The Incredible Story of the Vernon Castle Memorial.

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When you think of pop superstars today, you may picture Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Bruno Mars, or Luis Fonsi. But if you were to live in the turn of the previous century, the first names that would come to mind would likely be Vernon and Irene Castle, a husband-and-wife dance duo known for their versions of โ€œanimal dancesโ€ such as the Grizzly Bear, the Turkey Trot, and the Fox Trot.

The dynamic couple grew to nationwide fame in the pre-World War I era. Itโ€™s been said that the Castle’s popularity soared because they could rework the popular dances into performances that were somewhat sanitized and more palatable for their predominantly Caucasian audience. ย The incredible pair were able to leverage their stardom into book deals and important roles in Broadway musicals and some of the earliest movies.

Though living a rich and famous lifestyle had its perks, Vernon Castle eventually grew disenfranchised with his life of luxury and began to struggle with feelings of guilt over his home country, England, being ravaged by the First World War. Castle joined the Royal Flying Corps and became an officer flying over 300 combat missions. Castle would later receive the French Croix de Guerre (War Cross) for his military accomplishments, including the heroic downing of two German planes.

After the war, the Castles returned to the United States, where Vernon became a flight instructor. On February 15, 1918, Castle flew a plane around a military airfield south of Fort Worth, TX. During the flight, Castle attempted a climb and roll maneuver but could not execute the maneuver due to the engine stalling. Though he was only about 75 feet in the air, Castle could not survive the ensuing crash. Sources say the student on board survived the crash primarily because he had been given the safer rear seat by Castle before take off. Also surviving the crash was Vernonโ€™s pet monkey, Jeffrey.

Though the former military airfield in Benbrook has been transformed into a sub-division full of houses, a monument remains at the crash site. The photo above shows that the monument is marked by a large concrete pylon that emerges from the ground with a small replica of the metal biplane. The artist who created the biplane replica was a Benbrook resident named David Crutchfield. On one side of the monument, visitors can read a poem penned in 1918 by Ruth Finley, which beginsโ€ฆ โ€œHe danced and gave his dearest gift; That little child yet unborn; May dance with gay, unshackled feet; To tunes not piped by Battleโ€™s hornโ€ฆโ€

Source:ย http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/13035

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