"Black businesses were in ‘The Flat’" by Susie Sansom-Piper

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS, PART 2

Black businesses were in ‘The Flat’

by Susie Sansom-Piper

Rockdale Reporter - February 14, 2008

Most of the early blacks in Rockdale settled south of the I&GN (Missouri Pacific)

railroad tracks in a section known as “The Flat” and on a hilltop known as “Grassbur

Hill.”

San Gabriel Street becomes Plum after it crosses the railroad tracks. Other streets in

The Flat neighborhood include Martin Luther King, Pecan and Mulberry. During the 1950s

there was a new addition, including Baxter, Vernon, Riley, Metcalf and Pear streets.

Most of the early activities occurred in The Flat.

Oldest business

Oldest known black-owned business in Rockdale was Paul Moultry’s blacksmith shop,

downtown where the Gaither building stands. It later moved to the corner of Mulberry and

First.

Jack Shields blacksmith shop was located in a prairie area between the Missouri Pacific

tracks and First.

In the 1930s through 1950s, many businesses were in the middle of The Flat.

Among the earliest known were Frank “Doc” Cummings’ ice cream parlor and barber shop and

grocery stores owned by Jim Beals, Cebron Sauls, Withie McKee Sr. and Joe Chandler.

There were favorites of children as candy bars, sodas and small snacks cost 1-5 cents.

The stores were also readily available to those who spent long hours in the cotton fields

where workers could get a hunk of bologna for 10 cents, a can of pork and beans for 10 or

15, plus a 5-cent soda and some crackers.

Duke, Ella and Cab

Teens gathered at places owned by Jack Wratt, Fred Foster and “Mrs. Ruby ” Ledbetter and

danced to the music of Ella Fitzgerald, The Platters, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, The

Supremes and others. You could also get short orders of hamburgers, hot dogs, chili or

chicken dinners at these places.

Teens respected owners and always addressed them as “Mr.” or “Mrs.”

Also in The Flat were Emma’s Beauty Shop, Jean’s Beauty Shop, CharlesEtta’s Beauty Shop,

Sansom’s Barber Shop, S. T. Benson Barber Shop and Tom Fair Barber Shop.

Most of the early barbers were of the “front porch” or “back yard” variety who cut hair

with hand clippers and w ithout a license. Haircuts were 25 to 50 cents.

In later years, Phillips Barber Shop, Lynn’s Beauty Shop and Locklin’s teenage place were

housed at MLK and Second. William “Bill” Jackson had a barbecue business on weekends.

Black physician

Rockdale’s only known black doctor, Dr. W. A. Allen, has a 1-1/2-room office at Plum and

Second. Legendary tales relate he made a “cure all black salve” which was guaranteed to

cure “just about anything.”

His practice began in Rockdale in 1905 and thrived until the late 30s.

After the death of his wife, Minnie Clarissa, Dr. Allen terminated his practice. He

remained in Rockdale for the next 2-3 years, soon became ill and died.

He was buried in South Carolina next to his wife. Dr. Allen’s original home still stands

on Baxter Street.

Two prominent midwives also lived in The Flat. Kate Walton was well known and delivered

most of the babies in the Rockdale area in the 30s and 40s. She was also noted for ear-

piercing using a simple cork and threaded needle.

Music, orator

Eula Bell Moultry, who was also a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), was a Richards

Memorial Hospital employee for many years.

Flat residents Minnie Fair, Earnestine Mays, Uneeda Rice, Julius (Bose) Moultry, Myrtle

Mae Tind e, Frankie Moore McDonald, Wilma Moseley, the Shields brothers, Jessie Wells,

Freddie and Imogene Gray were well known for their musical talent. Birdie Cook as an

outstanding orator.

Lyle Tindle a pioneer railroad worker, Olivia Wilson, Henrietta Garman and Annie Bell

West lived on the north side of the tracks, also considered to be a part of The Flat. It

is also said the old dirt road once near the tracks was the main highway to Milano and

the old Mundine mine.

In early Rockdale a Masonic Hall and Woodmen of the World Hall were on Pecan Street. The

first black school was the first Masonic Hall. Later a third Masonic Hall was built on

Third Street.

The second school, the first Aycock School, was located between Pecan, Third, Fourth and

Mulberry streets. The first known kindergarten in the area was operated by Ella J. Beals

in her home, which still stands on Second Street.

Funeral home, churches

Phillips & Luckey operated a funeral home for African-Americans on the corner of Plum and

Third. The original building still stands at this location.

Most of Rockdale’s African-American churches were, and still are, located in The Flat.

Earlier churches were Springfield Baptist (oldest), New Hope Baptist (second oldest) and

Allen Chapel AME.

The Church of God in Christ once existed on Second Street and the newest church in the

area is the Institute For Teaching God’s Word.

Author Susie Sansom-Piper visits a house at Plum and Third which

was once a Phillips & Luckey Funeral home for African-Americans.

Early Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home for African-Americans, Rockdale, Tx

Photo by
Mike Brown

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