African-American History in Salisbury – Part 1
The history of business in Salisbury is laced with threads of the African-American presence. This history has to be extracted from many sources and much research has to be done to get a clear picture.
James F. Stewart Funeral Home
One business that goes back to 1909 is the James F. Stewart Funeral Home. This can be verified by an 8 x 10 wall thermometer that was put out in the early 1950’s. By this time, James F. Stewart was deceased and the owners were listed as Mary A. Stewart and Thornton B. Jolley. The phone number was 6461.
Although the business was established in 1909, there is no listing in either the 1913 or 1916 telephone books for such a business. The first listing I found was in the 1921 Salisbury City Directory. James F. and Mary Stewart were listed as having a funeral home at 402 E. Church St. with a phone number of 816. A postcard from 1925 shows James F. Stewart, his family, his home and the vehicles for his business. This address of 402 E. Church St. was changed to 324 E. Church St. when the City changed all the street numbers in October, 1952. The phone number was still 6461 in the 1954 phone book. At some point in time, the need for expanded numbers added a 2 or a 9 to all 4-digit numbers with the addition of the prefix Pioneer (PI or 74). The 1957 City Directory still has a listing for James F. Stewart Funeral home at the newly numbered address of 324 E. Church St. with a phone number of PI9-6461.
The block that this business was located fell to the progress of the new road when Route 50 was built. It was on the south side of Church St. between Cathell St. and N. Salisbury Blvd.
There is still a Stewart Funeral Home listed in Salisbury, but the phone number of PI9-6461 is presently assigned to the Jolley Funeral Home.
Houston Savings Bank
In the 1982 edition of Charles Truitt’s “Historic Salisbury”, under financial institutions, he makes mention of the Houston Savings Bank, Salisbury, as “established by the black community in 1911, operated only a few months.” In his original edition in 1932, he makes no mention under financial institutions of the Houston Savings Bank.
Even though Mr. Truitt stated that it opened in 1911, a savings pass book attests to the fact that one Mamie A. Birckhead did open an account on July 20, 1911 with a deposit of $1.00, the only entry in the book.
Now the mystery thickens. Even though they were reported to have operated for only a few months, there is a listing in the 1913 telephone book for the Houston Savings Bank with a phone number of 681. This same number is also assigned to John T. Ellis & Son, stone yards and shops, Camden Ave. & Dock (Market) St. The connection remains a mystery.
(Part 2 next week)
The history of business in Salisbury is laced with threads of the African-American presence. This history has to be extracted from many sources and much research has to be done to get a clear picture.
James F. Stewart Funeral Home
One business that goes back to 1909 is the James F. Stewart Funeral Home. This can be verified by an 8 x 10 wall thermometer that was put out in the early 1950’s. By this time, James F. Stewart was deceased and the owners were listed as Mary A. Stewart and Thornton B. Jolley. The phone number was 6461.
Although the business was established in 1909, there is no listing in either the 1913 or 1916 telephone books for such a business. The first listing I found was in the 1921 Salisbury City Directory. James F. and Mary Stewart were listed as having a funeral home at 402 E. Church St. with a phone number of 816. A postcard from 1925 shows James F. Stewart, his family, his home and the vehicles for his business. This address of 402 E. Church St. was changed to 324 E. Church St. when the City changed all the street numbers in October, 1952. The phone number was still 6461 in the 1954 phone book. At some point in time, the need for expanded numbers added a 2 or a 9 to all 4-digit numbers with the addition of the prefix Pioneer (PI or 74). The 1957 City Directory still has a listing for James F. Stewart Funeral home at the newly numbered address of 324 E. Church St. with a phone number of PI9-6461.
The block that this business was located fell to the progress of the new road when Route 50 was built. It was on the south side of Church St. between Cathell St. and N. Salisbury Blvd.
There is still a Stewart Funeral Home listed in Salisbury, but the phone number of PI9-6461 is presently assigned to the Jolley Funeral Home.
Houston Savings Bank
In the 1982 edition of Charles Truitt’s “Historic Salisbury”, under financial institutions, he makes mention of the Houston Savings Bank, Salisbury, as “established by the black community in 1911, operated only a few months.” In his original edition in 1932, he makes no mention under financial institutions of the Houston Savings Bank.
Even though Mr. Truitt stated that it opened in 1911, a savings pass book attests to the fact that one Mamie A. Birckhead did open an account on July 20, 1911 with a deposit of $1.00, the only entry in the book.
Now the mystery thickens. Even though they were reported to have operated for only a few months, there is a listing in the 1913 telephone book for the Houston Savings Bank with a phone number of 681. This same number is also assigned to John T. Ellis & Son, stone yards and shops, Camden Ave. & Dock (Market) St. The connection remains a mystery.
(Part 2 next week)
13 comments:
George -- I always read with great interest your posts. As a fellow local history buff I love to see what you will focus on in any particular week. Keep up the great work. (Thanks to you as well Joe for carrying this on your blog).
Thank you again, George. I have always been a big history buff especially of the Eastern Shore. I love exploring the McDaniel/Tilghman area where there is lots of history still standing. On the Claiborne property stands the oldest church on the shore. It was strickly built for the slaves that worked the property. The mansion still has the slave quarters in tact due to the historical nature of the property. There are new owners now due to the death of the last living family member but many aspects of the property can not be changed due to it being listed as a historical location. I have many pictures of the property. My uncle still works as a grounds keeper making it possible for me to still visit such a beautiful location and a big spot in our history due to it's "underground" ties.
KM
Today at Chipman Cultural Center, the local Salisbury branch is celebrating the 100th anniversary of NAACP.
Mary Ashanti is the long time president of NAACP locally.
Thanks joe for being such a fan of black people! I am glad that you love the 1950's so much and you love blacks. You really know how to bring a community together. Thanks!
What ever happened to plain old American history hyphenated persons are dividing the country.
It is such a rare thing to see blacks and whites come together on a blog. Joe, my friend, once again you have succeeded where few have. It is good of you to provide a place for the blacks to share their history with us.
Anon 4:43
Afro-American history is important. Joe and George should be given kudus for sharing history. Not many blogs run by a white guy would share info from the blacks. Joe does, and I appreciate it. Plus Joe loves Fernando Guerrero!
Fernando is Dominican.
4:43, "plain old American history" left blacks and other minorities and women out for nearly two centuries. Indians? Just for Pilgrims and as savages.
It'll be "plain old American history" when everyone gets written about. As Mr. Chevallier said, the only way to know any black history is to digging for it in bits and pieces.
Mr. Chevallier, thanks for this and all the other histories. I like reading about the everyday life. I like knowing about the history I couldn't see because of segregation.
When I moved here in 1965, there were many who would express their phone number as "pioneer 9-1234". My phone in Baltimore was "Ridgeway 4-1930" I am restoring an antique truck to advertise my business, and I plan to have " Pioneer 2-7171" as the phone number on the door.
Hey Dave, will certainly look forward to seeing your restored truck runnin' through town with
"Churnin' with Vernon" written on the side of it!!!
Joe I am a black and I think you rock!
Keep'um coming George, once again a great job.
5:43 Fernado knows Salisbury as his home. I'm a come here years and years ago, Salisbury is also my hometown!
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