"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : EDWARD C BERRY

Once Upon A Time, on the Southside of Monroe, Louisiana. There was a School for Blacks named “Mt Nebo High School.” { The School was located on the corner of Jackson St and Thomas St }. Also, It was where the famous “ Mae Parade”( a Parade where Black People marched from Mt Nebo High School in Monroe to Boley Elementary School in West Monroe ) started. The “Mae Parade” is part of the “Forgotten Black History” of Monroe, Louisiana. Now, let me tell you about the Negro Businessman that opened a hotel that served White People and Black People,m. His name was “Edward C Berry.” He was born in Oberlin Ohio, in 1854. When his father died in 1870, young Edward had to quit school in order to help provide for his family[ his mother, his 8 siblings, as well as himself ]. He ended up walking 10 miles to Athens ,Ohio to find work. After finding work, Edward would send money back home to his mother. In addition to working odd jobs, he used part of his savings to run his own refreshment stand. Edward C Berry was often called the "Black Horatio Algier" of Athens, Ohio. After getting married, Edward decided to go into the restaurant business with his brother. However, since business was so slow,he bought his brother out, and went it alone. Business eventually picked up, and Edward continued saving his money! Between 1880 and 1882, Edward decided that he would go into the hotel business. Athens. In 1907, the hotel had 50 rooms, baths and all modern conveniences, and an elevator[ Berry’s hotel was the first hotel in the country to have closet hangers, sewing kits, and Gideon Bibles in each room ]. The hotel was so popular that men came from considerable distances just to spend Sunday there! His hotel was so successful that it was reported that “50% - 60% of the hotel’s customers were Whites( Note : he never turned away Negro customers }. The Berry Hotel even survived the “Financial Panic” of 1893. Edward C Berry died in 1931.