Tookes House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Tookes House
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 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Location | Tallahassee, Florida, USA |
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| NRHP reference No. | 01000004 |
| Added to NRHP | January 26, 2001 |
The Tookes House, also known as the Tookes Hotel, is a special historic home in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It has 11 bedrooms and is located at 412 West Virginia Street. This important building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on January 26, 2001. This means it is recognized as a place that is very important to the history of the country.
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A Safe Place to Stay
The Tookes Hotel was started in 1948 by a remarkable woman named Dorothy Nash Tookes. At that time, many places in the United States were "segregated." This meant that Black people were not allowed to stay in the same hotels or eat in the same restaurants as white people. It was a time when people were treated unfairly because of their race.
Because of this unfair rule, Black visitors to Tallahassee often had trouble finding a place to stay. Dorothy Nash Tookes saw this problem and decided to help. She opened the Tookes Hotel, also called Tookes Villa, to give Black travelers a safe and welcoming place to rest.
Growing to Help More People
When it first opened in 1948, the Tookes Hotel had four rooms for guests. As more people needed a place to stay, Dorothy added more rooms. Two more rooms were added in the early 1950s. Later, in 1971, three more rooms were built, making it an 11-bedroom home. This growth shows how much the Tookes Hotel was needed and how many people it helped.
Who Was Dorothy Nash Tookes?
Dorothy Nash Tookes was a very important person in her community. She was not only a hotel owner but also a dedicated educator. She was the very first certified teacher in Leon County, Florida. This means she had special training and permission to teach.
A Leader in Education
Dorothy Nash Tookes also played a big role in starting and leading the Bond School. She was the founder and the first principal of this school. Being a principal means she was in charge of the school and helped guide its students and teachers. Her work as a teacher and principal shows her commitment to helping young people learn and grow.
The Tookes House stands as a reminder of a time when people worked hard to overcome unfair rules. It also celebrates the spirit of kindness and community that Dorothy Nash Tookes shared with so many.
