Columbia in Boone County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
African American Heritage Trail
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 21, 2021
1. Coleman Coal and Salvage / Tiger Theater / Tiger Lounge / Noble's Merchandise Exchange / Kozy Shop Marker
Alvan B. Coleman (1897-1968) owned Coleman Coal and Salvage, Tiger Theater, Tiger Lounge and other real estate. His father, James B. Coleman, was principal at Douglass School; his mother Julia taught there. Until Urban Renewal, the family home at 401 E. Park Ave. stood in front of the salvage yard. Their nearby commercial building house Coleman's Laundry, a beauty shop and barber shop. Lewis M. Noble, a real estate developer and entrepreneur (1930s-1970s), owned Noble's Merchandise Exchange at 308 E. Park Ave. It was a waste-paper processing plant and also sold furniture, wood and coal. He relocated the business after it burned down (1948) and built a skating rink for blacks on the site. William R. Washington (1883-1960) owned and operated the Kozy Shop, 308 E. Park Ave. (late 1950s), selling snacks to Douglass students.
Erected 2019 by Sharp End Heritage Committee, Economic Development Inc., City of Columbia; sign courtesy of Providence Bank.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce • Sports. In addition, it is included in the Missouri, Columbia, African-American Heritage Trail series list.
Location.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. African-American Heritage Trail (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); In Loving Memory of Mrs. Beulah Ralph (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named African-American Heritage Trail (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named African-American Heritage Trail (about 500 feet away); The Wynna Faye Tapp-Elbert Memorial Amphitheater (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named African-American Heritage Trail (about 700 feet away); Tibbs Building (about 800 feet away); Douglass Park and Pool, Russell Chapel (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbia.
Also see . . . African-American Heritage Trail complete, ready to teach. Columbia Missourian website entry (Submitted on April 23, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 21, 2021
2. Coleman Coal and Salvage / Tiger Theater / Tiger Lounge / Noble's Merchandise Exchange / Kozy Shop Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on April 5, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 26, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 374 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 26, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
