Crawford Store

The Crawford General Store was an economic and community hub within Quakertown. Ford Crawford was one of the original settlers of the Freedman Town in Denton, before relocating to Quakertown and setting up a store. Crawford’s store on the corner of Oakland and Terry St., was where locals could buy and trade the goods they needed. When the school burned down in 1913, a temporary classroom was needed and Crawford stepped forward. The upstairs served as a classroom until the schoolhouse could be rebuilt in 1915. It was a community space, where meetings about important matters could be held, and where civic organizations like the local chapter of the Black Odd Fellows could gather. Informally, Quakertown residents could pop in to do their shopping, play a friendly game of checkers with their neighbors, and catch up on the latest news and goings-on. Like Crawford himself, the store was a pillar of the community.

Ford Crawford and his family left Denton forever, relocating to Wichita, Kansas, to start over.

Ford Crawford and his family left Denton forever, relocating to Wichita, Kansas, to start over.

Founded by Ford Crawford, one of the original settlers of the Freedman Town, Crawford General Store was an economic and cultural force within Quakertown. It was here that locals could buy and trade the goods they needed. When times were tough—and they were often tough, as in 1913 when the school burned down and a temporary classroom was needed—Crawford stepped forward. It served as a classroom until the schoolhouse could be rebuilt. It was a community space, where meetings about important matters could be held, and where civic organizations like the local chapter of the Black