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Looking back at 2024, I enjoyed seeing the things I accomplished and I look to doing more of the same in 2025.

One of the things that ranks high on my list of accomplishments is writing this column for the Washington Daily News. I have been told I have introduced Washington NC to people across the country and abroad. I am very grateful to know that. I am even more grateful that people are coming to Washington to learn more about our town.

The Washington Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum and the free history walking tours I do are helping to enhance cultural tourism here. I do it because I love sharing my hometown and its history with visitors.

One reader from France requested another ‘Know Your Town’ segment, so here it is.

I wanted to share a part of my childhood, the Lenox Theatre, where I spent Saturday mornings watching movies with my sisters.

The Lenox Theatre was the second African American theatre in Washington. The first Black theatre, the Leary Theatre, was owned briefly by a businessman William Leary, who owned several businesses near the corner of what was then Fourth Street (now Dr. M L King Jr. Drive) and Union Alley. His little theatre was housed in one of his businesses around the late 1930’s and operated for a short time. The movies weren’t first run, but they were well received by patrons.

The second and most prominent theatre was the Lenox Theatre near the corner of Fifth and Van Norden Streets.

The theatre was owned by a local white man, William (Billy) Benjamin Duke. The movie house opened in July 1947 and offered first run movies.

Its 400 seats were quickly filled as movie goers enjoyed air conditioning and double features, talent shows on Thursday nights and the theatre even had an ‘Educational Hour’ which was broadcast Sunday mornings on Washington’s radio station WRRF at 11:00 a.m.

The theatre, named after the Lenox Lounge in Harlem, received that name after Mr. Duke hosted a ‘Name The Theatre Contest’ months before the grand opening. The contestant who offered the prize-winning name, was the first person to walk in and be seated in the new theatre.

The Lenox Lounge was the heartbeat of Harlem as it was a renowned venue for jazz greats like Miles Davis, John Coltrane and countless others. It was also home to many community events. Mr. Duke wanted this kind of environment for his theater.

The theatre became a gathering place for social events. It sponsored free movie passes to those celebrating a birthday or anniversary during a WRRF radio program called ‘Washington On The Air.’ It provided prizes to the Washington Colored High School students at graduation. The Lenox was used as a conference center to host the Animal Husbandry staff from NC State College.

At the conference, community leaders and farmers learned about the newest techniques for operating successful dairy farms, which many Black families owned in Washington, and how to increase poultry and pork production on their farms.

The Lenox really was an icon for the Black community and a special place for us kids.