SE Denton
The migration of former Quakertown residents to Southeast Denton marked the creation of a new built environment on land originally offered to them in 1922. Today, Southeast Denton is defined by Bell Avenue and Dallas Drive to the west, Shady Oaks Drive to the south, S. Woodrow Lane to the east, and E. McKinney Street to the north.
Recently the City of Denton has had a renewed interest in Southeast Denton, as it is home to many historically Black churches and holds a deep cultural significance. In 2019, sleek sign toppers were installed to highlight key areas, such as Fred Moore High, Freedmen Town, Lincoln Park, and Solomon Hill— the name of the original plot of land where the first residents settled. Yet, despite these efforts toward preservation, the community faces the forces of gentrification. New developments are emerging, and demographic changes are shifting the neighborhood’s makeup as newcomers are drawn to its affordability and location.
This typological survey captures the individuality of homes in the area, often offering a glimpse into the lives of the people who inhabit them. Accompanying the photographs are written entries that document my experiences during visits to the neighborhood.
Day 1: Monday, February 10, 2025
It rained not long ago. It’s 4 o’clock, right before the work traffic. Cars are starting to stream in through the bottleneck entrance on S Bell Avenue. I parked in the now marshy parking lot of Mt. Pilgrim C.M.E Church. I’m with a friend. First thoughts: The houses are noticeably lived in with a few exceptions for the recently remodeled in modern Pantone colors, craftsman and ranch in style. My eyes and lens pierce through the drizzle, houses and cars are soft edged from the mist. We walk in a zigzag pattern up a hill through the neighborhood. You can see the courthouse from here. A couple of white guys are working on their big old Cadillac out front. We nod at them. It’s so quiet up here. Some houses have tacky, plastic-ornamented yards, they give us a chuckle. Houses on an angle are hard to frame just right. Plus, the beautiful terracotta of brick is hard to capture in this gloomy weather. It comes out the color of oxidized brown sugar. We see a day care, and there’s a playground with a percussion set of windchimes and metal pots. Big high school too. Fred Moore High School. With a parking lot illuminated by big yellow lights. A Soul Food Joint across the street looks like good eating. I point my camera at it. Doesn’t make a pretty subject though.
Day 2: Saturday, April 5, 2025
This trip was spontaneous. Just bored on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Rainy again, even more so. I went further into the neighborhood and parked next to Fred Moore Park, which is accompanied by Oakwood cemetery, the MLK Jr. Rec Center, and the senior center. These grounds are the community center of Southeast Denton. I opened my car door, and it started blaring an alarm for some still-unknown reason. I was frantic for a good ten seconds before I came up with the ingenious idea to exit the car and close the door. It stopped. I felt like I woke every house in the vicinity. No one was out today, except two unhoused people in sleeping bags under the protection of the senior center roof overhang. The park is nice. A newly paved basketball court, a playground any child would love, and a gazebo. Huge, writhing trees command attention. I forget the species, but there was an illustrative sign marking it. A drainage creek sits between the park and the cemetery with a green arch bridge connecting them. An old man paces with his hands clasped behind his back, paying me no mind. I still have the suspicion I’m being watched. I confined myself to the park and the bordering houses. I took photos. I didn’t like them. I’ll try again later.
Day 3: Monday, April 14, 2025
I return to Fred Moore Park. The sun is finally here, baking the asphalt and creating long shadows on every structure. Sweat forms a river down my leg on immediate exposure, but it’s a welcomed change. I’m with the friend. We start walking through the inlets of houses, arranged like rays radiating from the park. The trains make so much noise. In a way, Southeast Denton is bounded by railroads. The A-Train bends through the center while the Union Pacific Choctaw rail borders the west. It’s around 4:30. The shadows are so strong. I’ll fix it in-post. It’s going much better this time. It helps having company to warn that there’s a car coming while my eye sits in the viewfinder. The houses are so colorful, something that’s muted in the rain. Light yellow hues are common, a lime green house is a beautiful eye sore. Something interrupts us. The school bus is out— time to run for cover.
We drive to a triangular section of the neighborhood across the A-Train tracks. Small box houses stretch over the side of a hill that halt for a wide dirt clearing for a new development. It’s noticeably busier, with people on their front porches enjoying the weather. I’m scared to take photos. A woman drives up to us with her two kids in the back. She has a basket of glowing popsicles and asks us if we want some. I smile and decline, we don’t have any cash. She says they’re free. I take two. My fingers are red cherry dyed, and I apologize to my camera. I’m no longer scared to take photos though.
We walk behind an old man, probably from the senior center, while walking a cul-de-sac. There are a few other characters around, a family playing cards in their garage and a pair of shrieking terriers behind a wire fence. A Ram truck speeds the corner and the old man sneers and curses at them. The family laughs. The old man waves and smiles at them. We end up at the exit of the neighborhood on Dallas Drive. There’s a little Mexican grocery off the street. Still thirsty, we walk down and get two large agua frescas, cucumber and lime. As my now assistant, he holds it for me while we take a few more photos. A mail truck seems to follow us on the rest of our journey. It’s 6:00. We covered a lot of ground. It was a good day.
Day 4: Saturday, April 26, 2025
I parked on Ruth Street. A high-school-aged kid says hello to me before starting his run. Day broke less than an hour ago; it’s 7:30. The lighting is still soft, but I know I only have about 30 minutes before the sun bursts out and the neighborhood comes to life. This should be quick. I covered almost the entirety of Southeast Denton. I just want to retake some photos and explore some side streets. First stop is a grey house with an ample lawn made into a makeshift parking lot. A tree trunk is spray painted with “BLM” and there’s a fluorescent pink hello kitty decal on the back of a Tahoe in the driveway. A column of smoke emerges from the back fence. Someone’s cooking. I continue walking across Park Ln, Boardwalk Ln, and Chamber St. It’s pretty quiet. A rooster crows, sprinklers run, a green chevy truck’s exhaust hums in the background. People are starting to populate the streets. A woman sits on her porch in a fuzzy robe sipping coffee. Let’s pack it up, I’m hungry.