Fort Worth – The Rouse family, whose ancestor Fred Rouse was the city’s only recorded Black lynching victim, has withdrawn from the Transform 1012 nonprofit’s redevelopment of a former Ku Klux Klan meeting hall on North Main Street. Fred Rouse III, the grandson of Fred Rouse, announced his resignation from the Transform 1012 board and the removal of the Fred Rouse Foundation from the coalition that is steering the project.
New focus on a dedicated memorial
Rouse said he will devote his energy to the Tarrant County Coalition for Peace and Justice, a nonprofit he leads as president, which is planning a separate memorial – the Mr. Fred Rouse Memorial – at 1000 NE 12th St. The memorial is slated for completion by November or December.
“My 100% focus is on the Tarrant County Coalition for Peace and Justice and trying to get the Mr. Fred Rouse Memorial site completed,” Rouse told the Fort Worth Report.
Transform 1012’s ongoing work
Despite the family’s departure, Transform 1012 remains committed to preserving Rouse’s story through educational programming and exhibitions about North Texas race relations. The organization’s executive director, Carlos Gonzalez‑Jaime, thanked Rouse for his contributions and said the board wishes him well, but declined to comment on his personal decision.
When the project began, early conversations about naming the center after Fred Rouse were informal. Over the past four years, the name was used in the working title “Fred Rouse Center for Arts and Community Healing.” However, after a series of negotiations, the board concluded it could not reach an agreement that met its fiduciary and ethical obligations.
“After all this period of negotiation with the family, the Transform 1012 board came to the decision that they could not agree on the terms that the family wanted,” Gonzalez‑Jaime explained.
Trademark dispute
A trademark for “Fred Rouse” was filed in May 2025 but was abandoned in July 2026 after the required statement of use was not filed. The family had initially secured the trademark to prevent other organizations from profiting off the name. Rouse indicated the family intends to maintain ownership of the trademark for the long term.
Community reaction
Local residents and historians have praised the effort to transform a former Klan hall into a cultural hub that acknowledges painful history while fostering healing. The project, now called the Transform 1012 Center for Arts and Community Healing, continues under its new name and remains a collaborative effort among seven nonprofits and businesses.
Transform 1012’s website notes that the Fred Rouse Foundation will focus on clothing drives and providing health, financial and educational resources to underserved Fort Worth neighborhoods.
Historical context
Fred Rouse was lynched by a white mob on Dec. 11, 1921, after being attacked by striking meat‑packing workers and abducted from a hospital. His death remains a stark reminder of Fort Worth’s troubled past, and the new memorial aims to honor his legacy and promote reconciliation.
The transformation of the former Klan hall into a community arts center reflects a broader movement in North Texas to confront historical injustices while investing in cultural and educational opportunities for all residents.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
