Stop 6 – Fort Worth, Texas
Stop Six is a neighborhood in southeast Fort Worth, Texas (USA). Stop Six, a mostly African-American neighborhood is known for its state championship high school basketball team, Dunbar High, in 1993, 2002, and 2006. The neighborhood’s name comes from the fact that it was once the sixth stop without an otherwise identifying landmark on the Northern Texas Traction Co. Interurban electric streetcar system that ran between Fort Worth and Dallas.
History
The historic Stop Six neighborhood in southeast Fort Worth was founded by African-American pioneer Amanda Davis (1865-1960), who purchased a one-acre tract in the undeveloped area in 1896 for $45. Mrs. Davis had 10 children, raised poultry, and worked as a laundress. Amanda Avenue is named for her.
Alonzo and Sarah Cowan paid $200 for three acres in the community of small farms and homesteads in 1902. Mr. Cowan donated land for the area’s first church, Cowan McMillan United Methodist Church. The community was segregated, and it became known for its successful black-owned barber and beauty shops, barbecue stands, and other businesses.
The Northern Texas Traction Co. ran an electric-powered, interurban streetcar through the community from 1902 to 1934. Cowanville was the sixth stop on the 90-minute trip from the Tarrant County Courthouse to Dallas. The nickname “Stop Six” stuck.
Over the decades, the community grew to be a thriving, predominantly African-American collection of neighborhoods and home to longtime business owners, educators, elected officials, ministers, and other civic leaders. Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School on Ramey Avenue served as a hub of activity.
Dunbar High School gained national prominence with the remarkable success of its basketball program led for 32 years by Coach Robert Hughes, the winningest boys high school basketball coach in the United States.
Education
Stop Six is part of the Fort Worth ISD and has several public schools. The district operates Dunbar High School, two middle schools, five elementary schools, and one alternative school. Stop Six’s Maudrie M. Walton Elementary School was featured in the 2002 PBS documentary A Tale of Two Schools.
Notable Residents
- Elmo Henderson (boxer)
- Robert Hughes (Coach) Boy’s High School Basketball’s all-time winningest coach. Hughes led the “Flyin’ Wildcats” of Dunbar High School to 30 district titles, 13 state finals appearances, and 3 state championships (’93,’03,’06) during his 32 years (’73-’05) at the school. Hughes was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017. He retired with a record of 1,333-262.
- Mike Byars (Filmmaker) Once a budding basketball star for Dunbar High School, Byars found worldwide recognition with his debut film “5700 Ramey Ave” A story about legendary basketball coach Robert Hughes who coached him (Byars) at Dunbar. The film’s title is the school’s address.