Attractions
The world’s littlest skyscraper
By contributing writer Shannon Gillette
Texas! Texas is big. It is the land of big skies, big cowboy hats and big hair. It’s just big. Everything is bigger in Texas…or is it? Wichita Falls has the honor of being the home of the world’s littlest skyscraper. But skyscrapers are big; by definition they scrap the sky, so even if it is small for a skyscraper, it would still be big, right? Not in this case. This little giant only stands a whopping forty feet tall. This miniature wonder may not live up to the “Everything is bigger in Texas” theory, but the legend behind the tall tale surely does.
Discovery of oil in Wichita County caused Wichita Falls to go from a slow-moving cow town to a bustling metropolis almost overnight. In 1913, North Texas oil fields produced 46 percent of the oil in Texas. Refineries started popping up in town in 1915. With the additional discovery of oil in Burkburnett in 1918, the growth continued at an exceedingly rapid pace. Over 7500 barrels of oil were being produced each day. By 1920, Wichita Falls had nine oil refineries and almost fifty factories. The oil boom made hundreds of Wichita Falls citizens millionaires in the blink of an eye. Unfortunately, with new-found wealth and money burning holes in pockets, the inevitable bad apple always turns up. This time, the scoundrel appeared in the form of a smooth talking conman named J. D. McMahon.
Buildings were going up at the speed of light, but could still not meet the demand; office space was at a premium. McMahon was an oil prospector from Philadelphia. He and seven other oil companies had their headquarters in a small one story building located near the railroad depot. The building they were occupying was built in 1906 by Augusta Newby. Even with construction crews working around the clock, there was a huge shortage of proper office space. So when McMahon approached several wealthy investors with a plan to erect a skyscraper as an annex to the Newby Building on La Salle Street, fists full of money were thrust at him for a chance at an office in a state of the art high-rise building. McMahon managed to raise $200,000 to build this highly anticipated building next to the thriving St. James Hotel. He presented detailed architectural plans which were signed off and approved.Construction began in 1919. To read more pick up the August 2014 issue of North Texas Farm & Ranch.
On The Road With Dave Alexander
Rarely will you find an event center that includes a music venue, a steakhouse and a wildlife refuge all rolled into one.
Oak Meadow Ranch has been welcoming guests for over two decades with one thing in mind, your complete happy experience.
The Chef Dinner and Exotic Animal Experience includes a four-course meal followed by a hands-on experience with exotic animals.
You can catch up with Dave at the Birthplace of Western Swing Festival in Fort Worth, Texas on November 7, or at the Irving Symphony Orchestra in Irving, Texas on November 9. To read more about his experience at Oak Meadow Ranch, pick up a copy of the October edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print.
To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By: Lindsey Monk
On Aug. 22, 2024 at 11:40 p.m., the Remington fire jumped the line in Wyoming to burn towards Montana at a high rate of speed. The fire burned 194,459 acres and over 41 miles from one end to the other in a span of two days. Livestock producers will be feeling the effects for years to come.
Pick up a copy of the October edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By: Hannah Claxton | Editor
The GO TEXAN program is a Texas Department of Agriculture initiative dedicated to showcasing and supporting Texas based busi- nesses. During the State Fair of Texas, held in Dallas each year, the program puts together the GO TEXAN pavilion. Within the pavilion, presented by Southwest Dairy Farmers, visitors have the opportunity to sample and shop Texas-based products, learn more about agriculture and participate in family-friendly activities.
In 2023, more than $1 million in revenue was generated across nearly 67,000 products sold. Businesses with products produced or processed in Texas are invited to apply to join the program, and can visit http:// www.gotexan.org/JOIN to apply.
When visiting the State Fair of Texas, make sure to visit the GO TEXAN pavilion to support businesses driving agricultural commerce and explore Texas agricultural commodities outside of North Texas.
The State Fair of Texas is held each year in the fall, and is considered to be the first of the “majors” shows for many students involved in showing livestock. Cattle, hogs, sheep, goats, rabbits, chickens, and even llamas all have a class to enter at the fair.
For those not showing livestock, over a hundred creative arts classes are available to enter. Canned goods, photography, quilts, paintings, and butter sculptures are all displayed throughout the fair’s duration. Another contest judges a variety of antique collections and keeps them on display throughout the duration of the fair.
It’s not the State Fair of Texas without world-renowned food. The Big Tex Choice Awards contest has solidified the State Fair of Texas as the top Fair for great food creations. Each year, State Fair concessionaires fry up tasty and unique foods for a chance to become a finalist in the annual Big Tex Choice Awards competition.
The 2024 Finalists in the Savory category are: Dominican Fritura Dog (by Justin Martinez), The Drowning Taquitos (by Tony & Terry Bednar), Hippie Chips (by Rose and Tom Deschenes), Hot Chick-In- Pancake Poppers (by Palmer and Amanda Fortune), Texas Fried Burnt End Bombs (by Nick and Vera Burt).
In the Sweet category, the 2024 Finalists are: Nevins Nutty Bar- Laska (by Tami Nevins Mayes & Josie Mayes), Rousso’s Cotton Candy Bacon On A Stick (by Isaac Rousso), Strawberry Pop-Tarts Beignettfle (by Justin Martinez), Texas Sugar Rush Pickles (by Heather Perkins), and Tropical Two-Step Punch (by Binh Tran).
Livestock & contests schedule of events is available in the September issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
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