Lauderdale County and Meridian leaders celebrated the return of an iconic piece of the Queen City’s history on Thursday with the unveiling of the historic E.F. Young Jr. Hotel sign outside the Holbrook building in downtown Meridian.
Opened in 1931, the E.F. Young Jr. Hotel served as both a pillar of the city’s African American Business District and a lifeline for Black travelers as one of few places in the region where they could safely stay. The sign was removed prior to the hotel’s demolition in April 2023 after city officials declared the building unsafe.
Lauderdale County and Youth Court Judge Veldore Young-Graham, who is a descendant of E.F. Young Jr., said the sign is not just a piece of history but part of the soul of the city’s African American District.
“Though we felt the deep sting of seeing this building condemned and finally demolished, today reminds us that brick and mortar can crumble, but a sacred legacy cannot be erased,” she said.
Dr. Otis Gowdy, who is leading efforts to restore the Holbrook building and worked to save the E. F. Young Jr. Hotel sign, said the sign represents much more than one business or block. It is a jewel in the Queen City’s crown, he said, and a beacon of inspiration.
“So let me be clear, it’s not trash. It’s treasure. It’s not forgotten. It’s forging on. It’s not dimmed. We’re gonna light it,” he said. “What was thrown away has become the head corner, not just physically but symbolically. That’s what preservation is, taking what could have been disappeared and giving new life.”
Lauderdale County Supervisor Joe Norwood said Fifth Street, the heart of the African American Business District, was the place to be growing up. The thriving block featured all manner of businesses, eateries and entertainment and drew Black residents from all areas of town.
“Thank you for investing in this community,” he said to Gowdy, “And to those of you who are in and out and around town, y’all help us help ourselves to make sure that we make this neighborhood thrive like it once thrived before.”
State Rep. Greg Elliot said he too used to enjoy coming to Fifth Street as a child. It was Meridian’s Bourbon Street or Times Square, he said, and there was always something going on.
“It was shoulder to shoulder on a Saturday. You couldn’t hardly move around,” he said.
Revitalization and rejuvenation are ramping up in Meridian thanks to residents like Gowdy who are willing to invest in the community, said Meridian Mayor Percy Bland. City leaders, he said, are working to continue and grow that momentum throughout the city and bring the energy and excitement of downtown to all neighborhoods.
“We want to bring this energy to each and every block of the city of Meridian,” he said.
Significant improvements have already been made to the Holbrook building, but much more is left to do, Gowdy said, and doing it alone simply isn’t possible. To succeed in fully restoring the building, others will have to donate time, energy and funds into the project.