Old North End in Burlington in Chittenden County, Vermont — The American Northeast (New England)
Pate-King House
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Guidebooks for Black Americans
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 4, 2024
1. Pate-King House side of marker
Pate-King House. The Pate-King family lived here for 67 years, opening their home as a hotel and apartment. Cleta Pate (1874-1957) was born in the Philippines, where she married Buffalo Soldier William King. In 1910, the family moved to Fort Ethan Allen in Colchester, Vermont. Cleta later married Frank Pate (1872-1950), also a Buffalo Soldier with the 10th Cavalry. After his discharge, they relocated to Burlington, where Frank owned a construction business. In 1921 Cleta bought this house and secured a mortgage solely in her name. She renovated it to serve as The Pates hotel, which was listed in two guides for Black motorists from 1930 to 1966. After Cleta died, Alfred and Theresa King operated the hotel and apartment house until 1988.
Guidebooks for Black Americans. After the invention of cars, motorists began traveling far and wide. Due to prejudice and discrimination, Black motorists had a difficult time finding hotels, restaurants and gas stations that would serve them, making travel limiting and dangerous. Guidebooks such as Hackley and Harrison's Hotel Guide (1930-31) and the Negro Motorist's Green Book (1936-1966)
this page online
Erected by Vermont Division for Historic Preservation. (Marker Number 2022.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Immigration • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation Markers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1910.
Location. 44° 29.275′ N, 73° 12.616′ W. Marker is in Burlington, Vermont, in Chittenden County. It is in Old North End. It is on Archibald Street east of Intervale Avenue, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 86 Archibald St, Burlington VT 05401, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Vermont’s Champlain
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 4, 2024
2. Guidebooks for Black Americans side of marker
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: In Memory of John Lonergan (approx. 0.3 miles away); Saint-Joseph Parish (approx. 0.4 miles away); Athletic Park (approx. 0.4 miles away); Mary Martha Fletcher (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Meeting House (approx. half a mile away); First Unitarian Universalist Society Meeting House (approx. half a mile away); Church Street Marketplace (approx. half a mile away); Masonic Temple (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Burlington.
Also see . . .
1. This Place in History: Pate's Hotel. The Pates family ran a hotel on Archibald Street in Burlington for over 60 years. The hotel was an important stop for travelers of color who had limited options at the time, and a reflection of how many of the businesses in the Old North End neighborhood were built by people of color.(Local 22, Local 44 and Vermont Historical Society, uploaded Jan. 8, 2021)
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 4, 2024
3. Pate-King House / Guidebooks for Black Americans Marker
2. The Pates and Kings of Archibald Street (PDF). How did the paths of Frank Pate (1872-1950) from Nashville, Tenn., and Clelati Harrison (1874-1957) from the Philippines cross? And what brought them to Archibald Street in Burlington, Vt., to run the Pates Hotel that was in travelers books for people of color, including the Green Book, for 36 years? (Rebekah Mortensen and Elise A. Guyette, Chittenden County Historical Society Bulletin, Summer 2020) (Submitted on November 29, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 29, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 525 times since then and 54 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 29, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
