MERIDIAN, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed) – A piece of Meridian’s Black business history is shining again following the unveiling of the restored Hotel E.F. Young Jr. sign in downtown Meridian.
The restored sign was illuminated Thursday evening outside the historic Holbrook Building in Meridian’s Historic Black Business District, according to information shared by the city of Meridian.
The sign is displayed near the intersection of Fifth Street and 25th Avenue, at the site where the rear of Brown’s Barber Shop once stood.
Dr. Otis Gowdy Jr., who purchased the Holbrook Building in 2021, said the restored sign is an important part of the Holbrook Collective and the ongoing restoration of the historic building.
Before Thursday’s unveiling, local and state dignitaries joined Gowdy in sharing stories about the history of Fifth Street and the Black-owned businesses that once flourished in the area.
The historic business district was once home to a wide variety of businesses and professional services, including doctors’ and dentists’ offices, pharmacies, shoe shops, florists, cleaners, cafes, specialty stores, beauty and barber shops, funeral homes and taxi services. The district also included recreational facilities and business and cosmetology schools.
According to the city, the stories shared Thursday offered some attendees a walk down memory lane while providing others an opportunity to learn more about the district and its significance to Meridian’s history.
The Holbrook Building is one of the few remaining buildings in the historic district. Gowdy said the building served the community as an entertainment, civic and business venue from the early 1920s through the mid-1980s.
Renovations to the Holbrook began in 2023.
Once the restoration is complete, plans call for the historic building to serve as a museum and venue for special events.
The unveiling of the Hotel E.F. Young Jr. sign marks another step in efforts to preserve and highlight the history of Meridian’s once-thriving Fifth Street Black business district.
Information for this story was provided by the city of Meridian.
