It is with great thought and consideration that I have decided to dedicate my first
column to West All Saints St. This street served as a vessel of great historical
significance to Blacks in Frederick during the early 1900’s. Nicknamed “the hub”, All
Saints St was the main ‘what’s happening now’ place for African Americans, according to
my Mom, Adelaide Hall.
Probably named after the white All Saints Episcopal Church, which had been located up on
a hill on East All Saints, this street housed almost every kind of business for the
colored patron as was located around the corner and up Market St, for the whites. You
see, during this time in our history, blacks were not encouraged to patronize white
businesses on Market St. The very few that did open their doors to coloreds made sure it
was either a side or a back door. Consequently there was nothing left to do but open our
own businesses within the confines of those few blocks on All Saints St.
Try to envision with me the hustle and bustle on this street and in this area back in the
early 1900’s. I’m told that horses use to graze on a huge lot owned by a black man
behind the Roger Brook Taney home. Dr. U.G. Bourne Sr, whose office was located next to
his home on the corner of Ice and West All Saints, would rent these horses and a buggy to
visit his patients in the country. Two other doctors lived and worked on this street
also. Dr. Brooks and Dr. Sims helped care for blacks as well as some whites of this fair
city. A fully operative hospital opened at one time on All Saints with 15 beds. This
was because blacks were not allowed as patients in the Frederick Memorial Hospital.
Asbury and First Missionary Baptist were the two colored churches located in the first
block of All Saints as Quinn AME was always located uptown on 3rd St. These houses of
worship were the backbone of our Christina life during those years.
My grandfather, Albert Dixon, used to show his bodies in a little house located beside
the Ritz Apartments. He was the first black mortician of record. He parked his hearse in
a garage located down on So Bentz St.
Also during those years many grocery stores operated out of homes on the street.
Families lived upstairs and operated their businesses on the main level or beside their
residences. Holland, Campbell, Leakins, Fredericks, Bayton, and Henderson were the
proprietor names and most of them sold everything imaginable except fresh meat.
There were many restaurants. It seemed when one closed another opened. The aroma of
food cooking permeated the air constantly and especially on Saturdays when country folk
would travel to Frederick to do all their shopping. Each of the restaurants seemed to
specialize in their own cuisine. Many women also sold delicious soul food and sandwiches
out of their kitchens during this time. Three lodges operated on All Saints. The Elks,
The Pythians, and the Masons supplied the environment for most of the other colored
social affairs not held in the church social halls. The Emancipation building was also
located here as well as many barber and beauty shops, a couple of shoe repair and shoe
shine parlors, two junk yards, a painter and photographers studio, many educators, an
antique shop, two drycleaners, a contracting firm, and a home repair business. Also, a
savings and loan, a car wash, a radio repair shop and many taxi cabs were located here.
Many women operated home laundry businesses out of their residencies.
Mrs Alice Boulden opened a linen and lace shop which was catered to by many of Fredericks
wealthiest for years. Many great seamstresses and tailors held businesses here on All
Saints. John Lee opened Lee’s Mens Wear on the corner of Court and Saints, and was one
of the two first black businesses to move around to Market during the 1960’s. Thompsons’
shoe repair was the other.
The Amvets and the American Legion offered a glimpse of many famous black socialites
coming through our town during those years.
The downtown grade school and the kindergarten were located on South Bentz but the 1st
black high school was located on All Saints St.
Also, last but not least, a beloved dentist practiced well up into his 90’s here on this
street. Many living today will long remember Dr. Snowball.
The inhabitants of All Saints St are much different today then when my Mom grew up. Most
of the houses now have white owners, but the memories will always be there for that most
wonderful time in our history. That was the “true” neighborhood.
West All Saints St should go down in Frederick history as historical because it was the
main ‘whats happening now street” for blacks back then. I salute you West All Saints
St. Your were invaluable and famous then and you should always be remembered!
Joy
joy@blackfrederick.com
column to West All Saints St. This street served as a vessel of great historical
significance to Blacks in Frederick during the early 1900’s. Nicknamed “the hub”, All
Saints St was the main ‘what’s happening now’ place for African Americans, according to
my Mom, Adelaide Hall.
Probably named after the white All Saints Episcopal Church, which had been located up on
a hill on East All Saints, this street housed almost every kind of business for the
colored patron as was located around the corner and up Market St, for the whites. You
see, during this time in our history, blacks were not encouraged to patronize white
businesses on Market St. The very few that did open their doors to coloreds made sure it
was either a side or a back door. Consequently there was nothing left to do but open our
own businesses within the confines of those few blocks on All Saints St.
Try to envision with me the hustle and bustle on this street and in this area back in the
early 1900’s. I’m told that horses use to graze on a huge lot owned by a black man
behind the Roger Brook Taney home. Dr. U.G. Bourne Sr, whose office was located next to
his home on the corner of Ice and West All Saints, would rent these horses and a buggy to
visit his patients in the country. Two other doctors lived and worked on this street
also. Dr. Brooks and Dr. Sims helped care for blacks as well as some whites of this fair
city. A fully operative hospital opened at one time on All Saints with 15 beds. This
was because blacks were not allowed as patients in the Frederick Memorial Hospital.
Asbury and First Missionary Baptist were the two colored churches located in the first
block of All Saints as Quinn AME was always located uptown on 3rd St. These houses of
worship were the backbone of our Christina life during those years.
My grandfather, Albert Dixon, used to show his bodies in a little house located beside
the Ritz Apartments. He was the first black mortician of record. He parked his hearse in
a garage located down on So Bentz St.
Also during those years many grocery stores operated out of homes on the street.
Families lived upstairs and operated their businesses on the main level or beside their
residences. Holland, Campbell, Leakins, Fredericks, Bayton, and Henderson were the
proprietor names and most of them sold everything imaginable except fresh meat.
There were many restaurants. It seemed when one closed another opened. The aroma of
food cooking permeated the air constantly and especially on Saturdays when country folk
would travel to Frederick to do all their shopping. Each of the restaurants seemed to
specialize in their own cuisine. Many women also sold delicious soul food and sandwiches
out of their kitchens during this time. Three lodges operated on All Saints. The Elks,
The Pythians, and the Masons supplied the environment for most of the other colored
social affairs not held in the church social halls. The Emancipation building was also
located here as well as many barber and beauty shops, a couple of shoe repair and shoe
shine parlors, two junk yards, a painter and photographers studio, many educators, an
antique shop, two drycleaners, a contracting firm, and a home repair business. Also, a
savings and loan, a car wash, a radio repair shop and many taxi cabs were located here.
Many women operated home laundry businesses out of their residencies.
Mrs Alice Boulden opened a linen and lace shop which was catered to by many of Fredericks
wealthiest for years. Many great seamstresses and tailors held businesses here on All
Saints. John Lee opened Lee’s Mens Wear on the corner of Court and Saints, and was one
of the two first black businesses to move around to Market during the 1960’s. Thompsons’
shoe repair was the other.
The Amvets and the American Legion offered a glimpse of many famous black socialites
coming through our town during those years.
The downtown grade school and the kindergarten were located on South Bentz but the 1st
black high school was located on All Saints St.
Also, last but not least, a beloved dentist practiced well up into his 90’s here on this
street. Many living today will long remember Dr. Snowball.
The inhabitants of All Saints St are much different today then when my Mom grew up. Most
of the houses now have white owners, but the memories will always be there for that most
wonderful time in our history. That was the “true” neighborhood.
West All Saints St should go down in Frederick history as historical because it was the
main ‘whats happening now street” for blacks back then. I salute you West All Saints
St. Your were invaluable and famous then and you should always be remembered!
Joy
joy@blackfrederick.com
| BlackFrederick.com's Featured Article |
| www.BlackFrederick.com All rights reserved to BlackFrederick.com Copyright 2007 WebMistress |
A Street To Remember
Contributed by Joy Onley
BlackFrederick.com History Cove Editor
Published May 4, 2008
Contributed by Joy Onley
BlackFrederick.com History Cove Editor
Published May 4, 2008
|
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