Decades since its inception, Lake Arlington stands strong against the tides of time and the persistence of urban legends, particularly one that claims its depths are a resting place for abandoned construction equipment—a tale as intriguing as it is incorrect. Though former Arlington Utilities Director John Kubala, who has since passed, frequently corrected this misconception, it’s a narrative that continues to bubble to the surface with a resilience all its own, according to Arlington author and historian O.K. Carter in a piece published yesterday by the City of Arlington’s website.
The actuality of the lake’s birth paints a scenario less mysterious but not devoid of drama—in the wake of a sudden deluge, an old bridge over Village Creek and a silo were destroyed posthaste to manage the rapidly rising Lake Arlington, as recalled by Kubala in prior interviews. However, myths might cloud the waters, Village Creek itself, along with the reservoir, bears a storied past, the creek being the namesake herald of Native American settlements and a historic battlefield where Gen. Edward Tarrant etched a name later bestowed upon the county, this according to Carter’s research and writing…