Attractions
The Flat – A.K.A Babylon on the Brazos
By Judy Wade
The Bottom, Hidetown, Fort Griffin Flat and finally just the Flat, this settlement in the level area between the plateau on which Fort Griffin was situated and the Clear Fork of the Brazos in what is now north central Shackleford County, was one of the wildest, most wide-open towns in north central Texas in the late 1800s.
When settlers began pouring into Texas to take advantage of the land available after the Civil War, a line of forts was built in the late 1860s to protect these settlers from marauding Indians seeking to return to their homelands. Fort Griffin was one of these forts, located along what is now Highway 283 between Throckmorton and Albany.
The level area beside the fort was the perfect place for a settlement. There, pioneers moving farther west could replenish their supplies, soldiers from the fort could get items not available at the post or have a good time at one of the saloons when off duty, drovers on the nearby Great Western Trail headed north to market made it a stopping-off point, the Butterfield Stage passed through on its east-west route and buffalo hunters used it as a storage place for hides to be shipped east. With piles of buffalo hides dotting the area, the stench was at times almost unbearable.
In addition to the honest, hard-working pioneers who settled the area for the legitimate purposes of farming, ranching and commerce, a number of ruffians and outlaws flooded in. The population was about 1,000 most of the time, but on occasion rose to as many as 3,000.
According to the nearby Historical Marker, some of the businesses included a newspaper, an academy, Masonic Lodge, Beehive Saloon, Conrad and Rath Store, Glesk Boot Shop, Occidental Hotel, Shaunissey’s Saloon, Thorpe’s Blacksmith, a livery stable and, of course, a jail along with many other businesses.
To read more pick up a copy of the December 2018 NTFR issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
It’s already March and the smell of springtime parties and special events is in the air.
Everybody knows in order to have a great party, you’ve got to have the right music.
Well, that’s where my friend Katie Dieter comes to the rescue.
Katie, aka DJ KD “The Spinner,” has been spinning the right mix for parties and special events throughout North Texas for years now. Her passion for music helps to make your special event one your friends will never forget. Whether you’re planning a wedding, banquet, school event or just a backyard get-together with friends, DJ KD “The Spinner” is the right call for you.
To read more, pick up a copy of the March issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
Seems lately these days Texas is becoming the envy of musicians from around the world.
With the overwhelming response to “Yellowstone,” the television series, Texas once again finds itself under the microscope of the world, much like the late 1980’s TV series know to all around the globe as “Dallas.”
With that said, the musician population in Texas is beginning to grow as many aspiring performers turn their sights on Texas instead of Nashville. Meet my newly-found friend and fellow musician Grace Partridge. This youthful 19 year old has recently made Texas her new home. She began fiddling at age four in Rigby, Idaho. Grace worked her way through the National Fiddle championships in Weiser, Idaho, becoming a five-time national champion. She’s even played on the Grand Ole Opry. Still yet, her desire to become a true Texas Fiddler has brought her to the Lone Star State. I’m pretty sure we can thank Bob Wills for that.
To read more, pick up a copy of the January 2024 issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
On Nov. 4, 2023, the Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra will present an evening of Texas Cowboy, Country and Western Swing with yours truly, Dave Alexander and the fabulous Quebe Sisters.
Enjoy the music of Bob Wills, Willie Nelson, Gene Autry and many more of your Texas Music favorites performed with a full symphony orchestra. We also will feature music from my latest CD, “From The Saddle To Symphony Hall,” along with some of my own compositions. It is guaranteed to be a night to remember.
To read more, pick up a copy of the October issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
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