By Vicki Baker
It was located in central Denton just south of the town square and extending to Cottonwood and Pecan Creeks. The prosperous working and middle class enclave was home to nearly 60 homes with well tended gardens. There were paved streets, electricity, phone lines, and automobiles. Residents often worked as professionals and business owners.
The area flourished with a school, churches, doctor’s office, grocery store, funeral home, tailor, shoe shop, boarding house, drug store, grocery store, barbershop, blacksmith, restaurants and cafes, and confectionary, as well as the communal organizations of the Masons, the Odd Fellows, and the Knights of Pythias.
It resembled many other neighborhoods in Denton with one exception – all the residents and business owners were Black and formerly enslaved families. This was Quakertown in the 1920's. And in a matter of a few short years, it vanished. It was systemically dismantled by white city officials and leaders and its residents forcibly displaced to make way for a city park and to facilitate the expansion of the College of Industrial Arts (now Texas Women’s University).
Coordinated by the Diversity in Action Committee of Voices United, members attended the premier showing of “Quakertown USA” at the Denton Black Film Festival. Exploring Denton’s Black history through the lens of film maker King Hollis, the documentary chronicled a critical part of our city’s history, one long forgotten. It exemplified this year’s featured theme - “Hope and Courage” – emphasizing the Black community’s ability to navigate difficult journeys, find inner strength, and thrive in the face of adversity.
Voices United knows history is not just a story from the past; it's a guide for our future. The past cannot be changed. But by recognizing past wrongdoings, fostering open dialogue, and advocating for actionable change through civic engagement, we can break the cycle of historical injustices.
Come join Voices United as we take the next steps forward and share progressive values through community outreach, civic awareness, discussion groups, book readings, cultural events, issue-related presentations, and more. We meet monthly on the first Saturday of the month at 11:00 am in the Clubhouse. For more information, visit www.voicesunitedrr.org.