2018-130 Denton County Courthouse Confederate MonumentDate: September 21, 2018 Report No. 2018-130
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Overview of recent efforts to provide historical context, modify, or remove the confederate soldier
memorial located on the Denton County Courthouse square.
BACKGROUND:
The Confederate memorial located on the south side of the Denton County Courthouse lawn was
erected in 1918 by the Daughters of the Confederacy in memory of the Denton County Confederate
soldiers who lost their lives during the Civil War. The memorial was dedicated on June 3, 1918.
The monument is located on Denton County property and falls under the jurisdiction of the Denton
County Commission. Due to the statue’s location, it is protected under the Denton County
Courthouse’s designation as a Texas Historical Landmark (designated in 1970) and a State
Antiquities Landmark (designated in 1981). Because of these designations, any alterations to the
site must be reviewed and approved by the Texas Historical Commission.
To help add historical context to the memorial, Denton County added a plaque in 2010 that reads,
“The monument stands as a reminder of historic events and is intended as a memorial to Denton
County citizens who sacrificed themselves for the community. Now, let this be a testimony that
God created all men equal with certain inalienable rights. We are all one, citizens of Denton
County.”
DENTON COUNTY CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
In response to requests from the public and following events that occurred in Charlottesville, VA
in August of 2017, the Denton County Commission established the Denton County Confederate
Memorial Advisory Committee in November 2017. The mission of this committee was to:
Appropriately preserve the Confederate Soldier Memorial as a historic artifact,
Ensure that the recommendations from the Committee regarding preservation of the
Memorial do not violate or conflict with the guidelines established by the Texas Historical
Commission, the National Parks Service, and the American Alliance of Museums; and
Follow state and local preservation laws and best practices for any recommendations.
The 15 member advisory committee included a diverse group of representatives from across
Denton County (listed with their city of residence):
City of Aubrey: Roni Cade
City of Denton: John Baines (Committee Chairman), Mike Cochran, Kay Copeland, Judy
Flowers, Willie Hudspeth, Zenobia Hutton, Paul Meltzer, Alfred Sanchez, Howard Watt
Town of Flower Mound: Mark Bowlin, Donna Hernandez
City of Frisco: Fred Rogers
City of Lewisville: Roni Cade
City of Plano: Tim Trylovich
Date: September 21, 2018 Report No. 2018-130
The committee met 14 times between November 2017 and February 2018. Final committee
recommendations were made on February 1, 2018, with a 15-0 recommendation that included:
Keep the monument where it is currently located;
Add two outdoor video kiosks to display information that gives specific additional context
to honor all veterans from Denton County by name, talks about the race relations that have
occurred in Denton, and to “tell the good things that are going on in Denton;” and
Add a large plaque “with a strongly worded statement decrying slavery and the things
associated with slavery” under the arch.
County Commissioners unanimously approved the plan at their February 6, 2018, meeting. County
staff is currently developing a plan to implement the Committee’s recommendations. Staff will
provide updates as additional information is received from the County.
STAFF CONTACT:
Stuart Birdseye
Management Analyst
Stuart.Birdseye@cityofdenton.com
(940) 349-8009