252 North Mason Street
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Last updated on September 30, 2024
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Directions from Dr. Dickerson's Home to site 9:
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Mrs. Ida Mae Francis Tourist Home was a safe place to board for traveling African Americans passing through Harrisonburg. The two-story home was built in 1908 on the corner of North Mason and East Rock Streets, where Ida Mae Francis and her husband, shoemaker Henry William Francis, resided. After Mr. Francis’ passing in 1912, Mrs. Francis allowed boarders into her home and short-term guests for a source of income. The house is listed multiple years in The Negro Motorist Green Book, including the 1954, 1959, and 1962 editions. The boarding home ceased operations in the 1960s. The former home is now owned by resident Deanna Reed and was registered in the National Register Database in 2024.
