Grayson County TXGenWeb

Denison Herald
July 25, 1972

Negroes Have Distinct Role in Denison Histroy
(Editor's Note - A resident of Denison for 65 years, C.B. Bunkley wrote the following article on the role Negroes have had in Denison's history. Bunkley is a retired postal transportation clerk and lon an active worker in community affairs.)

by C.B. Bunkley
The history of Denison would not be complete without metnioning th erole played by its Negro citizens.
Denison was established in 1982 as a result of introcution of the railroad in the area. The Negro citizens of this area helped to lay the tracks which brought the first trains into the area. After the entrance of the railroad the town began to grow; the railroad also offered the best possibly pay and jobs for the Negro. As the railroad system began to grow larger, the Negroes began to move into various other jobs such as: workers in the machine and car shops, round houses and various other places. Since Denison wasn't a farming town like other towns in Texas, it had to rely upon the railroad for its livelihood.

Since both the White and Negro population of Denison worked for the railroad there was not a vast difference in wages from a racial point of view. The relationship between the Negro and White people concerning the economic conditions of the city led to the establishment of various Negro businesses. Such businesses included Riddle Brothers, the first major Negro business in Denison to be located downtown. Pete Williams, a Negro, conducted a successful barber shop that catered only to whites. In the 1900s a Negro dentist named H.R. Weaver practiced in Denison; there were also four medical doctors who also practiced here at that time. Many Negro insurance companies operated branch offices in Denison in the 1930s; among them were such names as Atlantic Life, Universal, and American Woodman.
Because of the large number of Negroes living in Denison they were able to maintain a balance in the economic and political power of the city from 1872 to 1920.
The depression had the same effect on Negroes as it did on the Whites as far as operation of businesses was concerend. Both the whites and Negroes were on the Works Progress Administration.
The Denison Dam was built in the late 1930s. It served as a prime source of employement for Negroes in the Denison area. Then the passenger railraod system closed in 1965 many Negroes sought employment in the various factories located in the area. These factories included the Pillsbury Co., Johns-Manville, and many others.
The education of Negroes in the Denison area has been very successful. We were fortunate enough to be able to acquire some of the best educators of that time. They include D. Walton, A.H. Terrell and W.R. Wimms.
Professor Wimms taught much of the high school curriculum alone and despite inadequate facilities and materials, he was able to turn out highly successful doctors, lawyers, and bussinessmen.
Pride in our schools was so great in the early days that we were priviledged enough to hold commencement exercises in one of Denison's finest show places - the Denison Opera House.
In 1900 Denison was the home of a Negro college known as North Texas Baptist. Students attended the school for training for either a vocational or religious career. The churches also played a big role in the social and cultural life of the community. Hopewell Baptist 1874 was the first of the brick churches built by Negroes. Shortly thereafter, other denominational churches were established. These churches served as the focal point for family night affairs, choir singings and a place where civis meetings were held.
Denison was the first city in Texas to have a Negro Boy Scout troop when the organization was first integrated in the late 1920s. Today Druary McKnight is one of the leaders for the Boy Scout movement here in Denison.
Shortly after the establishment of churches, fraternal organizations came into being. Such organizations included the Masons, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. These organizations provide various social benefits such as dinners, meetings and various financial benefits, such as compensation for sickness and burial.
The Denison branch of the NAACP began here in 1920. At that time the primary purpose of the organization was to stop unnecessary prosecution of Negroes in the area, to help equalize the salaries of teachers, to improve the school facilities and to help guarantee the rights of the Negro to vote.
The Denison Negro Chamber of Commerce came into being in the 1930s. The main purpose of this organization was the growth of Negro business in the area. The Chamber also took on active part in various civic affairs.
Since the late 1960s Negroes have served on the School, Park-Recreation and Zoning committees and the Denison Planning Board.
At the present time Negro leadership is handled through various community organizations, such as the Negro Chamber of Commerce and is followed by the masses of the Negro community. We take an active part in the progress of the city and take pride in our home and accomplishments and strive to maintain Denison as a leading town of its size in the southwest.