November 07, 2019 at 07:25PM

via Instagram https://ift.tt/2WRXw9S "A Dichotomous Key" The Jackson Rooming House was one of the only places in Tampa where black travelers could find lodging, as they were not accepted in standard hotels of the day. The 24-room establishment began as a six-room cottage built by Moses and Sarah Jackson in 1901. Soon after, they added bedrooms and a second story in order to operate the rooming house, which remained in business until 1989. The Jacksons' children inherited the business and the home remains in the possession of one of the Jacksons' grandchildren. During its time the Jackson House played host to several prominent black entertainers, including  #CountBasie, #CabCalloway,  #JamesBrown, #EllaFitzgerald, and #RayCharles...who were shunned from staying in segregated "white" hotels, sometimes including ones they were performing in. Acts such as these would come to play the nightclubs of Tampa's black business district, which thrived nearby along Central Avenue up until the 1960s. During the 1970 and 80s, dowtown Tampa became a landscape if brutalist commercial space and most of the neighborhood surrounding the house was razed. By 2007, when the house was added to the #NRHP, the Jackson House was believed to be the last free-standing residential dwelling in downtown #Tampa. In 2013, the Jackson House was deemed too damaged to be restored and faced likely demolition. In 2013, efforts were being made to save the historic Rooming House from demolition by the City of Tampa. As of January 13, 2014, Todd Alan Clem, commonly known as @bubbaclem aka #bubbathelovesponge, planned to purchase this property and begin the restoration of the house. Soon afterwards, Clem withdrew plans blaming mayor Bob Buckhorn and city officials. The house has unfortunately fallen into further disrepair and as if 2019, #TheJacksonHouseFoundation estimates that it will cost about a million dollars to restore the building. #jacksonroominghouse #tampahistory #UrbanAllegory #urbex #abandonedplaces #abandoned #abandoned_junkies