Visit Ye Arlington Inn!
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The purpose of The Compass Rose is to raise awareness of Special Collections' resources and to foster the use of these resources. The blog series also reports significant new programs, initiatives, and acquisitions of Special Collections.
Arlington Heights is a Fort Worth neighborhood that was once an unincorporated region known for it's resort-like qualities. Investors flocked to the region in the early 1890s, hoping to build homes and retreats catering to the tastes of wealthy vacationers. Ye Arlington Inn was built in 1892 by H.B. Chamberlain's American Investment and Land Co. at the top of a hill near what is now Merrick and Bryce Streets. The inn was opened with an elegant gala on July 9, with over 1,000 people in attendance. Operating this new attraction was the Fort Worth and Arlington Heights Hotel Company. In celebration (and in order to advertise in an era before commercials), a booklet was published showcasing pictures of the inn and surrounding area. UTA Special Collections proudly holds one of these rare copies.
As a side note: "Ye" is actually pronounced "The". The word "ye" is a modern form of the word "þe", with the letter þ creating a th sound. Over time, the letter þ looked more and more like the letter y, and th replaced þ in use.
This publication lauded the Fort Worth region's weather, which was heralded as the reason for lower and milder cases of typhoid fever and pneumonia. Travelling for health purposes was popular for those who could afford it. Modern amenities included 100 electric lights of sixteen candle power each, steam heating throughout the inn, an elevator, and sanitary plumbing backed by contemporary science. Water was provided directly from artesian wells, and could be sipped from Royal Worcester, Haviland, Copeland, and Royal Harvard China.
Arlington Heights was accessible by road, but the easiest way to get to the inn was via rail. An electric railway from Fort Worth shuttled guests to this hilltop resort.
Guests could leave the city behind, unwind in a luxurious suite, or meander through the grounds away from the crowded city air. Arlington Heights was set to become a dream tourist spot, but the dream quickly ended. The company that founded Ye Arlington Inn failed in 1893 during a financial crisis known as the Great Panic, and on the night of November 10, 1894, a fire began in the basement of the inn, consuming the building completely. After only 2 years, Ye Arlington Inn changed from a beautiful resort center to a memory in Fort Worth history.
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