The Rise and Fall of the Eggleston Hotel

It took bloggers, tweeters and the traditional media combined this past weekend to tell the complete story of the Eggleston Hotel's partial collapse, demolition and decades-old historical relevance.

While the breaking news came this past weekend when WRIC TV-8 and WWBT TV-12 reported the collapse of a building at Second and Leigh streets in Jackson Ward, the story really began decades before when the collapsed building -- soon revealed to be the Eggleston Hotel -- housed the legends not just of black Richmond, but of the fabric of black cultural and social life in America.

The Times-Dispatch provided some of that context on with articles in their Sunday and Monday editions. Here's an excerpt from the TD's first reports on Saturday:

Neverett A. Eggleston Sr. opened the Eggleston Hotel in the late 1930s, and it became the heart of a bustling strip that, during its heyday, was a hub of black commerce in Richmond.

For decades, The Eggleston Hotel was one of only three in the city that permitted black guests. Its restaurant, called Neverett's Place, would become a popular dining spot and gathering place. Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, Redd Foxx, Moms" Mabley, Joe Louis, Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays and Satchel Paige were among the black luminaries who spent the night at the Eggleston.

...

Neverett Eggleston III, the building's owner who also owns Croaker's Spot restaurant across the street, said it was hard to lose the building because it had been owned originally by his grandfather, but it was "good in the sense that we get the opportunity to do something new, to build on the land."

Neverett Eggleston Jr., his father, said he was sad to see the hotel building in pieces. "It means so much to us as a race of people," he said.

But in the spaces between the collapse of the building and Saturday evening's television news, in-the-moment details on what was happening at the scene of the hotel collapse were popping up on Twitter feeds around the country -- primarily from John Murden of Church Hill People's News and Daniel Farrell, also from neighboring Church Hill. Farrell caught video footage of the hotel demo, which is posted at Carver & Jackson Ward News. Murden updated throughout the day with text and great photos at Carver & Jackson Ward News, as well.

Valerie Catrow at RVANews captured some of the Twitter threads in her summary today:

Carver & Jackson Ward News broke the story in the community blog circuit, accompanied by some real-time tweeting agreggated on rvatweets. Here’s a sampling of the tweets tagged so we keep could track of the goings-on (some more positive than others)…

Eggleston Hotel in Jackson Ward collapses, tag tweets and flickrs with #ehotel . More info: http://tinyurl.com/ctpnfh (from @rvatweets)

Eggleston Hotel photos - before, after, and vintage http://tinyurl.com/ctpnfh #ehotel #RVA (from @chpn)

it was being renovated so contractor probably effed up. less likely engineer could’ve. old stuff breaks. get pics! #ehotel (from @C_Wolf)

at #ehotel checking it out http://twitpic.com/35l7c (from @danielfarrell)

She also posted links, photos and videos from throughout the day, including the process of demolishing the partially collapsed structure late Saturday afternoon.

But the most comprehensive summary of coverage might be found at Richmond Good Life, which not only provides links to much of the actual coverage but also delves into the historical significance of the Jackson Ward landmark:

Eggleston Hotel Collapse

8News
Carver and Jackson Ward News (demolition video)
CBS6 (streaming coverage)
NBC12...not the first hotel to show recent signs of wear
RVATweetsTimes Dispatch...update demolition continues
WRVA

 
The Historical Significance of Eggleston Hotel

Built By Blacks
Memories of “The Deuce"
Port of Harlem
National Park Services
11 Most Endangered Historical Places
Style Weekly: The Barriers They Broke
Share your memories of the Eggleston Hotel, Neverett’s Place...Loss is lamented

The Voice Newspaper puts the hotel -- and its location on Second Street -- into a little historical perspective:

“The Deuce” better known as Second Street in Jackson Ward was the most happening spot in Richmond once upon a time and holds everlasting legacies.

During the first half of the 20th century Jim Crow consigned Blacks and whites to separate restaurants, bus seating, restrooms and water fountains. Being the case, Blacks in Richmond created an area of their own that was consumed with successful businesses, entertainment and housing.

Though performers like Bill “Bojangles” Robinson—a Richmond native—Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway were permitted to perform in such venues as The Mosque (now The Landmark) for a white crowd, they weren’t allowed to lodge or eat where whites were. Instead of complaining, they went home among their own people to “the Deuce.”

Black celebrities and locals often frequented the nightspots on Second Street—right in the heart of Jackson Ward.

After performing at whites-only theaters (like the Mosque) Black entertainment really came alive with jam sessions that lasted well into the early morning.

They were regular visitors and customers of Jackson Ward’s Eggleston Hotel, Slaughter’s Hotel and the Hippodrome and Globe Theaters.

All in all, I'd say it took all of Richmond's media -- new and old -- to tell the full story.