Neighborhood Stories - Mount Auburn
[bc]'s Neighborhood Stories is a research and documentation project that celebrates community identity, history, and culture by showcasing neighborhood histories. This initiative amplifies neighborhood voices by working directly with residents to document neighborhood narratives and provide a platform to share these stories. Products of the initiative include films, exhibits, and publications that trace the interrelated social, economic, political, and physical histories within a neighborhood.
Learn more through our Neighborhood Stories project guide.
Watch our series of Neighborhood Stories feature films.
View our collection of one-on-one Neighborhood Stories videos.
[bc] Contributors:
Emily Schmidt
Melanie Wood
Craig Weflen
Maria Bergh
Katherine Dike
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Mount Auburn Stories
August 9, 2013
On Saturday, August 17th Neighborhood Stories celebrated the community of Mount Auburn. Since the start of its development in 1907, Mount Auburn has remained a stronghold for East Dallas’ working class residents who have consistently campaigned for the retention and betterment of single-family homes, streets, and parks. Culturally and economically diverse, Mount Auburn’s population has gradually shifted from predominantly Anglo to predominantly Latino. This shift has brought change to the historic neighborhood, with renovated homes and businesses expressing the culture of its current residents. Not immune to inner city problems, the neighborhood has rebounded from the city’s suburban migration in the 1960s and the subsequent increase in crime in order to emerge as a stable, active neighborhood. Though not a historic or conservation district itself, Mount Auburn has certainly benefitted from city ordinances that protect the character of the surrounding areas; however, its success can mainly be attributed to its residents. The strong advocates of years past established, protected, and improved the parks, schools, and quiet connectivity that lend Mount Auburn the peaceful vibrancy it enjoys today.
As part of the Neighborhood Stories series, activities included a bike/walk paseo through the neighborhood, exploring exhibit stations that showcase the physical and social history of Mount Auburn; a community meal with food from local residents; and a sunset screening of the neighborhood film.