Johnson: Huntsville motel listed in Green Book for Black travelers should be honored with a plaque

7 months ago 40
Because Black travelers had no safe place to stay in Huntsville during Jim Crow segregation. James and Lillie Mae Moore built a motel that was a testament to their drive, spirit and love for their community. In late April, 1959, the Black community turned out to celebrate the opening of the Gladys Jane Motel - named for two of their daughters.Because Black travelers had no safe place to stay in Huntsville during Jim Crow segregation. James and Lillie Mae Moore built a motel that was a testament to their drive, spirit and love for their community. They named the Glady Jane for two of their daughters. Because Black travelers had no safe place to stay in Huntsville during Jim Crow segregation. James, who only had an eighth-grade education, and Lillie Mae Moore, a cook who was only school through fourth grade, built a motel that was a testament to their drive, spirit and love for their community.Because Black travelers had no safe place to stay in Huntsville during Jim Crow segregation. James and Lillie Mae Moore built a motel that was a testament to their drive, spirit and love for their community. The original facility, built with James' brick-masonry skills, had 7 rooms. He later expanded it to 16 room and added a restaurant. After opening in 1959 with seven rooms, Huntsville's first Black-owned motel, James Moore expanded the Gladys Jane (and for two daughters) to 16 rooms and added a restaurant named for his stepdaughter. Geneva, for him a later-added restaurant was named; Gladys and Jane. Because Black travelers had no safe place to stay in Huntsville during Jim Crow segregation. James and Lillie Mae Moore built a motel that was a testament to their drive, spirit and love for their community. The original facility, built with James' brick-masonry skills, had 7 rooms. He later expanded it to 16 rooms and added a restaurant.

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