By Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor
It has been 10 years since the Improvement League of Plant City began its restoration of the historic Bing Rooming House off South Allen Street.
Now, the restorations should be completed by the end of September.
“We’ll be jumping for joy (when it is complete),” William Thomas Jr., vice president of the league, said.
With a recent grant of $65,000, renovations to the interior of the second story, including the living quarters, are being done, by Advantage Restoration Inc. The Improvement League has contributed $400,000 to the project.
Bing Rooming House, named after its first owner, Janie Wheeler Bing, is one of two national African American landmarks in Hillsborough County. Built in 1928, it earned the designation primarily because of its role as a hotel for African Americans during the segregation period.
In 2002, the Improvement League began raising money for the restoration of the house. Upon completion, the facility, located at 205 South Allen Street, will be operated as a museum to emphasize the Plant City community’s triumph over segregation. The Bing Rooming House Museum will be dedicated to collecting and preserving the history of African American culture and lifestyle during this period. The museum will strive to accurately interpret, present and preserve Plant City’s African American history from an African American perspective. Displays of artifacts, storyboards and written documents will help both American and international visitors better understand the experiences of African Americans during the segregation era.
“The museum serves to highlight the contributions of the African American community and document the current contributions being made by African Americans to Plant City,” Thomas said.
Lavonda Moore said she hopes the museum and renovation will revitalize the community.
“There’s no sense of community here, and I think this could give us that and bring some businesses here like there used to be,” Moore said. “It will give us a sense of history and what was and what could be.”
Moore restored the Haines Street Church of God into a house, in which she now lives with her family. Her house is less than a block away from the Bing Rooming House.
“A younger kid doesn’t realize what we have and what we’re capable of,” Moore said about the neighborhood.
Thomas said he hopes the museum can inspire the local youth.
“That’s what we want the kids growing up to see,” Thomas said. “The contributions their African American ancestors have made and know that they can do the same.”
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
INFORMATION
BING ROOMING HOUSE
ADDRESS: 205 S. Allen St.
PHONE: (813) 704-5800
WEBSITE: plantcitybinghouse.com
IMPROVEMENT LEAGUE OF PLANT CITY INC.
MEETINGS: Meetings held 6:30 p.m., first and third Mondays of each month, at Bing Rooming House
MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 3962, Plant City, FL 33564-3962
PHONE: (813) 757-6760
WEBSITE: improvementleague.com
RENOVATIONS
FIRST FLOOR
Insulation in walls and ceiling
Gypsum wall board in kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom
New doors and hardware
New electrical
New air-conditioning units and ducts
New wood flooring in kitchen, living room and bathroom in caretaker’s quarters
Porcelain hexagonal mosaic tile in Room 104
Bathroom fixtures in Room 101 and Room 104
Baseboard
SECOND FLOOR
Insulation in walls and ceiling
Beadboard on walls and ceilings
New electrical
New wood flooring in office, conference room, storage room, halls and restrooms
Porcelain hexagonal mosaic tile in bathrooms
Bathroom fixtures in Room 204