Mme. Newson's Beauty Parlor
Known Name(s)
Mme. Newson's Beauty Parlor
Address
225 N. Indiana Ave. Atlantic City, NJ
Establishment Type(s)
Beauty Parlor
Physical Status
Demolished
Detailed History
To promote the economic interests of the African American community, Clifford J. Newsome and others founded the Atlantic City Board of Trade, a chamber of commerce for the Northside. As a result Atlantic City hosted many African American organizational meetings, such universities, fraternities and churches, such as the 1941 Elks Convention, for which 100,000 people turned out to see the Elks Parade. Traveling on behalf of the ACBT as its chairman, Newsome was known to lure potential out-of-town conventioneers with pocketfuls of Atlantic City’s famous salt water taffy. C. J. Newsome himself served as the Elks’ Grand Exalted Ruler for 19 years, and was a leader at the St. James AME Church. Ever promoting tourism, Newsome and his wife Carrie ran Newsome’s Cottage, a listing in the Green Book from 1948 to 1964, where she also operated a beauty shop. Until 1962 they operated at 225 North Indiana Avenue, and after that at 126 North Indiana Avenue, which still stands. This frame, single-family house is typical of the tourist homes throughout the Northside operated by African American homeowner-entrepreneurs who tapped into the financial benefits of the tourist trade. Most survivors now stand alone flanked by vacant lots.
