Photo Source: Daniel Haase via fortwortharchitecture.com
Handley was a railroad town established by the Texas and Pacific Railroad in 1885, and is named for Confederate general James Madison Handley, who was one of the first property owners in the area. Handley flourished in the early decades of the 20th century because of its location on the Interurban streetcar line between Fort Worth and Dallas and the nearby Lake Erie Trolley Park, a popular recreation area. It was during this time that the historic storefronts along East Lancaster Avenue were built.
The urban village area today includes the Wedding District, small antique and furniture stores, neighborhood retail, and small-scale civic facilities. Part of the area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.
The advocacy and professional organizations that promote business development and investment in this urban village include the Handley Neighborhood Association, Historic Handley Development Corporation, and East Fort Worth Business Association. They worked to establish the area as a National Historic District.