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| Betty Dobson and Sherline Cooper, co-founders, Upper Town Heritage Museum |
And if you have photographs, programs, letters or any other sort of historical artifact related to those days, Dobson would love to hear from you.
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| The hotel, in 1915 |
“The African American community has done so much for the history of Paducah, and on the national level, as well,” Dobson says. “We’re eager to show exhibits that feature the talents of our forefathers and foremothers. If anyone would like to loan pieces that reflect African American history – or would like a permanent place for them – we’d be honored to display them.”
A Decade of Fundraising and Renovation
With the help of numerous politicians, organizations, donors and volunteers, Dobson and Sherline Cooper have dedicated the past decade to raising hundreds of thousand of dollars for the hotel’s extreme makeover.
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| A look inside the renovated hotel – great spot for events! |
Today, the building is alive again. The first floor entry way, living room, dining room and kitchen and the second floor guestrooms and bathrooms look as they did when famous African American musicians and athletes such as Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Ike and Tina Turner, Satchel Paige and The Harlem Globetrotters stayed here while playing in Paducah during the era of segregation. There’s even a cute museum shop that sells books, baseballs, caps and aromatherapy oils.
The Hotel’s History
In fact, it was 24-year-old Maggie Steed who saw the need for a modern hotel back in 1909, according to the museum’s Web site. She built and ran the hotel until her death, leaving it to Edward and Lucille Wright. They ran it for four years and sold it in 1928 to longtime Paducah businessman Henry Gause and his wife, Mayme Burbridge. Burbridge operated the hotel until her death in 1951.
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| Ike and Tina Turner slept here, with the Ikettes across the hall! |
Upon their deaths, the building came into the hands of their son – Winston-Salem basketball coach Clarence “Big House” Gaines. The hotel closed in 1996 and was condemned and ready for demolition in 1999.
That’s when Dobson and Cooper, literally, stepped in.
“We could just feel the history, the power and the music,” says Dobson of walking into the dilapidated building for the first time. “This overwhelming spirit just took us over. We knew we had to save it.”
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| The hotel, today |
The Hotel Metropolitan has already been host to several speakers and exhibits, including a program on Annie Turnbo-Malone in February. Born in 1869 in Metropolis, Malone developed a line of hair care products and opened the first cosmetology school for African Americans in St. Louis.
Dobson says the museum will host similar educational speakers and events going forward.
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| The Hotel Metropolitan, painted by Minnie Clay. |
“We started all this to create something in Upper Town for kids,” Dobson says. “Through this museum, we can show our youth that even in the most adverse situation, our people made the best they could from it. I hope they take something positive from our museum, and that the museum honors those who have done so much for us.”
