On the Record - Denton Old and New by North Texas Daily

ON THE um Vol e3 .

Then and Now

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Denton:

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The Life of John B. Denton The Minister, Militiaman who Became the City’s Namesake Sam Bass: The Texas Thief Find Out Where the Outlaw Hid His Loot Best Historic Landmarks Our Picks for Denton County’s Top Spots From its Past

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Dear

UNT students,

Welcome to the new academic year! I have enjoyed getting to know so many of you this past year and am excited about the new students joining us. I am here to help you reach your goals.

UNT is a big campus but maintains an environment where each individual counts. You can depend on your UNT family to help you, from your professors to your advisors to your fellow students. We promise you a high-quality education and a fulfilling college experience so you can learn and grow. The quality of your education also depends on you, so take care of yourself by: • Asking questions. • Getting to know your professors. Just go up after class and introduce yourself. • Remembering that we are not teaching anything that you can’t learn (we screened you before we admitted you), but you may have to go over it more than once before it sticks. • Taking advantage of the opportunities to do research, study abroad and get involved in student organizations. This is going to be an especially fun year as we open UNT’s Mean Green Stadium. This is a world-class, one-of-a-kind venue where we can cheer on the Mean Green. I hope to see students filling the stands all season, starting with our first home game Sept. 10 and at Homecoming Oct. 22, which includes festivities all week long. And be sure to check out our new Business Leadership Building. This state-of-the-art building is a great example of how technology, innovation and collaboration can enhance your learning. I’m also excited that the old Business Administration Building is now a one-stop location for students to get support services such as tutoring, testing and information about everything from academic scholarships to study abroad programs. There are plenty of ways to connect with other Eagles and keep up with UNT news and events: • Facebook.com/NorthTexas • Twitter.com/UNTNews • If you are a new UNT student, use our new Facebook app, UNT Inigral, to connect to new students with similar interests and majors. • UNT To Go, our new mobile web application, helps you keep UNT at your fingertips. You can find out the latest Mean Green sports scores, learn about upcoming events, watch UNT videos and much more. To visit UNT To Go, open m.unt.edu in your phone’s web browser. I’m excited that you are all here. UNT is at the right place at the right time to become a top university. Together, we are going to make great things happen.

Sincerely,

V. Lane Rawlins President

What’s Inside... News

Best of Denton

On the Record’s picks for the city’s top historic landmarks

Catastrophes

Union

Future

Fry History

Floods, tornados and ice cold conditions are part of Denton’s past Examining the eventful history of the UNT Union Building Find out about the plan that will shape downtown Denton

Breaking down this iconic street’s beginnings and future

Features Courthouse

Quakertown

Fellows

Women

Sam Bass

A 115-year-old functional clock sits atop this Denton symbol

Learn why residents of this former settlement were forced to move Denton’s second oldest fraternity has served the city for 150 years

Discovering a Denton resident’s ties to the Roe v. Wade court case

The story of an infamous Texas’ outlaw and his hideaways

Bonnie & Clyde

People

Memories of the duo live on throughout North Texas

Shedding light on the sagas of three Denton founding fathers

Cover Story

What’s Inside...

John B. Denton

Looking inside the life and contributions of the city’s namesake

Explore Goatman

Photo Story

Centennial

Racism leads to a chilling ghost story at Old Alton Bridge Denton’s changes over the course of two centuries come to life

Residents celebrate their city’s 100th birthday

Past Headlines Old articles capture some of Denton’s strangest moments

26 33

Experience Armistice and Fair

Campus Chat

Traditions

Museum

Deserted Building

A reflection on two memorable Denton festivities

Residents’ thoughts on potential historic landmarks

30 32

The Mean Green spirit is on display with these UNT customs Exhibits shed light on Denton’s past

Abandoned structure was once used as a firehouse

Information Trivia, Music, By the Numbers Find answers to our trivia questions and learn music facts

Editor’s Letter: If you drive the speed limit about 10 miles west of Denton on Highway 380, it’s easy to miss the tiny town of Stony. Deep within the heart of Denton County, it’s home to a man who has dedicated his life to saving North Texas historic buildings from destruction. Bill Marquis, owner of Marquis Restoration and Preservation, works with old-fashioned tools and authentic materials to bring decaying, yet important, historic buildings back to life.

Exploring Denton As a rookie staff writer at the NT Daily, I stumbled across Bill while reporting on the grand opening of the Denton African American Museum, which he restored. I had no idea who Bill was or what this man in his 60s could accomplish. However, after seeing the resurrected structure on Sycamore Street, I had to find out more about his craft. Looking back, had I not dug deeper, I never would have known he owns one of the most seminal structures in Denton History — the oldest house in Denton County. The 16- by 6-foot log cabin is known as the Vaughan-Christal cabin, built in 1836 by early pioneer Jonathan Bird (the namesake of Birdville ISD in Tarrant County). Bill saved the cabin from developers and weather so that school children, day-trippers and any curious history lover could see it in its original form on his property. In our previous interview, Bill told me,

“This cabin holds great significance to me, but it means so much to so many people. They were the ones who I really saved it for.” It’s people like Bill who bridge the gap between the past and present — telling the story of Denton, then and now.

Present-Day Denton For many people, Denton is just a stopping place along the course of their lives. Although they may not have grown up here or plan to end up here, Denton is where many can claim some of their most memorable years. When you live in a place, it becomes part of you in some way. It’s important to be engaged in its history and heritage, if only to enrich your life even more.

What You’ll Find This edition of On the Record tells the stories of Denton’s founding fathers and their struggles in building this city from the ground up. They worked with their bare hands, like Bill, to build something that future generations could be proud of. Along the way, there were less-thanreputable people who lived outside the law. At one time, “Sam Bass” was more than just a UNT bus line and a street name. He was an infamous train robber and cattle thief who preyed on local railways and ranchers. The notorious robbers, Bonnie and Clyde, also stormed their way through Denton, only to to featured decades later in a film about their lives, which premiered at the Campus Theatre.

We have also included a Best Historical Landmarks guide based on historical impact, intrigue and significance. We highly suggest you take time to explore some of these places on a day you can appreciate them. Throughout this magazine, you’ll find more people and places that are significant threads in the fabric of Denton culture. As you amble through the streets and observe things around you, remember you’re creating your own historic journey. Read through this magazine to discover a little more about how we got here to help grasp a better sense of where we are going.

Shaina Zucker Editor-in-Chief

What I’ve Learned From This Edition: 1. All the words to the UNT Fight Song. 2. Denton was named after John B. Denton because he died defending the townspeople from Native Americans. 3. The alleged Curse of Sam Bass Cave was actually disease carrying ticks that lived in the caves. 4. The courthouse was burned to the ground twice — once on purpose and once by lightening. 5. The deadliest tornado tore through Denton, killing 10 and injuring 200 in 1957.

Make the most of your enhanced Mean Green Card The University of North Texas and Wells Fargo have teamed up to bring you the enhanced Mean Green Card¹

2011

Lisa Student Student

1. Personalize it Take your picture at the

Campus ID Systems Office Eagle Student Services Center 1st Floor 940-565-4481

2. Order it

Visit the local Wells Fargo banking location and ask for an enhanced Mean Green Card when you open a Wells Fargo College Checking® account². Wells Fargo - UNT UNT University Union 3rd Floor 940-384-6500 Monday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

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3. Use it

• As your official student ID • For campus privileges • For free access to cash at Wells Fargo and Wachovia ATMs nationwide • To make purchases anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted

It’s your campus ID and a Visa debit card ¹ The enhanced Mean Green Card is a Visa debit card issued by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. ² Eligibility subject to approval. Students must provide proof of enrollment at an accredited institution when the account is opened. $100 minimum opening deposit required to open a new checking account. Monthly service fee waived when linked to your enhanced Mean Green Card. Information contained in this document is subject to change. Printed August 2011. © 2011 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC.

Meet the Staff Sean Gorman Managing Editor

“I was shocked to find that the Denton courthouse burned down twice, once by a member of Sam Bass’ gang.”

Senior Staff Writers Isaac Wright Ashley-Crystal Firstley Alex Macon

Senior Staff Photographers James Coreas Chelsea Stratso

Sara Jones Visuals Editor

“It came as a surprise to me that the UNT name has changed as many as six times.”

Sydnie Summers Design Editor

“I think the story about how John B. Denton was buried three diffrent times is really interesting.”

Senior Staff Designer Samantha Guzman

Staff Writers Pablo Arauz Nicole Balderas Matthew Malone Brett Medeiros Ann Smajstrla Alicia Warren Alex Young

Contributing Writer Josh Pherigo

Staff Photographers Justin Curtin Jun Ma Brian Maschino

Best of Denton: H 1. Campus Theatre

2. Silk Stocking Row

Location: 214 W. Hickory St. Then: The vibrant pink and green neon lights of the

Location: 609 W. Oak St. - 1100 W. Oak St. Then: As one of the first established roads in Denton, Oak

Campus Theatre’s unmistakable vertical marquee have made it one of the most recognizable landmarks in Denton County. Located just off the courthouse square, the Campus Theatre first opened in 1949 as a state-of-the-art movie house geared to attract the city’s growing student population. It remained in operation as a working movie theatre until 1985. Now: The Denton Community Theatre bought the property in 1990, and after a $2 million renovation project, more than 1200 people showed up for the grand re-opening in 1995. It’s served as the permanent home of the city’s performing arts program ever since. Last summer the Theatre was designated an official Texas State Historic Landmark. Highlights: In 1967, the theatre hosted the world premiere of “Bonnie and Clyde,” which was filmed throughout the Denton area.

Street predates even the founding of the city it runs through. Many of the city’s early civic and industrial leaders constructed lavish Victorian-styled homes on the street, and by the turn of the century the neighborhood had developed a fashionable reputation. Now: Many of the century-old homes still remain, encompassing a historic district whose neighborhood street signs now bear the names of many of the homes’ original occupants. The Denton Historic Commission distributes a pamphlet that offers detailed information on the most notable homes and includes a map to assist in self-guided tours. Highlights: The Scripture-Davenport home, located at 819 W Oak St., is a recorded Texas State Historic Landmark. this mission-style home was built by local grocer, Robert C. Scripture in 1885.

3. Old Alton Bridge Location: Near the intersection of Old Alton Road and Teasley Lane and about 5 miles south of Interstate-35 E. Then: This 145-foot steel bridge spans Hickory Creek in a wooded part of Southeast Denton. At the time of its construction in 1882 it served as an important link to Dallas. Now: The bridge is considered architecturally significant because it’s one of the state’s last remaining examples of a Pratt through-truss bridge, which was once a popular bridge manufacturer in Texas. It is listed in the national register of historic places. Highlights: Locally, Old Alton is better known as “Goatman’s Bridge,” a nickname given to the bridge based on a legend that the bridge is haunted by the ghost of a black goat farmer who was murdered by the Ku Klux Klan on the bridge at the turn of the century. The bridge attracts paranormal investigators from across the country. For more information on the Goatman legend, visit www.goatmansbridge.com.

4. Silver Spur Saloon Location: Downtown Roanoke 15 miles South of Denton off of State Highway 377. Then: During its early years as a frontier town in the 1880s, Roanoke was a lively stop for traveling cattlemen and railroad workers. The Silver Spur Saloon, located in the historic Rock Building featured a saloon, dance hall and upstairs brothel, providing the colorful entertainment of Wild West living. Now: After the saloon closed, the building served as a doctor’s office, café, grocery store and hardware store. Today the Rock Building, a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, houses the Roanoke v isitor center and museum. Highlights: To satisfy state laws of the day, an outside staircase was added to the upper floor of the Silver Spur, allowing the “gentlemen” customers to visit the brothel more discreetly and separating it from the main saloon.

Historic Landmarks

-Josh Pherigo, Contributing Writer

4 PHOTOS BY CHELSEA STRATSO AND JAMES COREAS/SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS AND COURTESY OF SILVER SPUR SALOON. MAP COURTESY OF GOOGLE MAPS

Photo by James Coreas/senior staff PhotograPher

Denton Disasters

The City’s History of Extreme Weather While Denton doesn’t sit on an active fault line or along the Gulf Coast in the path of hurricanes, the city resides in Tornado Alley and is no stranger to treacherous weather. As many native Texans know, the weather in the Lone Star State can be unpredictable. In Denton, this translates into harsh winters, sweltering summers and a year-round threat of storms.

When it Rains, it Pours High waters damaged about 100 Denton homes and businesses in April 2007, when Denton County received 5 to 10 inches of rain in only two hours. No deaths were reported from the f looding, but the high water cost the county a total of $3 million in damages. Denton Mayor Mark Burroughs said Denton’s drainage system is in need of improvement so heavy rains won’t bring the city to a standstill. The problem, Burroughs said, is the costs necessary for such a project. “It takes a vastly disproportionate amount of capital expenditures to address even relatively small areas of the city,” Burroughs said. 12 News

Following the 2007 flood, the city invested more than $7,000,000 to hire contractors to repair parts of the drainage system. For a full list of the improvements and when they will be complete, visit www. cityofdenton.com.

Tornados Denton sits at the southern edge of Tornado Alley, the large swath of Middle America plagued by a volatile combination of pressure systems flowing across the Great Plains. In 2011, the U.S. has suffered the deadliest tornado season since 1953 with more than 500 people killed by tornadoes. The U.S. also saw its single deadliest tornado this year in Joplin, Missouri — a storm that tore apart nearly a third of the town and left 120 people dead. According to the National Weather Service, the deadliest Denton tornado killed ten people and injured 200 in 1957.

Frigid Temps Stop Denton Cold Few Denton residents guessed they would need chains on their tires just to ntdaily.com

drive down ice-covered streets in early February this year. Cynthia Northrop White, public information officer supervisor for the Texas Department of Transportation, said 2011 was among the worst winters she has ever seen in North Texas and created especially treacherous driving conditions. “We’ve had ice on the roads before, of course,” White said. “But, usually, it’s there for a day or two, then the temperatures get above freezing and it’s all gone. This last winter, we were below freezing for five days.” Denton’s average snowfall is just 2 inches, according to the National Weather Service in Fort Worth. Though the 2009-2010 winter season saw a record breaking 24 hour snowfall of 12.5 inches and the second greatest total snowfall with 13.5 inches, the 2010-2011 winter season brought below freezing temperatures that lingered for nearly a week. In early 2007, the National Weather Service reported the area stayed below freezing for around 84 hours — around three and a half days. -Isaac Wright, Senior Staff Writer On The Record

Union: Through the Ages Acting as aAmong place forthe students on campus rate. 119 calls about K2 to the center to visit between daily, theJan. UNT building has 1 Union and July 14 were 22 indications of experienced change expansion during vomiting, 12 and of hallucinating and 3 indications its history of more than 100 years. of coma. Many users became extremely agitated,

Photo by Justin Curtin/staff Writer

nervous and have problems breathing, accord-

Making Memorial ing of to the the data.

Plans for a Student Memorial In June, an Iowa teen whoUnion smoked K2 apparBuilding at UNT began in 1928, ently suffered a panic attackwhen and fatally shot alumnihimself, announced a drive raise according toto the Desfunds Moines Register. for it. The building was dedicated UNTand young Police say countless othertoteens alumniadults military veterans. have used the drug as a catalyst to get The Memorial was high, onlyUnion to land in completed the hospitalinnot under1949, on the 50thhow anniversary the estabstanding they gotof there. lishment of UNT as atostate institution. According the Texas center, 89 percent the construction period, Crumley of the exposures during the first halfDuring of A Fresh Hall was used as a temporary union. thisStart year were from inhalation, with abuse The listed Memorial was of the It was completed in March 1976. as the Union reason.Building Only 6 percent demolished in 1963 to build a facility that More renovations came in 1997. A food exposures were said to be unintentional. would fit UNT’s growing student popula- court “If someone has any symptoms, they was built on the first floor, and a tion. Construction onER thefor second Union seating area was created where a faculty are sent to the IV fluids and benzodiazepine,” began the samesaid. year. and staff lunchroom had been. Yudizky Expansion thepeople new union was if they need help, Policefor want to call them approved in 1973 with people a $7 million Plans and fear that young will not doFuture so because they budget.are scared or don’t want to get their friends The Union will be renovated as part of into trouble, especially if there is multiple drug use involved. “With marijuana you know the results,” said State Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano. “With this, it’s a potpourri … and you have no idea what those chemicals contain. The package itself says ‘not for human consumption.’ That should be a warning for anybody.” Shapiro said that a bill to ban the manufacture and sale of K2 in Texas is a possibility. Currently in early drafting stages, the bill could be passed during the next session, January 2011. Even if the bill does pass, it may not go into effect for a year. That’s why, Shapiro said, many cities are passing ordinances to ban the sale and possession of K2 now. The fine for breaking a city ordinance is $500. Nearby cities that have banned K2 include Mansfield, Allen, Sulphur Springs, McKinney and Plano. Dallas is considering a ban. “The problem is, it’s such a new product, and it’s happened so quickly,” she said. “We don’t even know what the long-term effects are … Those are frightening things, and we know so little about it.” Until then, police say, it’s difficult to handle the problem because it is legal. In Denton, a person can’t get in trouble for having K2, but they can if they are high and an obvious danger to themselves or others. “If we can tell you’re impaired, you could go to jail for public intoxication. It’s called PI-Other,” Grelle said. “We are most definitely trying to get the word out to not use K2.”

UNT’s Master Plan, which also includes a new parking garage. The plan will use sustainable environmental building practices, but no costs have been determined yet. “We’re looking to do a March 2012 referendum for all students to participate,” said Photo co Zane Reif. Union Director urtesy of Mari

n Nikolo

v/cc

- Nicole Balderas, Staff Writer

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Downtown Denton Develops After 154 years of existence, Denton continues to expand, especially downtown. Ron Menguita, Development Review Liaison for the City of Denton said the area will experience short term changes created in the Downtown Implementation plan. “The biggest thing that came out of those plans was growth management,” Menguita said. “We want to make sure we get development, but at the same time manage our resources.” The May 2011 Statistical Trends and News of Denton report said Denton is ranked 13 among the top 25 fastest growing cities in the nation for populations over 100,000 persons.

Downtown Plan The purpose of the city’s Downtown Implementation Plan is to draw businesses downtown and to create a unique

atmosphere for the area. The plan, which can be found at the City of Denton website, includes a summary of the current state of downtown and suggestions for the area’s infrastructure and land. Suggestions include adding new buildings in accordance with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria, incorporation of pedestrian-friendly sidewalks and walkways and the adoption of a uniform street de sig n, a mong others. The new Denton Cou nt y Tra nsit Authority A-Train station was part of the Downtown I mplement at ion plan.

Menguita said the development will begin on Hickory Street, and then will continue to the rest of the downtown area. “In four years, five years, we want people to say, ‘Our downtown is so amazing, it’s got all these new shops and restaurants,’” Menguita said. -Ann Smajstrla, Staff Writer

Development

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Fry Street Before and After In the 1920s, Denton’s Fry Street was considered the city’s cultural core. Brooks Dairy and Eagle Café were among the first businesses established on the street. The well-known street was originally a fairground, but evolved into an epicenter of Denton. Its proximity to the North Texas State Teachers College, now called UNT, helped create the change.

Fry’s Second Coming The second evolution of Fry Street happened more gradually. The grocery stores, shoe shops and beauty parlors that occupied the bustling city block were slowly replaced with restaurants, bars, music

venues and other establishments fitting a developing college town.

Looking to Fry’s Future Starting this summer, Fry Street will undergo another major reinvention as it transforms into the Fry Street Village — a project spearheaded by real estate company Axis Realty. “It will be primarily a student housing project, but there will be approximately 12,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space on the first floor facing Hickory Street,” said Alex Payne, the principle broker for Axis Realty. In addition to the new retail space, the

1869

1880

The Fry family name appears in the history books with Lewis Fry.

Fry Street area is used as a city fairground.

four-story-tall Fry Street Village will house 914 residential units, a five-story parking garage, three courtyards and a pool, according to the Fry Street Village Plan. “It’s definitely going to change the look of Fry Street,” said Lou Delaney, the owner of Lucky Lou’s Bar. “But it’s nice to see something finally happening with that empty lot.” The empty lot was formerly home to businesses like The Campus Barbershop, Mr. Chopsticks, and The Tomato — all of which have relocated since real estate company United Equities purchased the lot in May 2006. -Matt Malone, Staff Writer

2006 Real estate company, United Equities, purchases Fry Street properties.

2010 Work begins on upcoming Fry Street Village Project.

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Courthouse Anchors Community Framed in the middle of the Denton Square is a three-story 19th century cream and pink courthouse that’s been considered the sparkling jewel of Denton for the last 114 years. The Denton courthouse, also known as courthouse-on-the-square, has survived two fires, two restorations and still overlooks the Square. No other place in Denton resembles the courthouse, said Gretel L’Heureux, tourism and education director of the courthouse. “The center of Denton is really here,” L’Heureux said. “This is where it all started.”

Restoration What started as a meeting place under a tree just south of Denton became a log cabin in Alton. Over time, three other buildings replaced the log cabin as Denton’s courthouses on the square, L’Heureux said. The first official courthouse was a wooden two-story frame structure in 1875 where the Candy Store on Oak Street is today, but it was burned down. A partner of outlaw Sam Bass allegedly lit a fire in hopes of destroying court records. The courthouse was originally used 16 Features

as a 16th judiciary court, L’Heureux said. All trials were held there and criminals were kept in the basement before going in front of the judge. Its replacement was built two years later as a two-story brick building with a tall central tower where the new courthouse resides now. The building was struck by lightning and burned again, lasting only 18 years. The courthouse was constructed one final time and completed in 1897 by Tom Lovell. It was made of limestone from Ganzer farm, pink granite and red sandstone at a cost of $179,000. To accommodate the growing population and to correct building issues, many renovations have been made, including the removal of the elevator shaft. “In the process of doing all those things it [the courthouse] started to look kind of funny because it had a certain character,” L’Heureux said. “All the beautiful wood and the stone, it’s like a castle.” Horses and buggies carried each stone, and the sandstone bases of the 82 granite columns surrounding the building were handcrafted next to the courthouse’s construction. L’Heureux said the stairs, banisters and clock are still original but the floors ntdaily.com

and ceilings are replicas. “Imagine. This is all just prairie,” L’Heureux said. “There’s not even that many people living here in Denton and it’s all just horses and buggies. No cars, nothing else. No plumbing, no nothing. And they’re building this building. It’s incredible.”

The Courthouse Today The courthouse is now used for making decisions on issues concerning voting, infrastructures, jails and the health department in the commissioner’s courtroom on the second floor. Judge Mary Horn, the courthouse’s first female judge, has an office across the courtroom. The commissioners’ offices are on the third floor but aren’t used much, L’Heureux said. Administrative manager of the Denton Historical Commission Roslyn Shelton said her fascination of the courthouse rests at the 114-year-old clock tower that still ticks. The Denton Courthouse Museum runs on the first floor. “Anything that has this wonderful past that gives us a feeling of our roots is very special because it goes back so many years,” L’Heureux said. -Ashley-Crystal Firstley, Senior Staff Writer On The Record

Quakertown’s Quagmire Denton Settlers Were Forced to Relocate

Although Quakertown Park now serves as a 32-acre recreational field for city events, more than a hundred years ago, it was Denton’s first African-American settlement. The area was named for abolitionist Quakers who helped slaves escape the South on the Underground Railroad. According to the Denton County website, Quakertown was founded in 1875 by about 27 African-American families. These families moved to the Denton area from Dallas in search of a better life, and by the 1880s had built a thriving community. By 1910, more than 50 families inhabited Quakertown. The settlement continued to grow as the residents built churches, homes and businesses along Oakland Avenue and McKinney Street. Despite a strong foundation, the community was short-lived. Around 1920, grass roots campaigns to remove Quakertown emerged because the College of Industrial Arts, now TWU, feared its proximity to Quakertown would hurt the school’s chances of accreditation. In January 1921, a petition was formed, calling for Quakertown to be purchased and converted into a city park. “Unfortunately, Quakertown was removed in 1921,” said Paula Mears, a museum guide at the Denton County African-American Museum. “The city of Denton voted to convert the town into a park on April 5, 1921. The residents of Quakertown had little to no say in the matter, but they were paid for their property.” The Denton County African-American Museum occupies an original Quakertown home that was relocated and restored after Quakertown’s removal. In addition to a doctor’s office, a funeral home and several African-American-owned businesses, Quakertown was home to one of the first African-American schools in America. Frederick Douglas Moore, a local barber, was troubled by the lack of education On The Record

options for African-Americans in Denton. He decided to dedicate himself to education, and after passing the teacher’s exam, he became principal of the Quakertown School in 1915. After the removal of Quakertown, Moore remained dedicated to improving the school system. His career in education lasted 40 years. The Fred Moore High School and Fred Moore Park were named in his honor. “The story of Quakertown is both inspirational and regrettable,” Mears said. “The African-American doctors, teachers and families of Quakertown helped form Denton’s rich African-American history, but the removal of the community is one of the more unfortunate events in Denton’s past.” -Matt Malone, Staff Writer

Photos by Chelsea stratso/senior staff PhotograPher

ntdaily.com

Features 17

Photo courtesy of the Denton InDePenDent orDer of oDD fellows

Cemetery and Service Three years ago, the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church called Linda Hackler of the Denton Independent Order of Odd Fellows for help to unload 600 pumpkins for its annual Fall Festival. Hackler and other members of the I.O.O.F. were initially unaware of the number of pumpkins but still took each pumpkin and helped decorate for the event. As the second oldest fraternity in Denton, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows has continued its duty to serve the community to aid others for 150 years. “We are the most active lodge in the state of Texas,” said Hackler, secretary of Denton I.O.O.F.

They Were Rather “Odd” I.O.O.F. is known for its name because during the 17th century, people considered it odd to find residents gathering to help others for the benefit of mankind, according to the organization’s website, ioof.org. Its principles were founded on the ideals of friendship, love and truth carrying the responsibility “to visit the sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead and educate the orphan,” according to Denton Lodge, No. 82, IOOF: A History, 1859-2009, a book written by former member Tom Reedy in 2009. In 1859, five Denton residents petitioned 18 Features

to have an I.O.O.F. Lodge in Denton County, according to the book. A charter was finally issued and the lodge was instituted that same year, as I.O.O.F. Lodge, No. 82.

I.O.O.F. Cemetery Later in 1859, one of I.O.O.F.’s 15 original members, James M. Smoot, donated five and a half acres for a cemetery to fulfill the groups’s obligation to bury the dead, according to the book. Lots were sold to members and the general public at an annual tax rate of 50 cents per lot, $2 for a half-block or $3 for a full block of ten lots, according to the book. As space became limited, more land was bought—7.5 acres in 1883, 6.5 acres in 1916 and 4 acres in 1924. I.O.O.F. sustained the cemetery for 60 years before donating it to the City of Denton in 1933, according to the book. It continues to rest on the east side of Carroll Boulevard. About 5,800 bodies are buried, including I.O.O.F. members, pioneer Denton County settlers, local and state elected officials and veterans of wars.

Helping Others Every year I.O.O.F. hosts a dinner for law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and veterans. They also award scholarships to students. Reedy said I.O.O.F. donates money to ntdaily.com

anyone, if it’s toward a charity-related cause. Local children’s sports teams show their appreciation by donating trophies and plaques to Denton’s I.O.O.F.

Projects Sponsored by I.O.O.F. World Eye Bank United Nations Pilgrimage for Youth Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers Odd Fellow and Rebekah Homes Friendship Towers Kidney Foundation Arthritis Foundation Educational Foundation World Hunger and Disaster Fund International Peace Garden Rose Bowl Parade

-Ashley-Crystal Firstley, Senior Staff Writer On The Record

Lady of the Legislature Take a trip to the archives room in Willis Library and it’s easy to see memorabilia from years past at UNT. On the wall hangs a picture of Judge Sarah T. Hughes, the woman to whom the archives is dedicated. She and many other women have passed through Denton and left their mark on the city. As a legislator, judge, political leader and feminist, Hughes lived a life devoted to the social liberalism movement. According to an excerpt from the book “Reinventing the State: Social Liberalism for the 21st Century,” social liberalism focused on various social and economic issues like unemployment and health care. “Even her detractors can agree that one of the things that made Judge Hughes distinctive, and yes, admirable, was that you always knew where she stood,” as quoted from an editorial in the Dallas Morning News. Hughes was born Sarah Augusta Tilghman in Baltimore in 1896. A testament to the dedication she showcased throughout her life, Hughes lived in a tent with her husband George during their last two months of law school to save money for a move to Texas. At age 34, Hughes was primed for her first political campaign as a candidate for the Texas Legislature. She wrote the opinion and was the presiding member of the three-judge panel that overturned Texas’ anti-abortion stat-

utes in the monumental court case Roe v. Wade. Hughes encouraged women to run for public office, and lobbied for and promoted legislation allowing women to serve on juries — a privilege denied in Texas until 1954. In a key moment in U.S. history, Hughes was summoned to Air Force One on Nov. 22, 1963, to administer the presidential oath of office to Lyndon B. Johnson after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. -Nicole Balderas, Staff Writer

PHOTOS COURTESY OF UNT ARCHIVES

More Famous Denton Women Shirley Cothran (Born in 1953)

Cothran was crowned Miss America in 1975, making her Denton’s second Miss America in a five-year span. A Denton resident and UNT graduate, Cothran earned her doctorate from TWU. She currently tours as a motivational speaker.

On The Record

Louise Ritter (Born in 1958)

Ritter qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1986. She was the gold medalist in women’s high jump in 1988. She earned her Bachelor’s in Physical Education from Texas Woman’s University.

ntdaily.com

Phyllis George (Born in 1949)

George, a Denton native, was crowned Miss America in 1971. She later became a television personality on CBS for the programs “NFL Today” and “The Early Show.” George graduated from UNT and received the Distinguished Alumna Award in 1977.

Features 19

Texas’ Most Wanted In Denton’s beginnings, North Texas was a wide, open landscape acting as the stage for the same lawlessness of the Old West romant ici zed by modern films and books. One historical figure known for his pursuits on the prairie was Sam Bass, the train robber who spent t i m e preying on the railways around Denton County and Dallas. Bass’ greatest heist was at the Union Pacific train at Big Spring Station, Neb., in 1877, according to an article in the Frontier Times. A year later, Bass and his gang turned its attention to Texas railways. “He would go f rom Pilot Knob in Denton County d o w n to Round Rock, in between Austin and Sa lado,” sa id Jim 20 Features

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Heath, a member of the Denton County Historical Commission. “Everything from Austin toward Denton was his territory. He drifted back and forth.” Treasure hunters h a v e lon g b e e n convinced that the outlaw’s swift return to robbery after the Union Pacific heist proves he took his $10,000 share, worth $200,000 today, and allegedly hid it in a cave in Denton County. The most common alleged site of the cave is Pilot Knob, a tall cliff face surrounded by trees that can be seen from Interstate Highway 35W about three miles south of Denton. “He liked it up there because he could see out in every direction,” Heath said. “If the law was coming toward him, he could see them no matter which direction they were coming from.” A representative for the landowner of the Pilot Knob area and surrounding ranchland, Petrus Investment in Fort Worth, said the cave was demolished decades ago. Bass botched his last big job in Round Rock after he and his gang were pursued for four months by Texas Rangers. According to

numerous a rticles published in the DRC, Bass planned to rob the bank in Round Rock and use the money to retire in Mexico. The Texas Rangers got a hold of one of his men, however, and knew about the job before he stepped into town. When the outlaw arrived, a Round Rock sheriff deputy attempted to collect the firearms of Bass and his men before he was shot dead by Bass. A fire fight ensued and Bass escaped, but was wounded. The Rangers pursued him and found him in critical condition. Bass died in Round Rock two days later on his 27th birthday, July 20, 1878. It was never confirmed who fired the fatal shot but two different Rangers took credit for it. On his deathbed, he allegedly refused to give law enforcement any information about his men and confessed to the killing of Sheriff Deputy A.W. Grimes, the catalyst for the Round Rock shoot out. “If I killed him [Grimes], then he’s the first man I’ve ever killed,” Bass said, according to historical accounts. -Isaac Wright, Senior Staff Writer PHOTO COURTESY OF DENTON COUNTY MUSEUMS

On The Record

Hiding From the Law From the folk song “The Ballad of Sam Bass” to hushed rumors of his old haunts carrying a curse, few legends are as notorious as Sam Bass, the Texas train robber. Bass earned $10,000 during the heist of a Union Pacific Train, worth $200,000 today, but kept stealing, leading treasure hunters to speculate Bass hid his share of the gold from the law in caves.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DENTON COUNTY MUSEUMS

Sam Bass Cave(s) Few Denton residents are aware of a place known as Sam Bass Cave and even fewer can point it out on a map. Jim Heath, a member of the Denton County Historical Commission, said the cave was located at Pilot Knob, a cliff face surrounded by trees that faces Interstate Highway 35W about three miles south of Denton. However, Richard McCaslin, the chairman of UNT’s history department, said he believed the cave was located at Bolo Point on Grapevine Lake.

An article in the Denton Record Chronicle published in 1947 mentioned a third cave in Roanoke dubbed “Sam Bass Cave.” Heath said Bass’ area of operation was between Austin and Denton. Bass allegedly took refuge in a cave near the Stagecoach Inn in Salado, a small town about 20 miles outside of Austin.

The Curse of Sam Bass Cave A DRC article published in 1947 reported on what it called the ‘curse’ of

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Sam Bass Cave in Roanoke. During separate visits to the cave, seven North Texans fell ill and were rushed to hospitals in Justin and Fort Worth with fevers exceeding 100 degrees. Ticks living in the cave were carriers of a disease called Relapsing Fever. Dr. J.H. Allen of Justin called for the cave to be demolished because people continued to visit it and get sick. -Isaac Wright, Senior Staff Writer

Bonnie and Clyde Pass Through Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, seen as violent criminals during the Great Depression and later sensationalized in popular culture, were well known in Denton long before their names were in lights on the Campus Theater’s marquee. The North Texas Connection Bonnie and Clyde stood alongside bank robber John Dillinger as the face of the violence some turned to to survive the harsh realities of the Great Depression. Jett said the notion that Bonnie was a key part of the duo’s criminal pursuits is more legend than fact. Clyde, one of these ’public enemies’ called North Texas home. Robin Jett, a Lewisville resident and author of “Travel i ng Histor y W it h Bon n ie and Clyde,” said Clyde lived in west Dallas. Jett said some accounts place Clyde’s first foray into his life of crime

took place in the heart of downtown Denton. “On West Oak, just a few blocks from the square, there used to be a gas station,” Jett said. “Some say that he [Clyde] and his brother actually stole

Some say he “[Clyde] and his

brother actually stole the safe from this gas station at around 3 o’clock in the morning.

”

-Robin Jett, Lewisville resident and author of Traveling History With Bonnie and Clyde.

the safe from this gas station at around 3 o’clock in the morning. They were driving erratically and, back then, if

you were driving like that early in the morning, someone was going to stop you.” Jett said the pair was never able to open the safe and were soon set upon by law enforcement. Clyde’s brother was apprehended, but Clyde hid under a house and evaded the law and hitched a ride to Dallas. Off the Path Jet t s a id Da l l a s i s home to “many a Bonnie and Clyde Bridge.” Denton C ou nt y re sident s h ave given one bridge a similar honor. The Ray Roberts Lake State Park is home to remnants of a Depression-era bridge. Local residents named the bridge ‘Bonnie and Clyde Bridge’ because it was believed that the pair used it to travel back and forth to McKinney. -Isaac Wright, Senior Staff Writer

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Denton’s Founding Fathers Joseph A. Carroll Sitting quietly among the hustle and bustle of Denton traffic at the corner of Carroll Boulevard and Hickory Street is a gray six-story structure. Plastered across the front in jet black letters is its name — Joseph A. Carroll Building. Carroll followed his passion for law, becoming a legal adviser and land agent and became known by residents as one of the founding fathers of Denton. He worked on a committee with surveyor Charles Lacy and fellow legal adviser Otis Welch, naming some of Denton’s first streets and deciding how the land would be used. After serving in the Civil War for three years, Carroll was elected district judge. He kept the position for five years before choosing to join the banking business. Carroll’s final contribution to Denton was a one-year tenure as the city’s mayor. -Alex Young, Staff Writer PHOTOS COURTESY OF DENTON COUNTY MUSEUM

Otis G. Welch The founding of Denton could not be discussed without mentioning Otis G. Welch, one of Denton’s earliest legal advisors who literally mapped the city. Welch also served in the military and started Denton’s Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Upon Welch’s arrival in Denton, he began a law firm with fellow lawyer Joseph A. Carroll. There, Welch “took on the duties of transcribing earlier land records into the Denton County Land Office records,” according to Denton Lodge, No. 82, IOOF: A History 1859-2009. Around 1861, he and Carroll drew a map of Denton and planned out its streets to help further expand the city. Welch served as a lieutenant in the Confederate Army 29th Texas Cavalry. -Ann Smajstrla, Staff Writer

Charles Alexander Williams Responsible for the designing of the courthouse in 1896 and the assembly of the Opera House on the Square in 1899, Charles Alexander Williams was an ambitious man who helped bring Denton into the limelight. Williams was born in Crawford County, Arkansas on April 8, 1832. He arrived on Texas soil in 1845 when he moved to what was then Collin County, residing there for seven years before voyaging to Denton, according to History and Reminiscences of Denton County. The Dallas Weekly Herald on January 23, 1869 described Williams as a “genial and gentlemanly general agent to Denton.” -Alex Young, Staff Writer On The Record

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Features 25

A True Pioneer: The There are few verified written accounts of the life of John B. Denton. No photographs or illustrations of the city and county of Denton’s namesake exist. Even his middle name is shrouded in mystery — various accounts claim it’s Barnard, Bunard or Bunyan. Historical accounts agree that John B. Denton was a charismatic preacher, laywer and captain who left an indelible mark on North Texas before his untimely death at the hands of Keechi Native Americans. According to an article in the Frontier Times written by Judge J.M. Deaver in 1931, John B. Denton was born in Tennessee July 26, 1808. After being orphaned at a young age, Denton apprenticed under blacksmith and Methodist minister Jacob Wells, who moved Denton and his new family to Clark County, Ark. Denton ran away at age 12 to work as a deck hand for ships travelling the Mississippi River and returned to Clark County in 1824. According to the Denton Texas Historical Commission, John B. Denton met his wife, Mary Grenlee Stewart, in Clark County. His wife is often credited with teaching him to read and write. “With the faithful help of his wife, he

acquired the rudiments of an education upon which he improved until before his death,” Deaver wrote. “He had become one of the best read and educated men of his day and time.” In 1826, Denton became a Methodist preacher, travelling for 10 years throughout Arkansas and Missouri. It wasn’t until 1836 that Denton became what Deaver called a “loyal and consistent Texan,” and crossed the Red River into the nascent Republic of Texas. Frustrated with the difficulties of establishing a Methodist ministry in the frontier, Denton began a career as a lawyer in Clarksville, Texas. The rhetorical skills he developed as a preacher served him equally well as an attorney. Captain J.C. Terrell described Denton in court in a 1906 book about the early days of Fort Worth as being “as calm, cool and emotionless as if he were an animated statue.” “But every point he made was as clear as the noonday sun,” Terrell wrote. “And he spoke as he shot — to the center every time.” With the wild frontier of Texas dependent on volunteer militias for safety, Denton joined the Texas Militia in 1839, and quickly became a captain.

He fought under the leadership of General Edward H. Tarrant, the namesake of Tarrant County. On May 14, 1841, Denton and a group of volunteers went to seek out a Keechi Native American village responsible for the deaths of a family in Clarksville. Upon trying to take the village, the militia was met with gunfire. “John Denton was instantly killed by a shot through his body as he was raising his rifle to fire,” Deaver wrote. Denton left behind his wife and six children, three of which grew up to be physicians and Methodist preachers like their father. Denton was beloved in Clarksville, apparent by “the cries and screams that awoke the citizens of that town when the first courier arrived with the sad news that the Indians had killed Captain Denton,” Deaver wrote. John B. Denton’s fame only grew in the five years following his death. When the Texas legislature voted to establish a new county on April 11,1846, it seemed fitting the county be named after the man who defended its people against Native Americans. - Alex Macon, Staff Writer

PHOTOS BY JUN MA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER AND COURTESY OF DENTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

26 Cover Story

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On The Record

Story of John B. Denton Denton’s Death Members of the Texas militia hastily buried Denton’s body near a creek in what is now Denton County immediately after his death. In 1856, a group of boys in Denton County found the remains of Captain Denton, identified by survivors of the Native American raid. John Chisum, a rancher in Denton County, took the body and buried it in his yard until 1900, when the Old Settler’s Association of Denton County wanted to bury it in the city of Denton. Dug up for the second time, the remains of Denton were finally laid to rest in the southeast corner of the lawn on the city of Denton’s Courthouse-On-The-Square in a large ceremony on Nov. 21, 1901. Opposite right: An old sketch depicts Denton’s son, Reverend John B. Denton Jr. Top: Denton residents gather at Denton Square for the final burial of John B. Denton Above: An artists sketch portrays Denton’s death at the Battle of Village Creek On The Record

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Cover Story 27

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Story of Denton Specter Tragedy, Legends Characterize Goatman’s Bridge

One of Denton’s most chilling ghost stories surrounds Old Alton Bridge, located near the intersection of Old Alton Road and Teasley Lane. After a tragic and violent event took place there, it has since become known as “Goatman’s Bridge.” In the 1930s, an African-American man and his family moved into a house just north of the bridge. The man, Oscar Washburn, raised and sold goats. He became known around North Texas as a reliable businessman, and earned the nickname “Goatman” from the community. On an August night in 1938, members of the Ku Klux Klan crossed the bridge and kidnapped Washburn from his home. They placed a noose around his neck and threw him over the side of the bridge. Upon seeing that Washburn’s body had disappeared, the Klan returned to his house and murdered his wife and children.

Washburn was never seen after that night and was presumed dead. According to goatmansbridge.com, a website dedicated to paranormal activity at the bridge, “mysterious disappearances” became “alarmingly routine” at the bridge after the incident. One legend claims if residents turn off

their headlights and honk twice before crossing the bridge, they will be met by the Goatman. Another reports a sort of half-man, half-goat creature haunting the woods near the bridge. Others talk of seeing a pair of glowing eyes at the bridge’s end. -Ann Smajstrla, Staff Writer

Denton Then ...

Photos by James Coreas and Chelsea statso/senior staff PhotograPhers and Courtesy of denton County museums

... And Now

Photos courtesy of Denton county MuseuMs

Centennial Celebration After 100 years of existence, Denton commemorated its early years with a centennial celebration from April 21 to April 27 , 1957. Festivities included a parade, fireworks and costumed residents gathering at the Courthouse-on-the-Square. Various members of the Denton community acted out “The Centurama,” a play on the history of Denton showcasing “100 Years of Progress.” Split into 18 episodes, “The Centurama” covered everything from the city’s role in the Civil War to the construction of the Opera House on the Square, according to the event’s program. Former Denton Mayor Jack Bryson encouraged residents to get into the spirit of the event and dress up in old-fashioned apparel for the celebration. Men without beards, ties and top hats were thrown into a mock jail until they paid a 5-cent fine. Several Denton organizations, including churches, businesses and schools, came to support the celebration, entering floats in the parade and joining either the “Brothers of the Brush” or the “Centennial Belles.” Former Texas Governor Price Daniel attended the parade and the naming of the Centennial Queen, 18-year-old Denton High School senior Patsy Pitner. “Dr. Livelong’s Medicine Show,” a comedic parody of traveling medicine 32 Explore

shows common in the U.S. at the time, arrived at the Courthouse-on-the-Square in a donkey-pulled wagon. Homer B. Bronstad of Denton High School acted as Livelong, peddling his patented “Over the Top Tonic.” The event concluded with the last act of “The Centurama,” called “The Wheel of Progress,” followed by the national anthem and a fireworks display. Harwell V. Shepard, former president of the Denton Centennial Commission, wrote in the event’s program that in the last 10 decades, the world had seen enormous change. ntdaily.com

“We believe that Denton and Denton County have been in the van of this progress,” Shepard said. “And that our own progress has been due in great measure to the pioneering spirit, the courage and the love of freedom exemplified by such God-fearing men as John B. Denton, for whom our county and city were named.” Lighthearted and entertaining, the celebration reflected on Denton’s hundredyear history with the hope that the “Wheel of Progress” would continue turning for another hundred years. -Alex Macon, Senior Staff Writer On The Record

Headlines From History Denton has more than 150 years of history under its belt, making it tough to single out all the bizarre events that have happened since its founding. These articles from more than 100 years ago tell the story of some of Denton County’s oddest occurrences. -Sean Gorman, Managing Editor

Hunting for Hidden Treasure

Meeting With a Meteor

Coming Across an Old Campsite

A Dallas Morning News article from Jan. 17, 1899, shed light on one of Denton’s as-yet-unsolved mysteries. According to the article, residents heard rumors of buried treasure in west Denton and hidden silver buried west of Aubrey. The story said travelers from Mexico hid a bar of silver underground long before the founding of Denton, and a man riding a covered wagon found the bar and kept it for himself. The man never confirmed if he had taken the treasure, so residents continued the hunt to no avail.

The DMN reported on Dec. 15, 1908, that a meteor “apparently as big as the moon” sailed over Denton, casting a shadow over the city at 6 a.m. Residents claimed small particles broke away from the meteor, which was reportedly seen above the northwestern horizon and disappeared in the southeast. Residents of Weatherford claimed the “monster meteor” lit up the town with a glare strong enough to light up rooms with shades drawn over the windows.

The city of Sherman was left confused when, on Aug. 21, 1897, the DMN reported that Health Officer Charles May found an old campsite that had not been used for years. A bois d’arc tree was found in the woods next to the site and appeared to be used as a reference point for t he ca mpers, ma rk ing t heir spot to set up. W ho used the camp, when they set up and what became of them remains a mystery, as the campers never returned to the site.

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Denton’s Post-War Party When the Allies of World War I and Germany settled on a peace agreement to end the war Nov. 11, 1918, Denton residents came together and rejoiced as a city. According to Georgia Caraways and Kim Cupit’s “Images of America: Denton” Mayor Paul Beyette deemed the day a holiday and requested for all public schools and businesses close to rejoice the event. More than 2,000 residents paraded on the Denton Square and fireworks were set off in response to the ending of the war. According to the U.S. Army Center of Military History, President Woodrow Wilson deemed the day Armistice Day, a national holiday honoring American soldiers. Years later, on June 1, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation that renamed the holiday Veteran’s Day, an annual holiday that exists to this day. -Sean Gorman, Managing Editor

Photo courtesy of Denton county MuseuMs

Fireworks were set off from the courthouse to celebrate the end of World War I on Nov. 11, 1918.

County Fair Revival Denton’s con nect ion to it s histor y of horsing has been on display since the founding of the Denton County Fair in the late 1800s. After the fair was discontinued because of the cit y’s financia l issues, it returned 25 years later, was renamed and has been held annually to this day.

Fans lined up for the horse race on t he track, located on West Chestnut Street. The city sold the property to help pay off its debt and discontinued the fair temporarily in 1903, according to the book “Images of America: Denton” by Georgia Carway and Kim Cupit.

First Years of the Fair

Following the fair’s absence for more than two decades, interest in it trickled back into the minds of Denton County residents in the early 1920s. Denton County took the first step to reviving the fair with the creation of the Denton County Fair Association in 1928.

The first Denton County Fair came in 1895 after the Denton County Blooded Stock and Fair Association was organized May 16 of that year. The group hosted the fair and a horse race on Avenue A and Hickory Street near North Texas Normal College.

On The Record

Festivities Return

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The fairgrounds were moved to a 13-acre area at the intersection of East Hickory and Exposition St reets a nd returned in 1930, according to Caraway’s and Cupit’s book. For twelve years, the fair was held annually until a four-year closure because of World War II. Dr. W.C. Kimborough paved the way for future fairs with a 22-acre donation of land near University Drive for the event to be held. A name change in 1958 changed the title of the event to the North Texas State Fair, a festival held annually to this day. - S e a n G or m a n , Ma n a g in g Editor

Explore 35

Earlena Warren

Here’s what our Twitter followers said would be a landmark in the future:

Ilan Cane Business Junior

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@ntdaily Dan’s Silverleaf Sweetwater Bar and Grill - Beth Marie’s

JUmberson

A: The Murchison because it’s a unique looking building.

@ntdaily the palace-sized home near the end of Teasley

A: Voertman’s will be a historic landmark because he will leave millions to UNT.

lancedapantz

@ntdaily The UNT College of Music ;)

Katherine Kiraly Radio, television and film Senior A: The new animal shelter because it’s going to be ground-breaking.

Matthew Wills Radio, television and film Junior

-James Coreas, Senior Staff Photographer

Campus Chat

A: I think the new stadium will be a landmark because it’s already becoming a Denton icon.

Q: What places in Denton are going to be landmarks in 50 years? Timothy Malone History Junior

A: Fouts Field since Mean Joe Green played there.

Mindy Briann Bailey General studies Junior A: The Drug Emporium because it is the last of its kind.

Visit NTDaily.com for other stories about Denton County’s background — Old and New.

Traditions Mirror UNT Spirit Texas colleges all have their own traditions — Texas A&M has the Aggie Bonfire, University of Texas has Bevo the longhorn and Texas Tech has the Carol of Lights. While UNT isn’t as well known as its Texas counterparts when it comes to traditions, the Mean Green spirit runs deep with rituals.

Homecoming To celebrate the homecoming game for Mean Green football, UNT students hold a parade the morning of the game and a bonfire the night before. The parade consists of student- and faculty-made f loats, and runs a route from the Square to campus. The bonfire has been a tradition since 1935, and is held annually except when Denton County burn bans are in effect.

The Eagle Claw To show suppor t for UN T, a l l students and alumni have to do is put

two fingers in the air making a “V” for victory, hold out their thumb and curl them tight like an eagle’s claw. To add exclamation, spirited students even screech out an eagle’s “CAW!”

Boomer the Victory Cannon One of UNT’s more recent traditions is based off an important time in American history. UNT’s spirit group the Talons introduced Boomer the Victory Cannon, a Mex ica n A merica n wa r ca nnon replica, in 1970. The cannon is fired by the Talons to a n nou nce a UN T touchdow n, k ick-of f, ha l f t i me, a nd t he end of ga me at home footba ll ga mes. Boomer had its 15 m inutes of fame when it was featured in the 1991 f i l m Necessa r y Roug h ness, shot on the UNT campus and Fouts Field. -Matt Malone, Staff Writer

UNT Fight Song Let’s give a cheer for U of NT; Cheer for the Green and White. Victory’s in store whatever the score, Our team will ever fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Shoulder to shoulder we march along, Striving for victory. Playing the game for the honor and fame, And the glory of UNT. U ... N ... T ... Eagles! UNT Eagles Fight, Fight, Fight!

Preserving Denton To capture its rich history, the city of Denton has five museums, each offering different information on Denton’s culture. Here are two Denton hot spots for information.

Denton County African-American Museum Located directly across from the BaylessSelby House, the African-American Museum allows guests to experience the rich AfricanAmerican history of Denton County. “The museum was originally a home located in Quakertown, an area of Denton that was settled by African-American families in the 1880s,” said Paula Mears, a museum guide at the Denton County African-American museum. “The house was relocated to Denton’s historical park and converted to a museum, and Quakertown is now home to Quakertown Park.” The museum features photos and stories of Denton’s African-American heritage and historical artifacts recovered from the orig-

inal Quakertown. The museum is located at 317 W. Mulberry St. and is open 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday.

C ou r t hou s e - on-t he - S qu a r e Museum Found on the first floor of the historic Denton Courthouse, the Courthouse-onthe-Square Museum educates and entertains. “The Courthouse Museum has a little something for everyone,” said Kim Cupit, the museum’s curator. “We have information of various towns in Denton County, as well as collections of weapons, dolls and various kinds of art.” It boasts various collections, including “Furniture from Denton County” and “Thimbles from Around the World.” The museum is located at 110 W. Hickory St. and is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Did You Know? Since its establishment in 1857, Denton has encountered plenty of interesting events. Here are some lesser-known facts about the city. • It is named the Redbud Tree Capital of Texas. • This area was once inhabited by the K’itaish Native-American tribe. • In 2008, Paste Magazine rated it best music scene of the U.S. • There is an underground shelter in the city for the president of the United States to live in if the country goes under attack. -Pablo Arauz, Staff Writer

-Matt Malone, Staff Writer

PHOTO BY JAMES COREAS/SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Firehouse Forgotten On 6,300 square feet of land, a dingy yellow-brick building is tagged with graffiti drawings inside and outside, has broken windows and boarded doors. Green vines sprouting red flowers engulf the right side and parts of the dark brown tile roof have caved in. A chocolate painted wooden door to the right of the entrance is cracked about 7 inches revealing green carpeted stairs that lead only to the second floor. Entering will result in a class B misdemeanor. This 82-year-old withering structure that has been unoccupied for the last 15 years used to be Denton’s fire station No. 3 first built in 1929 at 117 Avenue B. Denton resident Wanda Arrington and her husband Fred Arrington have owned the building for 40 years where they began a dry cleaning service for the first 15 years. Arrington said they then moved their business next door, now University Cleaners. “We made a bid on it and got it,” she said. “It was a place to put our dry cleaners… and it worked out well cause people don’t stay long. They just bring their clothes in and leave.” Until 1996, many businesses have gone in and out of the building, according to the Denton Historical Commission books. Todd Varner, supervisor at Denton Code Enforcement, said because it hasn’t been maintained properly, the building was deemed a health hazard by the city

and ordered Arrington to either sell or demolish the property on April 21, 2011. She was given 90 days. Varner said the department has been on the case since Jan. 19. The ma i ntenance of the bu i ld i ng ha s been hard to keep up with since her husband died last year, Arrington said. She said she found it in her best interest to sell it. Chuck Howell, captain of the Denton Fire Stat ion, sa id the members of the fire department a s pi r e d to purchase the property from her but the cost is too high. “We’d talk to her about possibly purchasing it to have our association meetings there,” Howell said. “It was a little too much to afford…it

costs that much to repair the whole thing.” -Ashley-Crystal Firstley, Senior Staff Writer

Denton Trivia What does the “I.O.O.F.” in I.O.O.F. Cemetery stand for? We wanted to see how much Denton residents knew about their city’s history. We polled our readers on NTDaily.com with a few random Denton trivia questions. Did you guess correctly?

How many times has UNT’s name been changed?

50%

Independent Order of Odd Fellows

41% 13.4%

Three times

I.O.O.F

Texas Normal College and Teachers’ Training Institute 1890 North Texas Normal College 1894 North Texas State Normal College 1901 North Texas State Teachers College 1924 North Texas State College 1949 North Texas State University 1961 University of North Texas 1988

What year was Denton officially established as a city? 1857

International Organization of Odd Fellows

The I.O.O.F., Independent Order of Odd Fellows is a charitable fraternal organization that began in England in the 18th century and brought to the U.S. in 1819. Many of the founding fathers of Denton were members of this fraternity and were buried in the cemetery on Eagle Drive and Carroll Street.

Six times

49%

42.3%

Who was the first Mayor of Denton?

41%

Joseph A. Carroll

31.4%

23%

1843

J. B. Sawyer

The city of Denton was established in 1857 while the county was established in 1843.

Although Joseph A. Carroll was influential in Denton history, J.B. Sawyer was the city’s first mayor. Carroll went on to become mayor of Denton 1900. To learn more about Denton and some of its historical landmarks, watch our video at NTDaily.com.

40 Information

ntdaily.com

On The Record

PHOTO BY JAMES COREAS/SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Local band plays at J&J’s Pizza on the Square.

Denton Music

In 2008

Paste Magazine names Denton Best Music Scene.

11 10 9 8 7

12 1

UNT’s One O’ Clock Lab Band has been nominated for 2

3 4 5

SIX Grammy Awards

In1890

UNT ‘s College of Music is established

It currently has the largest enrollment of any music institution accredited by the National Associate of Schools of Music.

In 1947

The first U.S. Jazz studies program is established at UNT. On The Record

Some Denton Artists Signed to Major Labels: • The Eagles • Roy Orbison • Eli Young Band • Midlake • Bowling for Soup • Brave Combo • Nora Jones • Pops Carter

ntdaily.com

-Compiled by Isaac Wright, Senior Staff Writer Information 41

Denton: Then and Now By the Num13ers Sources:

Population

The history of population in Denton.

140,000

100,000

Mel Wheeler sold KDNT AM and FM, Denton’s only radion station, to Garland resident Galen O. Gilbert.

The De nto tation C n County Tran om sp Transpo mittee approv or- es rta ment Pro tion Road Imp the ro g the grow ram to accomm ve- ing pop o ulation. date

•

s an own wa Quakert merican -A African in Denton ent settlem s to 1920. 80 from 18

Paste Magazine names Denton best music scene.

20,000

0 1880

1910

1920

1943

1962

1984

1992

-Graph by Ashley Crystal Firstley, Senior Staff Writer

Were Killed and 200 Injured by a Denton Tornado in 1957

1857

Weather.com Texas Almanac U.S. Census Bureau City-data.com

1806

is Woodson Harr Grocery off the square burned down.

60,000

• • •

2004

Year the City’s Namesake, John B. Denton, was born

2008

Year

Tornado Alley Denton’s average tornado activity is 258 percent higher than the national average.

113 F

Denton was Established as a City

Denton’s Highest Record Temperature

-Numbers provided by Alex Macon 42 Information

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On The Record

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