River Oaks Resident of 58 Years Shares Memories
with River Oaks Area Historical Society

There are some delightful people in this world, and closer to home…..in our own little city. The other day we were fortunate enough to meet and add yet one more interesting little trophy to our Historical Society collection…        Mr. Hubert B. Lovell.

At 94 years old, he doesn't zip here and there like he once did, but is quite spry enough to get where he wants to be. Standing at about 5ft 3in tall, he probably weighs 130 pounds soaking wet. With excellent hearing, and a quick little mind, he is also a delight to talk to. Born in Honey Grove Tx, is where he met & married his childhood sweetheart Beulah. He was a beekeeper in Honey Grove. Hubert and Beulah moved to River Oaks in 1942. They lived in the 1100 block of Merritt for about five years. He then purchased his home on St. Edwards Street, where he currently resides. Wife Beulah was born in 1907, but passed away in 1994 at the age of 87.

Hubert wanted to join the Army in 1938, but a severe back injury disqualified him.
A short time later he was hired by O.P. Leonard of the Leonard Brothers of Fort Worth, at the Leonards Water Works where he worked for about five years. This was during World War II, and regular water pipe was hard to get.
Obie Leonard bought a bankrupt town in Oklahoma, had the water pipes dug up, and brought them to this area and hired Hubert Lovell as a pipe fitter for installing the first main water lines and water meters for the new housing development, in what was then known as River Oaks Village. Dr. George Jewell was the Mayor of River Oaks at the time that Hubert went to work for the city. These 8 inch water pipes were unique in that they were made of pressed glass, which didn't look like glass, but were a very white color, and the material was called transite. If you saw this pipe today, you might think it was asbestos. It is interesting to note that River Oaks was the first town in Texas to get this new pipe.

For awhile Hubert worked for the Bomber Plant at night and the water works in the daytime. Because he was a very good worker, O.P. Leonard told him if he would continue to work for him that he would make him a rich man. Hubert left the water works business however and worked at the Bomber Plant where he stayed for 20 years.

Hubert shared that McGee Park is where the lumber was stacked to build the many homes that were constructed in River Oaks in the 1930's and 40's. As an added bit of interesting information, we learned from a different source that a Mr. Tom Dawson was hired as a guard to patrol McGee Park at night, on horseback, to protect the building supplies.

In the 1200 block of Robert's Cut-Off, (two doors South of Dusty's), now a vacant lot.  Hubert owned the property and leased the building first to a cleaners that once stood there, then to Flores Variety Store that was operated by Mrs Flores. Being a child and a regular customer with mom, Shirley Bloomfield recalls that she was a jovial, short, little woman who wore glasses that had silver chains that dangled down on both sides of her face and jiggled when she laughed. Being the jolly little lady that she was, the jiggling chains and show of teeth were a regular part of her appearance.

Hubert's uncle, John Lovell came to Fort Worth in about 1918 as a carpenter, and settled in the South side of the county. Mr Lovell specialized in building the unique, wooden, decorative ornaments etc on the gables of many beautiful homes of that era. Lovell Street is named in his honor.

Sarah Lee, his loyal little dog, keeps a watchful eye on everything and helps him as he takes care of his everyday business. When we asked how the dog got her name, he said, " It was simple, my wife came in with groceries and sat a cake on the table". It seems that Hubert had come in with the new puppy. Wife Beulah looks at the little puppy and asked what her name was going to be. Hubert looks at his favorite cake on the table and announces, Sarah Lee !

Hubert disappeared for a tiny bit during part of the visit. That gave us a chance to visit with Sharon McDougle, a very nice lady who for three years has helped Hubert on Mondays and Fridays by cleaning his home and taking him to the store or what ever he needs. Hubert has a garden that Sharon helps him to plant every year that he putters around in growing eggplants, peppers, cherry tomatoes, wonderful cantaloupes and other things. In the garden area there are grape vines, and some small fruit trees.

We heard him rooting around in another room and shortly after he came back with a small bowl of old trinkets that they had collected through the years. He said he was looking for an old picture that his wife had of an old car and that he would keep looking for it and let us know when he did find it. Hubert is a wonderful little fella to visit with and had many special memories to share. He loves when folks come to visit.
He shared his motto which is:
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.….before they do you !"

Hubert Lovell
DOB - January 31, 1906
Birthplace - Honey Grove Tx - Fannin County
Parents - Hennrieta Strickland Lovell and Louis Lovell

Son - Jerry Lovell and wife, Janet have two boys and one girl
Daughter - Wanda Lovell Delulio and husband, Frank have one son and one daughter. They also have one granddaughterand one grandson.

Information taken from visits, July 17, and 22, 2000
By Linda Claridge and Shirley Bloomfield
River Oaks Area Historical Society