right / derecha 1911 - Elizabeth Chapel AME Church Image courtesy of David Perry Imagen cortesía de David Perry
There But for the Grace of God
Allí, Pero por la Gracia de Dios
In the 1992 list of America’s Eleven Most Endangered Historic Places, eight minority neighborhoods in Dallas, each of which had been ruled eligible for the National Register for Historic Places, were named as a single entry. In previous years, Dallas had made a habit of tearing down older minority neighborhoods, including the city’s largest freedman’s cemetery and the Short North Dallas neighborhood, to make way for newer developments. When the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced an emphasis on preserving minority communities, Dallas preservationists capitalized on the chance to receive funding to renovate homes. Their foresight ushered in a chance to revive neglected inner-city neighborhoods, including Tenth Street. Highlighted in newspapers because of its rich history,
prominent church landmarks, and freedman’s town roots, Tenth Street received its local landmark designation when the Dallas City Council approved the Landmark Commission’s nomination to rezone Tenth Street as a historic district in 1993.