Kennedale is a city in Tarrant County, Texas. The population was 5,850 at the 2000 census.
In the early days, Kennedale was a great place to enjoy life. Back in the 1920’s Mug Gallagher’s place named Frog Island was one of the places for entertainment. People could enjoy food and refreshments. They could also dance for a dime donation to the band. Frog Island was located near the intersection of present day Dick Price Road and Kennedale Parkway. Vera Coker remembers traveling wagons showing picture movies in the park, medicine shows proclaiming they had found the cure all wonder drug, circuses, and signing groups entertaining the community. The Bulin’s soda fountain shop stayed busy as children hung out as they were dropped off by their parents who went to run errands. As mentioned before the Tabernacle was a grand meeting place as revivals, picnics, candidate speakings, and other celebrations were held there. A place where many of the boys played was in the old bank vault, which was around for many years after the fire of 1908 near Broadway Street. Sitting outside of Pringle’s Drugstore on Broadway Street listening to the Fort Worth Cats baseball game was also a good way to enjoy summer afternoons.
Doug Cooper and sons formed a youth baseball team in 1959. He told his sons to gather as many boys as they could and meet at “Goat Head Stadium” the football field at Kennedale High School. The next evening twelve boys showed up for practice. They played a few games that year. The next year, 1960, they began playing Little League with two teams from Kennedale. They were sponsored by B.T Webb Insurance. Mr. Cooper asked Mr. Webb for a small donation, but much to Mr. Cooper’s surprise Mr. Webb gave him a check for $125, the amount needed for all the equipment and uniforms. The team was called the Red Sox. Dick Waldon of Kennedale also formed a team named the Rebels. A total of four teams played and started using official Little League rules in 1960.
According to George Lowery nothing could be as much fun as he had chasing his bull named Ben all over town. Sometimes Mr. Lowery would give up and Ben would walk back to his pin. Kennedale has a proud history because of the time and work invested by the first settlers and residents. The men and women mentioned built their own homes, churches, schools, and formed community organizations so the citizens of Kennedale could have a prosperous future.