{"id":263177,"date":"2026-04-23T19:29:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T19:29:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/263177\/"},"modified":"2026-04-23T19:29:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T19:29:08","slug":"a-look-back-william-a-bowens-namesake-street-spans-three-cities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/263177\/","title":{"rendered":"A Look Back: William A. Bowen\u2019s Namesake Street Spans Three Cities"},"content":{"rendered":"

Published on April 23, 2026<\/p>\n


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\n \"Arlington <\/p>\n

Photo Caption:\u00a0The press room of the “Arlington\u00a0Journal,” ca. 1908. Courtesy of the Arlington Historical Association.<\/p>\n

As Arlington celebrates its sesquicentennial throughout 2026, we are sharing stories about the people, places and moments that made The American Dream City what it is today.<\/p>\n

By the Office of Communication<\/p>\n

The names of streets often reflect a sort of passing history. Think of such names as a remembrance of persons of such importance that their identities become transportation road marks worthy of Google searches, map designations and – sometimes – long and anguished Planning and Zoning sessions sorting out land use development along their route.<\/p>\n

More often than not, the streets survive far longer than their namesakes.<\/p>\n

Consider just one such example: Bowen Road. Its namesake, “Arlington Journal” newspaper publisher “Col.” William Abraham Bowen, hit it lucky with his road. Bowen Road passes through a long section of Arlington, plus the entire north-to-south eastern boundaries of both Pantego and Dalworthington Gardens. Though it dead-ends today at Sublett Road, the City’s master plan calls for it to eventually be expanded ever further southward.<\/p>\n

\"Nameplate<\/p>\n

Photo caption: Nameplate for the ArlingtonJournalfor August 5, 1910. The new nameplate featured an illustration of theArlington Mineral Well<\/a>in the center and illustrations of Arlington agriculture on either side. Courtesy of the Arlington Printing Company and the Portal to Texas History.<\/p>\n

Bowen founded the Arlington Printing Company in 1908 and also served as publisher\/editor of the “Arlington Journal” until 1921<\/a>. His very first column prophetically anointing Arlington to be “the best city for homes and education and small factories in North Texas.” Though his 13-year tenure was short and he died at age 65 in 1921, he influenced the transition of Grubb’s Vocational School to become part of Texas A&M (now the UT System today), persuaded voters to ditch their septic tanks in favor of the city’s first sewage treatment system, and advocated for the creation of a decorative fountain for Arlington’s mineral well and the re-establishment of the chamber of commerce. Bowen Road was named for him after his death. The colonel would have liked that.<\/p>\n

– This article was written by Arlington author and historian O.K. Carter, who previously served on the Landmark Preservation Commission, and includes information from the Texas State Historical Association.<\/p>\n

\"Bowen<\/p>\n

Photo caption: Bowen Road, which travels through Arlington, Pantego and Dalworthington Gardens, is named for “Col.” William A. Bowen, who was editor of the Arlington Journal.<\/p>\n

Visit\u00a0Arlington150.com<\/a>\u00a0for more historical articles, photos and events planned throughout 2026.<\/p>\n

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