Feeling Patriotic This Labor Day? Go See The Statue of Liberty on Bolivar Street

Don’t you love the Statue of Liberty? Ever notice that even though she lives in NYC, her likeness is all over the place? Even all over the world? You know about the mini Statues of Liberty in Paris and Tokyo right? Do you know there’s one at customs on the US Canada border at Niagara Falls? How about this – I was in Mongolia a few years ago and there were not one, but two, separate references to the Statue of Liberty that I saw.
In MONGOLIA people!
A restaurant and a health club, as I recall.

She gets around.

But, if you don’t feel like going to NY, Paris, or Mongolia (and I can’t recommend it), why not just drive down Denton's own Bolivar Street and check out this awesome, semi-public art installation?

Just the other day I was wondering where the folks with the Statue of Liberty moved to, and then bang! There she was. Get by and see her soon folks, clearly she’s seasonal or special occasional.

Three Quick Things I Like About Denton

1. This Blog
I LOVE this blog – Green Across Texas – about one woman’s journey to get her family green.
Wow!
Could I have made that sound duller? You know, there may be no way I can do her well-written, amusing, and informative blog justice, and I happen to know, she’s a Dentonista too. (Shout out to the wider Denton County!) So, listen to YOUR friendly, neighborhood Dentonista, click the link and give it a quick eyeballing. Beware; you may have to add another blog to your must-read list!

2. The Emily Fowler Library
You may know it as Emily Fowler, you may know it as the Main Branch, you may know it as the original library, down from the post office, up from the Greenhouse, but I think of it as my neighborhood library, and it is my favorite of the three branches.
Do you remember the indoor, sunken garden that was scrapped with the 2004 renovation?
I do.
It was bizarrely groovy, and went beautifully with the midcentury modern decorative woodwork. Though the librarians tell me the moisture was wreaking havoc with the printed materials, I do miss sitting near it and listening to the water sounds. For more info on the library's midcentury credentials (and we're talking O'Neil Ford folks!!), see this excellent little page the excellent Mike Cochran put together.

Hey! Does anyone remember when they would check out artworks, which were expressly for use in decorating your dorm room or apartment? They’d check them out by the semester…
I had totally forgotten about that, until I was writing this entry! I wonder what happened to that stuff and that program? I wonder if the folks who contribute to this blog will address that question?

Anyway, this library, with its incredibly nice check out staff, outdoor fountain, indoor genealogy special collection, comfy reading chairs, numerous public-use computers (thanks to the renovation), and great (and always expanding) collection of books, mags, CDs, and DVDs is not only just a brisk walk (added bonus) from my house, it’s the comfiest library in the system.

Now, if we could just get the WiFi that’s been promised, and endlessly delayed, it would be pretty much the perfect library. If you’re wondering, as I am, just what the hold up is, or why only the South branch (the smallest and noisiest branch!) has WiFi – contact your city council person. That’s what they tell me to do when I ask at the library!

Speaking of that sweet walk from the Dentonista’s to the library, brings me to item number:

3. The New Pergola at the Cupboard
Walking to the library takes me past the Cupboard – more properly known as Cupboard Natural Foods - which is now sporting a brand-new pergola, just outside the café!
Have you seen it?
Can patio dining be far behind?
Now, if you’re thinking, “BFD. Dining with a view of the parking lot.” Shaaaame on you - Oh ye of little imagination!
Think of it as street theatre as you trip to the various hippies, weirdos, poseurs, Jesus freaks, and soccer Moms and Dads that cross your line of site. Maybe you’ll even be sipping a wheat grass juice? I know I’m looking forward to it!

The Haunted House on Oak Street

See the eerie perfection of the house and lawn?
Know what’s eerier?
No one lives there!
I have never seen a single person come or go from that house. Who takes care of it? Must be ghosts - and that’s why I call it the haunted house. Spoooooky!

OK, this house isn’t really empty, as this article in the Denton Record Chronicle will attest (though that’s no proof it’s not haunted). Either way, I stand by my observation of never seeing anyone out front.
SO, more power to you folks – I don’t know how you do it.
I’m day dreaming about covert garden operatives and ninja yard care right now…

Well, enough of that. Do you want to see some other houses that have people living in them, but are surely haunted too?! Check out the rest of Oak Street, between Carroll Blvd. and Fry St. (But keep on going down to Bonnie Brae if you like - more fun houses and the Orthodox Church!) Be sure to make the block and come back up on Hickory St.

Called “Silk Stocking Row” (oy vey) by local realtors, The Oak\Hickory historic block is one big bunch of great old houses. Someone with more knowledge about architecture can surely say more about the styles, significance, etc. All I can say is: they’re beautiful, and the short block (just up to Fry St.) makes a great little walk.

If you DO take a walk or a drive around this historic block, or just know something cool about it and want to share, please DO leave comments. It's not just MY Denton, it's YOUR Denton too people!

Update - June, 12 2010
Wow! Some variant of 'Haunted Denton' is a really common search that brings folks to my blog.
So, I thought I'd add a link to the Denton section of Ghosts of America. Hope it helps you, Reader.

Update - Sept, 12 2012
And if 'Haunted Denton', 'Denton Ghosts', 'Denton Haunted Houses' or some other search for ghosts, hauntings, spirits or the supernatural in Denton, Tx brought you here, I want to refer you to the Denton Haunts facebook page. These folks will take you on a ghost walk around the square and regale you with stories of the "...haunted history and spooky spectres of the Denton Square!" Their and the Denton Haunts wordpress page has stories abot our ghosts and the group's upcoming activities. Check them out.

The Mad Sign Painter on Carroll Blvd.

Nearer University Dr. than I-35.


I don’t know anything about him, and I don’t want to; I think it would spoil the romance. But, Bam! If that doesn’t say it all.

We all know Austin wants to keep it weird, but really, how much weirder can you get? One of the reasons I love Denton? The crazies. And y’all – this is crazy. And angry. And active. And you can’t argue with that; you just need to stand up and recognize.

Sometimes I’m not even sure what he means, but I love that he says it - out loud and proud. Keep your eyes peeled! This is by no means the first of his strange visual shout outs. I recall one comparing Islamofascism to AIDs, and a follow up chiding the local police for not protecting his signs! The last one? Advised Islamic terrorists that their “…72 virgins are young boys”.

I have NO idea, but an Internet search on that aforementioned phrase yields more factual (and none of the X-rated) results than you might think. Try it.

And, in the interests of full disclosure, while I don’t know them at all, the lady of the house (I assume) was incredibly nice when encountered on a full-neighborhood canvas for a missing cat. Thank you.