Freese and Nichols, Inc.
Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Engineer John B. Hawley, designer and builder of Fort Worth's first city water system in 1892, was joined by Simon W. Freese in 1927 and Marvin C. Nichols in 1930 to form Hawley, Freese, and Nichols. The firm designed the nation's first dual-purpose reservoirs and pioneered the use of environmental engineering concepts in water treatment. One of Texas' oldest engineering firms, Freese and Nichols, Inc. is noted for developing water for west Texas by designing regional supplies to serve several cities and industries. It continues to play a vital role in the development of Texas. (1994)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
The firm traces its roots to engineer John B. Hawley, who designed Fort Worth's first city water system in 1892, and to partners Simon W. Freese and Marvin C. Nichols, who joined him in the late 1920s. The company pioneered dual-purpose reservoirs and early environmental engineering in water treatment, and became a driving force in bringing reliable water to arid West Texas. It remains one of the state's oldest engineering firms.
Why it matters
The firm's water-supply work made cities and industry possible across a dry landscape, showing how engineering quietly underwrites the growth of the American West.
Own a business near here? Add it to the map.
Related people
- · John B. Hawley
- · Simon W. Freese
- · Marvin C. Nichols
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
Amon G. Carter
Fort Worth, TX
Amon G. Carter rose from a hardscrabble Wise County boyhood and odd jobs to become the most influential booster Fort Worth ever had. As publisher of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram — the largest-circulation paper in Texas for decades — he wielded the press, the new medium of radio (WBAP), and a fortune in oil to promote his city and all of West Texas. An aviation enthusiast, he helped lure the aircraft industry to the area, and he poured his wealth into philanthropy, notably founding the Amon Carter Museum.
Site of Majestic Theatre
Fort Worth, TX
Before 1905, Fort Worth's live entertainment meant saloons, dance halls, and church socials — until Karl Hoblitzelle founded the Interstate Amusement Company and made the city a stop on his vaudeville circuit. Built in 1910–11, the lavish "Atmospheric" Majestic Theatre dazzled with Turkish rugs, gold-leaf ceilings, marble floors, and reportedly the nation's first indirect stage lighting. Will Rogers, Tallulah Bankhead, and Fred Allen all performed here before the theater turned to movies and was finally razed in 1970.
Paddock Viaduct
Fort Worth, TX
For decades, only low-water crossings and ferries linked downtown Fort Worth with the city's north side across the Trinity River, and an 1890s suspension bridge soon proved inadequate. Completed in 1914 to a design by the St. Louis firm Brenneke and Fay, the Paddock Viaduct was the first reinforced-concrete arch bridge in the nation to use self-supporting reinforcing steel—a genuine engineering milestone. It honors B.B. Paddock, the former legislator and Fort Worth mayor who championed the city's growth.
Herbert M. Hinckley
Fort Worth, TX
Engineer Herbert M. Hinckley staked his reputation on the dome he designed for the 1936 Texas Centennial, using an unusual method of joining radial arches at the peak despite widespread expert doubt. His design succeeded, and he went on to create a companion tower, buildings in major cities, and numerous bridges. The marker honors the daring engineering behind a landmark of the state's centennial celebration.