Henry Gains: Roanoke Grows
Part two of the
focus on Henry Street
& Gainsboro.
It's hard to imagine it today. The view one must have had while walking over the Henry Street Bridge into downtown, or from downtown. Today the walk downtown provides a small slice in to the past.
The bridge is nearing renovations and upgrades to become the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bridge... But to the souls who walked it (and continue to do so) it will always be the Henry Street Bridge. When walking across, out of downtown, the view in the past must have been spectacular. A street humming with vibrant life, lively stores and noted film-makers in residence at the local theatre.
Yep - you heard that right. Oscar Micheaux was (most likely) the first major Black film director, producer and distributor. In 1924 and '25, Micheaux housed his film company in the Strand Theatre, while Micheaux himself lived across the street in the Dumas Hotel. It has been said that several of his films were shot right on the streets of Gainsboro, and several of his actors were local as well.
As if that was not enough, in 1914, 102 Henry Street (which is now just an empty lot at the corner of 1st NW and Centre Ave.) was the original site of the The Medley Hospital - which in all reality was a 2 room apartment rented out by one of the 5 prominent doctors of Gainsboro, Dr. Medley and his family. Just one short year later, the number of beds had increased to 12 and the Medley family was being pushed out of their own home. This, obviously, was a problem. The family bought, and renovated a 2 story home at 311 Henry St. (& Wells Ave. - now part of the parking lot of the First Baptist Church), which was then donated to the new non-profit Burrell Memorial Hospital Association. Burrell opened on March 18th, 1915 - with a charter encompassing some of the biggest names in Roanoke Medical history. Claytor, Cooper, Downing, Williman, and Roberts. Each one of them considered to the the finest in medicine, each one serving the community to the fullest, yet denied entry into any of the "other side of the tracks" hospitals. However, that was not to be for long. Dr. Downing was the first "colored" person to be admitted to the Roanoke Medical Society, and in 1919 - after a severe flu epidemic struck Roanoke, and drove home the need for a proper medical facility for Black Roanoke. And in that same year, the Roanoke City Council approved the lease of the old Allegheny Institute on McDowell St. as the location for the new, modern Burrell Memorial Hospital.
But even with the move of the medical center to McDowell, the medical community remained at Henry and Center. Doctors, Dentists, and eventually Life Insurance companies located themselves around the Henry Street area.
<sidenote = a few years later, when the Roanoke Memorial Hospital was deemed in need of modernization and overhaul, a bond was issued to fund the renovations - included in this bond was money to rebuild anew the Burrell Memorial Hospital. />
But now I have gone far off track for the focus, Henry Street and Gainsboro. The rebuilding of Henry Street, and the entire Gainsboro area is an ongoing process.
When we come back, this will not look the same. These bricks will once again be proud.
I think it's safe to say that for many a man and woman, for many a year - Henry Street and Gainsboro did well. Till the summer..
It's hard to imagine it today. The view one must have had while walking over the Henry Street Bridge into downtown, or from downtown. Today the walk downtown provides a small slice in to the past.
The bridge is nearing renovations and upgrades to become the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bridge... But to the souls who walked it (and continue to do so) it will always be the Henry Street Bridge. When walking across, out of downtown, the view in the past must have been spectacular. A street humming with vibrant life, lively stores and noted film-makers in residence at the local theatre.
Yep - you heard that right. Oscar Micheaux was (most likely) the first major Black film director, producer and distributor. In 1924 and '25, Micheaux housed his film company in the Strand Theatre, while Micheaux himself lived across the street in the Dumas Hotel. It has been said that several of his films were shot right on the streets of Gainsboro, and several of his actors were local as well.
As if that was not enough, in 1914, 102 Henry Street (which is now just an empty lot at the corner of 1st NW and Centre Ave.) was the original site of the The Medley Hospital - which in all reality was a 2 room apartment rented out by one of the 5 prominent doctors of Gainsboro, Dr. Medley and his family. Just one short year later, the number of beds had increased to 12 and the Medley family was being pushed out of their own home. This, obviously, was a problem. The family bought, and renovated a 2 story home at 311 Henry St. (& Wells Ave. - now part of the parking lot of the First Baptist Church), which was then donated to the new non-profit Burrell Memorial Hospital Association. Burrell opened on March 18th, 1915 - with a charter encompassing some of the biggest names in Roanoke Medical history. Claytor, Cooper, Downing, Williman, and Roberts. Each one of them considered to the the finest in medicine, each one serving the community to the fullest, yet denied entry into any of the "other side of the tracks" hospitals. However, that was not to be for long. Dr. Downing was the first "colored" person to be admitted to the Roanoke Medical Society, and in 1919 - after a severe flu epidemic struck Roanoke, and drove home the need for a proper medical facility for Black Roanoke. And in that same year, the Roanoke City Council approved the lease of the old Allegheny Institute on McDowell St. as the location for the new, modern Burrell Memorial Hospital.
But even with the move of the medical center to McDowell, the medical community remained at Henry and Center. Doctors, Dentists, and eventually Life Insurance companies located themselves around the Henry Street area.
<sidenote = a few years later, when the Roanoke Memorial Hospital was deemed in need of modernization and overhaul, a bond was issued to fund the renovations - included in this bond was money to rebuild anew the Burrell Memorial Hospital. />
But now I have gone far off track for the focus, Henry Street and Gainsboro. The rebuilding of Henry Street, and the entire Gainsboro area is an ongoing process.
We
will revisit the Gainsboro area, and Henry Street in the summer - as
construction ramps up on the new Culinary School, and the Dumas
Center continue. Until then, remember this... as Abraham Lincoln once
said: "I like to
see a man proud of the place he lives; and so live that the place will
be proud of him ."
When we come back, this will not look the same. These bricks will once again be proud.
I think it's safe to say that for many a man and woman, for many a year - Henry Street and Gainsboro did well. Till the summer..