Mama Fannie’s Boarding House
The era of segregation meant that Blacks could not stay in White-owned hotels, apartments, and boarding houses. Mama Fannie’s Boarding House provided accommodations and meals to African American travelers, workers, and teachers, among others. Mama Fannie Carroll was famous for her hospitality and the family-like atmosphere of her establishment.
Mama Fannie’s boarding house … [was] a two story house that housed teachers and some students…. There was only one entrance. Now, you know that was a fire hazard – two story building and only one entrance – or exit…. But that’s where many of the teachers lived. Mama Fannie would bring their lunch to … the campus on a tray, their sandwich and their drink…. [That was] before the lunch program, you know. She’d bring their lunch to them on campus.
They [teachers] lived other places, but they came and ate at Mama Fannie’s … right over there where the tank is on Martin Luther King. That big tank, the house was right next to that. So after I became acquainted with the people, I was very satisfied to stay here.
Patron outside of Mama Fannie’s boarding house. Guillet Collection, #2376, n.d., CHRC