. in 1865. Mrs. Waggoner was born in 1859 and died in 1959.

Rick Selcer portrayed Jefferson McLean (1870-1907), was killed  as he raided the Stag Saloon in Hell Half Acre’s.

Travis Downs portrayed Hamil Scott (1865-1907), one of the boldest peace officers Tarrant County ever had. Also killed in the Stag Saloon raid.

Fern Marin, Jerry Eastman and Skip Humphrey cut up a bit between tours.  Fernando Marin portrayed his great grandfather, Theodore Solano (1876-1970) who rode with Pancho Villa between 1910-1920. After the revolution failed, he moved to Fort worth where he raised his family. Eastman portrayed Luke Short (1854-1893) the dapper but deadly gambler who was the proprietor of the White Elephant Saloon and killed Long-Haired Jim Courtright in 1887. Skip Humphrey filled in as needed during the tours.

Tom Wiederhold portrayed Ben U. Bell (1856-1927), who became the hero in the clash between Jeff McLean and One-Armed Bill Thomason (portrayed by Jack Edmondson), who killed Scott and McLean in 1907.

The story of William Louis Armstrong (1845-1924) is one of success, honor, hardship, sadness and now lore. Capt Armstrong came to Texas from Alabama after the Civil War, where he served in the Confederate Army. He was a prisoner of war at Camp Chase, Ohio, when Robert E. Lee surrendered. Pictured above left is Keith Bridwell
as Capt Armstrong.

Pictured above right, Marty Humphrey portrayed Gussie Armstrong (1879-1954) who was Capt Armstrong’s daughter. When his wife died, Capt Armstrong asked his eldest daughter, Gussie, to break her engagement and come to Fort Worth to care for her brothers and sisters. He offered to build her a fine house on the north bluff overlooking the Trinity. Gussie devoted the rest of her life to taking care of the family. To this day, she is said to still reside in that home—the home of Jim, Janet and Jake Lane on Grand Avenue.

The Armstrongs
of Grand Avenue

Volunteers Made the Two-Day Event Run Smoothly!

Judy Bridwell and Diane Carter; Jimmy Cater is pictured at right.

Quentin McGown pictured above led tours/

NFWHS President Tom Wiederhold, Oakwood Cemetery Director Sarah Biles and Travis Downs.

And Many More . . .

Buttermilk Junction (above) provide great old-time music between tours.

Rosalie McLeod, Rick Selcer, Pat Simpson and an anonymous helper tend to the book sales table.

Thanks to Pete Charlton for these great photos.