815 West Hickory Street- Ray House

Mable Ray was a librarian in the Junior High School in Denton by 1930. By 1934, she became the English teacher at the Junior High School and became increasing involved as the Pep Club sponsor, director of plays and activities. Ray is recorded as living at 807 West Hickory in 1935 when she acquired 815 West Hickory. The stated built data is 1940 when Ray built this home, which she sold in April 1945.

The Coit House at 904 West Oak Street burnt in 1944 and severely damaged the Queen Anne style house built in 1893. In 1945, Ray acquired 904 West Oak Street to become her home and is noted as beginning to remodel the two-story frame house in 1948. The following year, Ray built the current Ranch style home on the lot and the remains of the Queen Anne style home were used to construct the two homes at 901 and 907 Gregg Street, immediately behind 904 West Oak Street.

Ranch style houses are a creation of modern American design, created by Californian architects. This style reflects full adoption and dependence on automobiles for transportation to newly created suburbs. Following World War II, compact houses on city lots could become rambling houses on suburban lots. The feature of massive facades widths repeats that lot sizes were larger. This width of the house style is extended further with integral garages incorporated as part of the building. Ranch style features are typically one story, asymmetrical designs with low pitches roof lines, commonly hipped, with wide overhanding eaves. Facades were commonly brick or wood, complemented with decorative iron or wooden porch supports. Private outdoor living spaces in the rear of the house directly contrast to large front and side porches on most earlier house styles. There are 14 ranch homes in the district, most constructed between 1945 and 1965. Ranch style examples are located at 904 West Oak and 420 Fulton.