Cambridge, Maryland

To Mr. David "Nicky" Henry,

We would like to thank you for your hard work and dedication to the people of Cambridge, Maryland. We hope our small part will open the doors for more African-American history to be published.

We are looking forward to your second volume of historical pictorials and documentation of Cambridge, Maryland.

Sincerely,
Royce L. Sampson, President
Jerry Royce Sampson, Senior, VP
Michael R. Sampson, VP
Rock Publications
THE ROCK Newsmagazine

(see pictorials and documentation below)

Up Pine Street

Business

Having a Piece
of the Pie
Restaurants, service stations barbershops & other specialty shops flourished in our community

– and we owned them

In the 1920’s, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and 60’s, businesses along Pine Street were numerous and prosperous. From the lower end of Pine Street up to High Street, on the corner of High Street and Park Lane, and in Fairmount Avenue, places of business could be seen thriving; you could witness people going in and coming out of doors, where they had made purchases of goods or where they had received some kind of service. There were grocery stores, confectionary stores, restaurants, beauty salons, barber shops, pool halls, funeral homes, taxi cab stands, a drug store, an opera house, night clubs, a salvage yard, tailor shops, dry cleaners, rooming houses, shoe repair shops and other businesses. Even the vaultmaker, Robert Perry, had a thriving business in addition to carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and other tradesmen.

Some of the people who owned grocery stores were Narcissa Chester, Edward St.Clair, Lewis Cephas, Maude Hughes, Albanus Hooper, and Henry Bacon. People who owned restaurants were Henry and Erv Foster, Elwood and Bea Mitchell, James and Norma Land, Lee Jones, The Tyler Brothers, Vivian Farrare, Marjorie Thomas, and Annie Johnson. Eddie Foster, Josiah Henry, Jimmie Foster, and Sam Jackson were owners of some of the confectionary stores. There were several tailor shops owned by African-Americans in the “Second Ward”. Some of the people who owned those shops were Harry Jarvis, Walter Jews, Leon Kennard, Ernest Lyte, Eddie Payne, Okays Cleaners, and Lockwood Cornish. Beauty shops were numerous throughout the community and a few of the people who owned them were Lula Nash, Mabel Bennett, Helen Waters, Addie Clash, Marie Baker, Doretha Bailey , Lillian Henson, Vatice Colder, Bertha Robinson, Jenny Wilkins, Lauretta Sutton, Clementine Griffin, Bea Brannock, Hattie Allen, and Laura Stanley. Local residents of the Second Ward also owned several barbershops. Some of the owners were Levin J. Stanley, Walter Stanley, Richard Parker, Edward Boggs, and William Jews. There were several funeral homes in the area during that period of time. Harry A. Vodery and Herbert St.Clair were business partners, while Leon and Lewis Henry shared their business that was located on Cedar Street next to Elsie Chase’s Studio. Reverend Lewis Bayneum’s funeral parlor was located on the corner of Pine and Washington Streets. Not only was Mr. Bayneum a mortician, he was also an upholstorer. People who needed their cars serviced took them to Charles Cornish’s, Roy Chase’s, Tom Travers’, or Durham Clash’s service stations. Taxicab service was available when you needed one, because there were several drivers at hand most of the time. Some of the drivers were Gabriel Spicer, Donald and Levin Stanley, Charles Cornish, Dick Winn, Monroe Jones, Charles Dutton, Ralph Macer, and Curley Ennals. The only drug store owned and operated by an African-American was Hayes Drug Store, which was located at the corner of Pine and Cedar Streets. For evening entertainment, people would go to Greene’s Opera House, or Greene’s Savoy, Tyler’s I Go You Go Inn, Lee Jones’, the Elks Home, Jimmy Waters’, James Land’s Cozy Corner, Teagle’s Royal Dukes, or Jew Baby’s Monticello Inn.

In later years, many of the businesses were dissolved, some were destroyed by fire, but yet, the owners found ways to continue to operate in spite of lost clientele and changes in the location from Pine Street to other areas in the city. Today, there are African-American businesses found on Race Street, Pine Street, Washington Street, Cedar Street, Chesapeake Court, High Street, Robbins Street, and Park Lane. On Race Street, there are several beauty salons, a tax service, and a funeral home. On Pine Street, there are places of entertainment, barber shops, and a taxi service. On Washington Street, there is a funeral home, a laundremat, and a restaurant. On Cedar Street, there is an entertainment business. Chesapeake Court has an entertainment business and on High Street, there is an antique shop. Robbins Street has a funeral home, and Park Lane has an antique shop.


	“The Camper Sisters Bakery” Courtesy of Monroe and Sylvia Smith This picture is showing the famous Camper Sisters Bakery located on Market Street. The bakery opened its doors in 1919 and remained in business until it closed in 1968.

“Charles Cornish’s Buses” Courtesy of Geraldine Cornish Smith This picture is showing a fleet of buses owned and operated by Charles Cornish. Waiting in front of F.D. St.Clair High School are several drivers as they prepare to take students home. Mr. Cornish became the first African-American on the Eastern Shore of Maryland to get I.C.C. rights to transport passengers across state lines. (1933)	“Pool Parlor and Barber Shop” Courtesy of George Douglas Having a good day in this photo is William “Lovey” Maddox, standing before the Subway Billiard Parlor and Levin J. Stanley’s Barber Shop at the corner of Washington and Pine Streets. The pool parlor was managed by William J. Kiah and operated by Will Epps. (1928)

“Chase Studio” Courtesy of Roberta Wongus Seen in this picture is the photography studio owned and operated by Elsie Chase. It was located on Cedar Street across from Lee Jones’ Quickway Restaurant then, and now at Chat and Chews. (1944)	“The Community Lunchroom” Courtesy of Ethel Earle Cooper The handsome fellow standing in front of the Community Lunchroom is Arvel Jenkins. This restaurant was owned and operated by Vivian Farrare and later on by Marjorie Thomas. It was located on the corner of Pine Street and Dunn’s Lane. (1939)

“The Charles Cornish Garage” Courtesy of Geraldine Cornish Smith This picture is showing the garage of Charles Cornish as it appeared in 1927. With Mr. Cornish are daughters Geraldine and Lillian, along with their friend Agatha. Othello Marine did the artwork on the garage. Take a look at those wheels! (1927)	“Elyte Cleaners and Dyers” Courtesy of Ida Macer This picture is showing Elyte Cleaners and Dyers, one of the largest dry cleaners on the Eastern Shore during the 1940’s through the 1960’s. Getting ready to make his delivery is Frederick Sharpes. (1950)

“Greene’s and Water’s Opera House” Courtesy of Neal Frampton Pictured here is a music hall called Greene’s Opera House, located on Pine Street across from Wells Street. It was built around the turn of the century, and it held performances of some of the most well-known bands and musicians of that era. It burned in later years and was rebuilt as Water’s Opera House. (1925)	“Greene’s Savoy” Courtesy of Orville Chase Seen in this picture is a bar and nightclub known as Greene’s Savoy. This place of entertainment was one of the premiere spots for evening fun and dancing. It has featured some of the most well-known music artists of the times. It was owned and operated by Hansel and Lena Greene. In later years, a hotel was erected on the rear of the building, and it was the first and only one in the African-American community.

“Hayes Drug Store” Courtesy of George Douglas This picture shows a smiling Gladys Pinder walking in front of Hayes Drug Store at the corner of Pine and Cedar Streets. The drug store was owned and operated by Dr. Hayes, the first African-American pharmacist in Cambridge. (1938)	“Hooper and Bacon’s Grocery Store” Courtesy of Carolyn N. Armstrong Seen in this picture is a grocery store once owned by Albanus Hooper and Henry Bacon. This business was located on the corner of High Street and Park Lane. The strutting majorette seen marching is Carolyn Nichols. (1948)

“Inside the Community Lunchroom” Courtesy of Ida F. Macer This picture is showing the interior of the Community Lunchroom as it appeared in 1949. The restaurant was owned by Vivian Farrare, and later by Marjorie Thomas. It was not uncommon for Black women to own businesses – and we could sit at these counters. (1949)	“Lula Nash’s Beauty Parlor” Courtesy of George Douglas This photograph is showing the lovely sisters, Devenia and Gladys Pinder, posing in front of Lula Nash’s Beauty Parlor on Pine Street. (1938)