Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 9-18-20

Feature
Renovation Of Historic Jackson House Underway
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
In 2013, in an article in the Sentinel about saving the Jackson House, then owner Willie Jackson hoped for a miracle to save the historic house. Sadly, he passed away in June 2019, before the miracle could come to fruition.
The house had fallen into despair since it closed in 2005. Up until his death, Mr. Jackson had rallied to have the historic building restored. It had been built by his grandfather, Moses Jackson, and completed in 1901.
In 2017, Jeff Vinik, owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning donated $50,000 as part of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Community Hero Award Program. Last November, Jeff and Penny Vinik pledged $1 million for the restoration of the building.
MAYOR JANE CASTOR
Earlier this month, the restoration of the building began. The renovation is called phase one of the restoration.
Mayor Jane Castor
said, “We are very excited to see work getting started at the Jackson House. These walls carry the stories of the many Black travelers, musi- cians, and legends who were once housed here during the segregation era.
“By breathing new life
into this building, we can hold on to an important piece of Tampa history and pay tribute to those who helped shape the future of our City. We are grateful to all those who generously do- nated to make this restora- tion project possible to preserve this landmark in our community.”
About The Jackson House
The Jackson Boarding House has provided lodging for such notables as Ray Charles, Count Basie, Cab Calloway, James Brown, Ella Fitzgerald, and other African American entertainers who visited the historic Central Avenue Black Business District dur- ing segregation.
In 2007, the Jackson House was granted its his- toric status by the U. S. Na- tional Register of Historic Places.
Moses Jackson built
The Jackson Boarding House, 851 E. Zack Street, opened its doors in 1901 to provide shelter for African Americans during the era of segregation. It remained operational until 2005.
the house for his wife, Sarah, and their 4 daugh- ters. It was passed down to each daughter through time. Their daughter, Sarah Jackson Robinson died on August 30, 2006 in the same room she was born in
on November 5, 1916. She took over operation of the house in 1940 and closed it the year before she died in 2005.
The house had been op- erated by five generations of women.
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