"Our Story, Inc."

  Established 6/2009 Updated 8/24/10

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Jeanetta Scott"I remember when blacks could not walk down Virginia Street" Jeanetta Scott "Our Story, Inc." 2010

It is often said that there are a thousand stories in the Naked City.

Every house has a bag of untitled pictures, a box of papers stored under a bed or in the back of a closet, to say nothing of those with storage sheds out back, containing untold treasure.

"Our Story, Inc" is all about the stories heretofore untold being brought out, dusted off and shared with the community.

Recently Jeanetta Scott, a long time resident of Reno, stopped by with an assortment of photos to share part of her story.

Ms. Scott arrived to Reno, Nevada in 1946 from Kentucky through Richmond California at the age of eight as a result of her mother Agnes Reed and future stepfather Joseph Dupree’s desire to marry.

They first resided in a room of a home (now the location of A-1 Radiator) owned by Ms Garnor on Second Street near Kirman. Their second residence was with Ms. Coffers in Sparks, Nevada near the railroad tracks. Later they moved to another area in Sparks, Nevada, near what is now known as Victorian Square, at the home of Ms. Perkins. There they rented a room. Ms. Perkins home was located on the property of a local landowner. Ms. Scott’s stepfather talked to the landowner who agreed to let them rent a chicken coop located in the field along with the use of an outhouse. "It was a big open field. Nothing like it is now.  Pitch black at night” Her mom renovated it and turned it into a cozy home. “There weren’t to many places blacks could live.” “We had a very large garden, grew everything.”  "We raised chickens, rabbits and turkeys.”

Photo:Agnes Reed and Joseph Dupree in large garden.

Ms. Scott attended first grade at an elementary school on Pyramid Way. Soon afterward her parents purchased their first home on Bell Street around 1950 with the help of J. E. Sweat Realty, one of the only two realtors that catered to blacks at that time. They resided there for almost ten years.

Jeanetta’s mother and step-father separated sometime afterward and her mother purchased another property on West 6^th Street in the early part of 1960. Mr. Dupree relocated to what some now know as Ms. Emmas on Ninth Street.

"What I remember about the Bell Street & 2nd is there was houses and a filling station where the Midtown Motel is now, and a Lutheran Church located where the funeral home is now."

"I remember when First, Second, and other streets were pitch black. Some were dirt roads. Blacks could not walk down Virginia Street. They had to walk down Lake Street. You could not go into the casinos, the old Palace Club and the Golden Hotel Casino. Reno was just like Mississippi. Got called out of my name many times and had to fight".

“The Salvation Army was on Sierra Street before you cross the railroad tracks. We were the only blacks that went to that church. At that time there no black baptist churchs. There weren’t that many blacks in Reno. The few you did see were now and then".

Photo:Joseph DuPree, Jeanetta Scott and Agnes Reed worshipping at Salvation Army, Reno, Nevada

Ms. Scott remembers the downtown area had a Spinwicks Paint Store, Sears and Roebucks, JC Penny, Crest Theater, Skaggs Drug Store, and Wigwam Café, to name a few. She also mentioned the Mayfair store (the area is now occupied by Circus Circus) and Food King, located at Valley Road and Sixth Street ( now Bavarian World ).

Black beauty salons did well. “Elnora had a shop on Second Street in those days. Ms. Emma’s first shop was on Valley Road and Sixth Street. Its that red house there on the corner. In those days you did not need to do a license to do hair. Peggy Hooks’ momma had a shop near Fourth Street and Wells".

“A Minister Crosby, along with other ministers, would stand on the corners and marry black people back then. I made five dollars to be a witness".

Ms. Scott attended McKinley Park School up to the 6th grade and then attended Central Junoir High which was located near Fourth Street and West. "I dropped out of school in the 9th grade at Reno High School and got married at the age of 17 ½ in 1955 to Emmitt Walker." Jeanetta Scott ultimately became the mother of Emmitt, Peggy Jean(now deceased), and Tammy. Ms. Scott has had various careers through the years with local employers such as Washoe County School District, Reno Travel Lodge , Mapes Hotel , Ponderosa and Harrahs.

If you have a story or photos to share, please contact us at ourstoryinc@yahoo.com to make an appointment. Photos will be scanned on site and instantly returned.

The Pyramid Lake War

Learn More!

"Our Story, Inc.", strives to seek out, preserve and exhibit the heritage and culture of minorities in Northern Nevada. We are not a public library or operating archive but simply delight in pursuing and sharing the untold and/or seldom taught contributions of minorities in Northern Nevada.

What Else Is New This Month!

This Month In History

History Links

Northern Nevada Native Americans

"THANK YOU!!!"

"Our story, Inc. would like to extend our warm and sincere appreciation to everyone who supported the observance of the July 4, 1910, “Fight of the Century” during the month of July. A special thanks goes out to Nevada Humanities, Terry Lane, Tommy Lane, The African American Cultural Center, John Rodwan, George Kimball, Guy Rocha, Tim and Joan Elam, Ray Hagar, Dr. Richard Davies, Guy Clifton, Dr. Luther Mack, Otis “Tripple OG” Griffin, Charles Adams, Leslie Farias, Edward Shepard, Sheryl Bufkin, Daryl Simmons, Clifford W. Cheathon Jr., Geralda Miller, Diane France, Shayne Del Cohen and Toni Harris. Without your contributions non of this would have been possible.  Thank you.

A second "Thank You" to Nevada Humanities

The John G. Rodwan Jr. portion of the July festivities was made possible in part by a grant from Nevada Humanities, a state program of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

http://nevadahumanities.org/

If you missed the July festivities YOU MISSED A TREAT. However, here is a look-back in photos.

"At the Sound of the Bell"  

Jim Jeffries Descendants, Ken Dalton, Our Story, Inc. Founder

Algerian Students

Algerian Students, Ken Dalton

"Fight of the Century" Panel Discussion: Dr. Richard Davies, Ray Hager, Guy Rocha, Guy Clifton

Visitors during a panel discussion.

Visitor enjoying exhibit.

Visitors enjoying exhibit.

Visitor, Charles Adams

Guy Clifton, Mr. M. Thomas

Visitor enjoying exhibit

The Business Of Boxing Panel Discussion: Terry Lane, Tommy Lane, Otis "Tripple OG" Griffin, Dr. Luther Mack

Community Calendar 

For more information about calendar events contact Our Story, Inc.  

Nevada Foreclosure Prevention Task Force Forum

September 29, 2010

The Grove on 95 Foothill Road, Reno, Nevada

For more information please email Jan Bontrager jan.bontrager@sf.frb.org

The Seventh Annual Las Vegas Latino Short Film Festival 2010

Saturday, October 2nd

The Big Springs Theater at Springs Preserve

For more information contact call the Hispanic Museum of Nevada

Walker River Pauite Tribe Schurz Nevada

Powwow - Pinenut Festival Weekend

September 18-19, 2010

For more information contact ourstoryinc@yahoo.com

Do you have an up and coming event?  Please let us know.

ourstoryinc@yahoo.com

Contact Us Today!

We encourage the public to learn, share, and contribute to the collecting and preserving of Minority History in Northern Nevada. You might be in possession of historically important items or information. Don't toss it away or let information fade away. "Our Story Inc." will gladly accept verbal memories, information, photos, artifacts and memorabilia that help tell this important story.

Email us at ourstoryinc@yahoo.com