Washingtons philosophy of selfreliance and black entrepreneurship. It sits at 317 west mulberry street, and hosts community events throughout the year. The singlemindedness of the commission and the foundation to preserve denton countys history is the force that makes the park grow. Local industry included the manufacture of cigars, boots, shoes, tools, harnesses, wheel spokes, and stoves. Quakertown park, west of civic center at 321 east mckinney street. The almost 100yearold structure is the last remaining quakertown house in southeast. The boundaries of the community were withers street on the north, mckinney street to the south, vine street on the east, and oakland avenue on the west.
Dec 22, 2017 the denton county historical park is a place for visitors and denton residents to grow and learn together. Historical marker to honor black community that denton. The stories behind the story offer critical reminders why black history month is so. The forced removal of an africanamerican neighborhood and the creation of civic center park. Photograph of three women and a man with puppets on their hands and standing in front of a puppet theater at the civic center park now called quakertown park in denton, texas. Main street where youll find a collection of artifacts and memorabilia from quakertowns 200 year history. The interview includes clarks personal experiences about childhood and education, marrying rev. The tale of the lost community of quakertown your black. Nearly a century later, the story of quakertown is celebrated in denton and is remembered through many sites of memory such as a museum, various texts, and several city, county, and state historical markers. Denton the life and death of the man for whom denton county was named. Friends of mckinney public libraries to explore dentons. Tours from the office of history and culture denton county, texas.
Photograph of flood waters at the denton public library, emily fowler central library. The three sentences that touched base on this event simply said, one of the first necessary steps was that of buying the several pieces of property. Things to see and do modern day denton is a great city. Quakertown park at denton s quakertown park and facilities 8. Information for this biography is from the book, fred moore, by his wife, sadie moore. Were happy you stopped by and encourage you to explore our program, parks, playgrounds, and more. The denton county historical park foundation is currently renovating a house that came from quakertown, in which the denton county african american museum will be housed. Quakertown, denton denton county unt library omeka s. The texas historical commission thc has recognized quakertown as a significant part of denton and denton county history by awarding it an official texas historical marker. Quakertown historical marker dedication discover denton. His shop was located in the current parking lot of the emily fowler.
And yes, these africanamerican heroes should be celebrated. Recently, the dentoncentric documentary when we were all broncos has earned. This riprapstyle interlocking rock ornamental bridge at presentday quakertown park in denton was built by crews with the works progress administration, which later became the works project. Today were gonna look at the true facts behind the historical fiction white lilacs 1993, carolyn meyers novelization of the forced eviction for dentons africanamerican quakertown district during the 1920s.
Bridges 1979 history of denton, in which he discussed the black community within the context of the movement for a city park. Like many women of the progressive period, denton club women had campaigned actively to beautify the city. Produced by the denton festival foundation and sponsored by the city of denton and corporate sponsors, it brings over 200,000 people each year. Willie clark, moving to denton, and participating in denton christian womens fellowship. Feb 16, 2018 denton had 294 initiated klansmen around that time, according to university of north texas graduate history student chelsea stallings 2015 quakertown study. Countless homes, shops, hat works and also several churches and schools were being demolished.
Both the history and memory of quakertown reveal levels. Interview with alma clark, firstgeneration descendant through marriage of quakertown residents, as part of the quakertown oral history project. The denton county historical park is a place for visitors and denton residents to grow and learn together. For many years, the community of quakertown was excluded from local history. Oct 20, 2018 denton county historical park, denton, texas. The other two close to the front of the park next to mckinney about halfway between a city hall and the public pool. Founded on the belief that all forms of art should be made available to the general public free of charge, the event has grown into one of the largest tourist attractions in north texas and remains dentons signature event.
This brief video was filmed shortly after 1986 in front of the emily fowler library and in the civic center park now called quakertown park. Quakertown generated its own electrical power until 1969. Officials say the park episode in the 1920s is a sad chapter but one that shouldnt. City landmarks such as fred moore park and fred moore school were named in his honor. Historical marker to honor black community that denton gutted to create a park. This is a very easy walk across the park to the square perfect for a night out. The park is home to a few of denton countys oldest treasures. The black community in the story was originally where quakertown park is in denton today before they were forced to the outskirts of the town by the white people as told of in the story. Old denton home with a lot of history moved fox 4 news. The denton county office of history and culture will soon begin renovation of a new quakertown house, which will be proudly displayed in the historic park for future generations. Pilecki to write and compile this longawaited history. Juneteenth and beyond the story of the african american presence in texas history follows the familiar script written for every other southern region in the nation. Pecan creek has topped its banks and run up to the southeast back side of the emily fowler library. Historical marker to honor black community that denton gutted to.
Since moving to the opera house, recycled has been a cornerstone of dentons square and an icon of the towns independent and artsloving spirit. Joella orr, the library director, gives the library boards longrange expansion plans for the building as well as other future libraries, including the south branch, and possibly a north branch. In the 1880s, quakertown was a thriving center of black life. Quakertown, tx the handbook of texas online texas state.
And im not saying that just because i live close by. A lonely watchdog in denton suddenly finds new allies as. Quakertown was an africanamerican settlement in denton, from the 1880s to the 1920s, a townwithinatownship built upon booker t. Quakertown historical society quakertown history, bucks. Quakertown was an africanamerican community inside the city of denton in central denton county.
Denton, texas an old home with a lot of meaning made the move to the denton county historical park thursday. The quakertown story went on to become a published booklet. The park was renamed quakertown park in 2006 to honor the community, a move county judge mary horn said was a step in the right direction. The removal of an africanamerican community and the creation of civic center park in denton, texas. See more ideas about denton texas, texas and texas history. See more ideas about denton texas, texas history and texas. The residents were removed by the denton government to make room for civic center park now quakertown park. Jan 27, 20 the park was renamed quakertown park in 2006 to honor the community, a move county judge mary horn said was a step in the right direction. Quakertown, most likely so named for the northern quakers who aided freedmen in the early years of reconstruction, began to form as a separate community within the denton city limits by the mid1870s. Denton has numerous ghosts, but none are as famous as the ghoul of the old alton bridge, built in 1884 to connect alton the county seat prior to denton and lewisville near what is now argyle. Apr 21, 2017 for many years, the community of quakertown was excluded from local history. Produced by the denton festival foundation and sponsored by the city of denton and corporate sponsors, it brings over 200,000 people each year for live music, fine art, food, drink, crafts, and recreation. Fred moore was an honored citizen of denton for many years. So we founded denton local history society and work was begun immediately to record all we could.
The staff were performing a puppet show entitled, the fisherman and his wife during the annual city of denton employees picnic. Wellknown by locals as goatmans bridge, this oldest denton legend has it that a turnofthecentury goat farmer named oscar washburn lived with his family near the bridge and was an honest. Allday camps, three camp locations with registration by the day. Come tour this haunted history of denton square spectres and hear our local ghost stories. Come hear about the haunted history and spooky spectres of the denton square. Renamed civic center park in the 1960s and quakertown park in 2006, most everyone in denton knows of the popular venue for music and arts festivals, trail walks and fun runs. By the mid1800s, slavery played an important role in texas economic development and, in fact, enslaved african americans comprised 30 percent of the states population. Photograph of flood waters at the denton public library. Black families from freeman town, the first black settlement in denton, relocated to quakertown after a black school was opened there in 1878. The quakertown story is indeed a dark chapter of dentons history, but it is also a testament to the inspiring fortitude of the africanamerican heroes who remained in southeast denton to cultivate a new community amidst enduring jim crow discrimination. The only trace of evidence that could be found of the communitys displacement was in a book from 1978 titled history of denton, texas. Francis frith the uks leading publisher of local photographs since 1860. February is africanamerican history month, an important opportunity to look back at dentons own intriguing past. The denton arts and jazz festival has earned a solid reputation for providing the finest in entertainment and art in the north texas metroplex area.
Quakertown park at dentons quakertown park and facilities 8. Potser, a freelance columnist, and pilecki, a high school publications adviser received invaluable cooperation from the quakertown historical society and its curator nancy walp bosworth. They collected oral histories, painting a clearer picture of what the community once was and how it came to an end. The history and memory of quakertown, denton, texas masters thesis lewis, bj. These efforts always need volunteers to help with the preservation, and there is hardly a more worthwhile cause. The denton county historical parks quakertown house was one of the few homes that survived the move from its original location in quakertown to solomon hill.
Quakertown photo gallery the quakertown well wpa federal. Quakertown was originally a settlement of africanamericans in denton, named after the quakers who had helped in the underground railroad. Potser, a freelance columnist, and pilecki, a high school publications adviser received invaluable cooperation from the quakertown historical society and its. Moving to denton, what are the nice neighborhoods to look. In quakertown, lee martins eagerly awaited first novel, martin travels back to 1920s texas to tell the story of a flourishing black community that was segregated. By 1923, quakertown was cleared out and the land became a park. Photos, maps, personal memories and local books of denton. Denton local history society back in 1978 denton was being cut in two by the construction of the m67.
Super close to a big park, several restaurants, and denton square. With an estimated population of 8,541 as of 2018, it is the 24thmost populous city in texas, the 196thmost populous city in the united states, and the 12thmost populous city in the dallasfort worth metroplex. Denton s last will and testament quakertown story by michele glaze the forced removal of an africanamerican neighborhood and the creation of civic center park. Story time with martha edmundson and staff of the denton. Washingtons philosophy of selfreliance and black entrepreneurship the residents were removed by the denton government to make room for civic center park now quakertown park. Like most historic towns, denton is haunted by stories of a forgotten past. Its part of the history of denton that needs to be. A visual guide to the historic quakertown mural denton. The texas association of counties leadership foundation recently gave the african american museum an award because so many schoolchildren, community groups and residents donated funds to build it.
It is within this dynamic that the quakertown story emerges, states an article on denton history page. Featured texts all books all texts latest this just in smithsonian libraries fedlink us genealogy lincoln collection. Today the store fills every corner of the space with thousands of carefully curated books, records, cds, movies, and collectibles. I enjoyed reading this white lilacs is a fictional story based on real historical events set in denton, tx. The quakertown community of denton, texas was a selfsustaining africanamerican. Denton had 294 initiated klansmen around that time, according to university of north texas graduate history student chelsea stallings 2015 quakertown study. Based on the true story of a shameful episode in north texas history, quakertown draws on the rich texture of the souththe pecan creek running along the edges of. Chapters 2, 3, and 4 focus on the history of quakertown. Oral history interview with alma clark, september 29, 2006. Just across the street from the visitor center youll find the home of the first burgess of quakertown. Start your journey at the visitor center located at 21 n. Shaun treat is a former professor at the university of north texas and founder of the denton haunts historical ghost tour. Students will visit the denton county historical park and quakertown park, and. Nearly a century later, the story of quakertown is celebrated in denton and is.
Denton square shops and restaurants golden triangle mall loop 288 fry street denton square highland village have shops, restaurants, library and amc cinemark movies brunswick and university lanes bowling loop 288 target, walmart, fast food chains and many more denton waterworks park dallas fort worth 3040 mins. Denton photos, maps, books, memories francis frith. A texas land grant led to the formation of denton county in 1846, and the city was incorporated in 1866. This riprapstyle interlocking rock ornamental bridge at presentday quakertown park in denton was built by crews with the works progress administration. Additionally, the revival of quakertown s history led local historians to connect with former residents and their family members. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. Martha edmundson is the woman in purple with the microphone. The texas historical commission placed a historical marker at this site in 20. The combination of the railroad and national economic expansion following the civil war changed quakertown from a tiny village to a bustling commercial center. In quakertown, lee martin travels back in time to 1920s texas to tell the story of a flourishing black community that was segregated from its white brethrenand of the remarkable gardener who was asked to do the unimaginable. Denton is a city in and the county seat of denton county, texas, united states.
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