Birmingham in Jefferson County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
The Fraternal Hotel Building
Destination
— Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage Trail —
Photographed By Mark Hilton, December 5, 2021
1. The Fraternal Hotel Building Marker
Located in the Historic Fourth Avenue Business District next to the taxi stand and Colored Masonic Temple, this building housed one of Birmingham's few hotels for Black travelers. It also housed restaurants Monroe Steak House and the Fraternal Café, which was as famous for its salmon croquettes as for the people who visited it, including baseball great Jackie Robinson. Leaders of the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights (ACMHR) used office space in the building, where it held non-violence training sessions for their foot soldiers.
"If we could have paid her for feeding us, she would have been rich."
Tommy Wrenn
Birmingham Movement Foot Soldier, talking about the generosity of Fraternal Café owner Miss Russell to people involved in the Birmingham Movement.
Lesson C15: Why were Black-owned hotels a good idea during the years of segregation in the South?
Erected by the Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage Trail. (Marker Number C15.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1925.
Location.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Taxi Stand (here, next to this marker); Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Fraternal Hotel Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Colored Masonic Temple (within shouting distance of this marker); Emory Overton Jackson (within shouting distance of this marker); Dunbar Hotel Building Urban Impact Office, (within shouting distance of this marker); Fourth Avenue Historic District (within shouting distance of this marker); 4th Avenue District (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Birmingham.
Regarding The Fraternal Hotel Building. The Civil Rights Activist Committee “Home of the Foot Soldiers“ is the Information Center for the Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage Trail.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, December 5, 2021
2. The Fraternal Hotel Building Marker
Photographed By Mark Hilton, December 5, 2021
3. The Fraternal Hotel Building Marker
Photographed By Mark Hilton, December 5, 2021
4. Nearby Fraternal Hotel Building Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 8, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 13, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 333 times since then and 70 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 13, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
