Denton Confederate Soldier Monument facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Denton Confederate Soldier Monument |
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The monument c. 2000
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| Completion date | 1918 |
| Location | Denton, Texas, United States |
| 33°12′53″N 97°07′59″W / 33.2146°N 97.1331°W | |
The Denton Confederate Soldier Monument was a statue that honored soldiers from the Confederacy. It was located outside in downtown Denton, Texas, in the United States. This monument was removed in 2020.
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What Was the Denton Confederate Soldier Monument?
The statue showed an armed Confederate soldier. He stood on an arch. The arch had words carved into it that said, "Our Confederate Soldiers."
How Was It Built?
The monument was put up in 1918. A group called the United Daughters of the Confederacy helped pay for it. Specifically, the Katie Daffan Chapter of this group raised the money.
It's important to know that this monument was never named a special historic landmark. However, the courthouse building nearby was recognized as a historic place.
Why Was It Removed?
For many years, some people felt the monument should not be in a public space. They believed it represented a difficult part of history.
Efforts to Remove the Monument
A local resident named Willie Hudspeth worked for a long time to have the monument taken down. He started trying to remove it around the year 2000.
In 2015, someone wrote "This Is Racist" on the monument. This showed how some people felt about it.
In 2018, leaders in Denton County voted to keep the statue. But they also planned to add a sign explaining that slavery was wrong. They also wanted a video screen to share the city's history. However, these additions were never finished.
The Final Decision
In June 2020, many protests happened across the country. These protests were about fairness and equality. After these events, the Denton County leaders met again.
On June 9, 2020, the county leaders decided to remove the statue. They planned to move it from the courthouse lawn to another place where it could be kept safely.
The Removal Day
The removal of the statue began early in the morning on June 25, 2020. Workers started taking it down before the sun came up.
