Historic Black Businesses in Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Bradley Academy was originally built in 1806. While it started as a school exclusively for white males, in 1884 Bradley Academy opened its doors to both male and female African American students. The current structure was built in 1917 and... Read more

Historical Marker: corner of Highland Avenue and Vaughn Street The Murfreesboro Union, Murfreesboro’s first Black newspaper, was founded in 1920 by Mary Ellen Vaughn. Born in Alabama in 1893, Vaughn was highly educated, graduating from Tu... Read more

Address: 2707 Asbury Lane The Eldorado Club was a popular one-room juke joint, particularly in the 1950s and 1960s. The club was deliberately located on the edge of the Cemetery Community, which was itself on the western edge of Murfreesbor... Read more

Address of the Armory: 1220 West College Street As was the case of many African American benevolent societies, the E. A. Davis Elks Lodge #1138 of Rutherford County served the Black community as an entertainment promoters. The Elks Lodge wa... Read more

Address: 301 South Academy Street Killgo’s Funeral Home was owned and operated by John and Isabell Killgo. John Killgo was born and raised in Jackson, Tennessee, and attended Gupton-Jones College of Embalming in Nashville. Isabell Killgo ... Read more

Address: 318 E. State Street The H. Preston Scales and Sons Funeral Home is the oldest Black owned funeral home in Rutherford County. Potentially also the oldest Black owned business in Murfreesboro, this funeral home was founded by Henry P... Read more

Address: 611 S. Highland Avenue The Hellum Funeral Home was founded by J.C. Hellum in 1934. Originally located at 102 E. Sevier Street, Hellum and his wife, Louise, moved their business to 611 S. Highland Street, where they also built a res... Read more

Address: 118 S. Walnut Street Jackson “Jack” Winsett was born and raised in the Rockvale community, southwest of Murfreesboro. He worked on a farm for most of his early years and met his wife, Bertha L. Jordon, on the farm. Jack and Be... Read more

Address: 411 E. State Street The Elite Barber and Beauty Shops were owned by Johnie L. Murray and James Lester. Many locations on this historical mapping project required collaborative research done alongside the local community. Your in... Read more

Address: 550 E. Sevier Street Victoria “Vick” Taylor was born in 1914. With her husband, Will Taylor, she owned and operated the Moon Lite Café in Murfreesboro. In addition to being a business owner, Taylor was also politically active... Read more

Address: 128 S. Maple Street The Friendly Spot Café, owned by Robert W. Scales, was a prime Black establishment within Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Scales, born in 1926 to Henry Preston and Willie Burkeen Scales, was a civic leader, politician... Read more

Star Cleaner, owned by Charles E. Howse and located at 401 South Maney Avenue, was a prominent Black business in Murfreesboro Tennessee. The business offered expert cleaning and pressing, free mothproofing, sizing process, and free box sto... Read more

Address: 467 Hancock Street The Cash Grocery, owned by Simon Henry and Lydia Jackson Glanton, was a small Black business staple. Simon Henry Glanton was born on May 6, 1911, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and registered for the draft in World W... Read more