GREENSBORO, N.C. — When it comes to history, North Carolina has a lot of it, especially when it comes to music.
What You Need To Know
The Historic Magnolia House opened in 1949, and appeared in six publications of the “Negro Motorist Green Book,” which served as a travelers’ guide that featured businesses that accepted Black patrons
Many renowned African Americans stayed at the home during segregation, such as Jackie Robinson, James Baldwin, Gladys Knight and Tina Turner
The home recently reopened as a bed & breakfast and event space after being closed for more than 50 years
Quite a few "greats" were born here, like Nina Simone, Charlie Daniels and Thelonious Monk.
However, one Greensboro hotel is known for the "greats" who once checked in.
Because June is Black Music Month, Spectrum News 1 took a trip to the Historic Magnolia House for a look at an interesting guest list that hit all the right notes during troubling times.
As the general manager at the Historic Magnolia House on Gorrell Street, Jhun Mosby does a little bit of everything.
There always seems to be something to do, especially as business picks up inside this bed and breakfast.
“I love to see all the guests that come in here, and they are so inspired. You know, especially with this being Black-owned. The original history of the hotel, and the direction we are going,” Mosby said.
Not only are the guests inspired. He is as well.
Mosby accepted this position in March and has been commuting from Durham ever since.
He says it is worth it to help tell the story of this once-safe haven for African Americans during segregation.
Back then, it was known as The Magnolia Motel, and it was listed several times in a popular publication.
“I knew about the Green Book, but I didn’t realize, you know, how significant it was,” Mosby said.
Since Black travelers were not welcomed in many businesses throughout the country, the Negro Motorist Green Book listed places where they were.
It was published from the 1940s through the 1960s.
This motel was one of very few that welcomed Black travelers between Richmond and Atlanta, which meant the guest list sometimes looked more like an entertainment lineup.
“The wall is an homage to all of our high profile guests,” Mosby said.
He is talking about the main wall of the house’s living room. It is dedicated to musical powerhouses, such as Ruth Brown, Gladys Knight, Ray Charles, Joe Tex and even the Godfather of Soul, James Brown.
“I’ve heard stories from neighbors, how he was very involved, you know, when he would come to Greensboro. And he would play outside with the children like all the time on Gorrell,” Mosby said. “It is incredible, you know, and to think like all of these people who have contributed to so much to, not just Black history but American history, and to know that they couldn’t go to, and they weren’t accepted at many other places is crazy.”
It is not just one wall recognizing the popular patrons.
The décor and names of the upstairs bedrooms also pay tribute to some of those famous artists who temporarily called this place home, like the bright pink Carlotta Room.
“It’s an homage to the women of soul – Gladys Knight, Tina Turner, Ruth Brown. So, they wanted something spicy and beautiful,” Mosby said.
The upkeep never ends at this place known as “the house that soul built.”
However, you could say the sounds of “sprucing up” is music to Mosby’s ears because he considers it a privilege to be a part of a staff trying to simply keep that soul alive.
“We don’t know a lot about our history, and the things that we do know tends to be negative. So, to know something that once was that was so rich and so beautiful and was a getaway for us, it’s important to keep that message alive,” Mosby said.
The Historic Magnolia House fully reopened as a bed and breakfast, as well as an event space in January 2022, after being closed for more than 50 years.