Imperial Hotel celebrates history with relighting ceremony
Nov. 9—Last Friday, the Jack Hadley Black History Museum held a reception commemorating the relighting of the historic Imperial Hotel's neon sign on the hotel's 73rd Anniversary.
Daniel Pittman, executive director of the museum, thanked the attendees at the reception, making clear how significant the night was for the African American community of Thomasville.
"I just want to thank everyone for attending tonight, as we reignite history, as we turn on the Imperial Hotel's original neon sign," he said.
Pittman said this moment was just one milestone in the long journey that had preceded it, began by James Jack Hadley in 1979.
"But before we get started, before we talk a little bit more about the Imperial Hotel, I want to discuss the Jack Hadley Black History Museum," he said. "I know most in attendance have heard the story about how the museum was founded, but the story is so remarkable, that even if there is one person tonight who's not heard the story, it's worth mentioning."
Pittman said in 1979, Jack Hadley was stationed in Germany when his son came home saying that the school wasn't celebrating Black history month. Motivated, Jack Hadley fashioned pieces of his own for the school to present, and later prepared an exhibit for his military base.
"From what started as a school project in 1979 has now ballooned into a full-scale museum that features over 10,000 artifacts, 4,000 books, and the reason for our meeting tonight, the Imperial Hotel," Pittman said.
Historically a safe haven for Black travelers in the south during a time plagued by Jim Crow laws, Pittman said that they acquired the property in 2018 with the help of local organizations.
"Thanks to efforts from Thomas Landmarks and the Williams Family Foundation, back in 2018, the museum was able to acquire the Imperial Hotel," he said. "From 2018 to today, we have undergone several challenges, namely COVID-19."
Slowing down their projects, he added that there were blessings to be found during the hard time. Namely, he said, it got the board involved more than ever before.
"The start of the pandemic dramatically slowed progress on the project, however it was also a blessing in disguise," Pittman said. "As a result of COVID, the need to go virtual, we started to develop strong board participation and Mr. Hadley's family, such as our new board president, Ms. Jackie Hadley, was able to join on all meetings."
Jackie Hadley, speaking at the reception after Pittman, spoke on the plans for the property and the area surrounding it, and how it would be the new site for the Jack Hadley Black History Museum.
"Mark this night, it's one to remember," she said. "On this very spot that we stand, we are going to be building the Jack Hadley Black History Museum. We are grateful, we have some wonderful people in the audience that have sewn so much into the work that we are doing."
The plan, referred to as the Jack Hadley Yards, would include the renovation of the hotel and surrounding area, as a well as the construction of the Perra s. Bell community resource library amongst other things.
"And so, what we have planned here, on the very yard that we stand, is called the Jack Hadley Yards," Jackie Hadley said. "So, the Yards will include a new multi-level museum building, the Perra Bell Library, an outdoor gathering space, and, of course, the renovated hotel and shotgun house that is next door."
She thanked those who had had a hand in the opportunity that the museum now had to preserve more of the local Black history and the philanthropic businesses of Thomasville for their support.
"So we thank each of our wonderful donors, our wonderful volunteers, that have been along the way and helped to support this work and we give a special thank you to Thomasville's philanthropic business community," Jackie Hadley said. "Together, we are preserving and educating our community on African American history and culture and we are extremely grateful."
