Rosetta C. Baldwin Museum                             1408 R. C. Baldwin Ave.     High Point, NC 27260          (336) 253-1797                      hpafmuseum@yahoo.com

Museum Hours:                 Tuesdays and Thursdays  10:00 am- 4:00 pm                 or by appointment   

FREE ADMISSION       

[ Rosetta C. Baldwin ] [ Robert J.Brown ] [ Samuel Burford ] [ Sammie Chess ] [ John Coltrane ] [ Willis Hinton ] [ Nannie Kilby ]

ENTREPRENEUR

Nannie Kilby and her husband, John,, moved to High Point in the 1890s.  John Kilby worked on the Southern Railroad for 25 years, while Nannie was a practical nurse, hairdresser, fish vendor, and business owner.  Some people called her the hardest working woman in the city.  She was very successful in all her business ventures. 

    The couple was very careful to save their money, and eventually they were able to invest in real estate.  Together, they purchased 30 houses in the nearby East Washington Drive and Leonard Street areas. In 1913 , the Kilby's purchased land on the corner of Hobson Street and East Washington Drive. On this site, they built the Kilby Hotel and Amusement Center with the help of extended family members and no outside help.  The hotel became an entertainment center for the African American community. It was a popular spot for traveling musicians, such as Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald.  The hotel building still stands on Washington Dr. today.