Blue Duck Inn
The Blue Duck Inn was listed in the Green Book from 1939-1941 and 1947-1955. It was listed as “Blue Duck—404 Erringhaus [sic] St.” in the “Taverns” section for Elizabeth City in 1939. In 1940 it was listed at 404 ½ Ehringhaus St., Elizabeth City, NC, phone 828, and was featured in an advertisement that began “Blue Duck Inn Grill, Henry C. Hargraves, Owner and Manager, ‘Where good fellows get together.’” The ad noted that the establishment sold beer, wine, and ale and featured dining and dancing every night. In 1941 the business was listed as “Blue Duck Inn—404 ½ Ehringhaus Street” under “Taverns” in Elizabeth City. Finally, it was listed as “Blue Duck Inn—404 ½ Ehringhaus” under “Taverns” in Elizabeth City from 1947-1955.1
The Blue Duck Inn was owned and operated by prominent Elizabeth City entrepreneur and developer Henry Clyde Hargraves. It opened to rave reviews in October 1936; patrons had to be turned away on the business’s opening night. The Blue Duck Inn was located in a building at 404 ½ Ehringhaus street. Hargraves had two other businesses in the building during the time the tavern was in operation - a barber shop and Rex Billiard Parlor.2
The Blue Duck Inn was billed as “the aristocrat of amusement spots in North Carolina for colored [people].” Newspaper advertisements highlighted the business as a popular spot for nightlife that featured beer, wine, dining, and dancing.3
Although The Blue Duck Inn continued to appear in the Green Book, the business stopped appearing in city directories in 1938. Hargraves continued to operate the billiard parlor (also called Rex Pool Room); in later years, other businesses opened up in the building, including Carter’s Cafe and Keystone Barbershop. Travelers looking for The Blue Duck Inn would have found Rex Pool Room; they may have also found information about Hargraves Beach, a resort area established by Hargraves in 1929 that featured outdoor music and dancing. Hargraves purchased a 35-passenger bus to transport beach goers from Elizabeth City to Duck; he also offered the bus to local groups at a reasonable rate and sponsored group trips to boxing matches and other events.4
Henry Clyde Hargraves was born in Virginia in 1894. He was married to Rosa E. White from 1894 until her death in 1938. He married Angelina Pizarro in New York in 1946 and passed away in Elizabeth City in 1967. Reporter John Harris made the following toast to Hargraves in an article published in 1936: “He has always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where he thought a flower would grow.” 5
Essay by Brandie K. Ragghianti, 2022
Notes
1. Victor Green, 1951 Green Book, 53; Green, 1952 Green Book, 53; Green, 1953 Green Book, 53; Green, 1954 Green Book, 52; Green, 1955 Green Book, 53.
2. “Entertainment,” The Daily Independent (Elizabeth City, NC), October 17, 1936, p. 3, accessed from https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/; “What’s News Among Our Colored People,” The Daily Independent (Elizabeth City, NC), October 3, 1936, p. 6, https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/.
3. “What’s News Among Our Colored People,” The Daily Independent (Elizabeth City, NC), October 3, 1936, p. 6, https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/; “The Blue Duck Inn” (ad), The Daily Independent (Elizabeth City, NC), June 16, 1937, 6, accessed from https://newspapers.digitalnc.org.
4. From Museum of the Albemarle Curator Wanda Lassiter in an email correspondence from Carrie Barker (volunteer at the Museum of the Albemarle) to Lisa Withers, August 31, 2018; “H.C. Hargroves Begins Resort for His Race,” The Independent (Elizabeth City, NC), June 5, 1931, 5, accessed from http://newspapers.digitalnc.org; “What’s News Among Our Colored People,” The Daily Independent (Elizabeth City, NC), October 3, 1936, p. 6, https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/; “Local Scouts Not Recognized at Jubilee at First But Were in Spotlight Before ‘Twas Over,” The Independent (Elizabeth City, NC), May 3, 1935, 1, accessed from https://newspapers.digitalnc.org; “Hettrick Is To Meet Fortunato in Main Event,” The Daily Independent (Elizabeth City, NC), July 14, 1937, 5, accessed from https://newspapers.digitalnc.org.
5. 1940 United States Federal Census, Elizabeth City, Pasquotank County, North Carolina, digital image s.v. “Henri C Hargraves,” accessed from www.ancestry.com; 1950 United States Federal Census, Elizabeth City, Pasquotank County, North Carolina, digital image s.v. “Henry C. Vargrove” (corrected to “Henry C. Hargraves), accessed from www.ancestry.com; Henry V. Hargraves Jr. [sic] and Rosa E. White, November 5, 1916, Pasquotank County, North Carolina, U.S. Marriage Records, 1741-2011, accessed from www.ancestry.com; Rosa E. Hargrave, August 2, 1938, Certificate of Death, Virginia, U.S. Death Records, 1912-2014, accessed from www.ancestry.com; Henry C. Hargraves and Angelina Pizarro, November 9, 1946, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. Marriage License Indexes, 1907-2018, accessed from www.ancestry.com; Henry Clyde Hargraves, May 11, 1967, Elizabeth City, Pasquotank County, North Carolina U.S. Death Certificates, 1909-1976, accessed from www.ancestry.com; “What’s News Among Our Colored People,” The Daily Independent (Elizabeth City, NC), October 3, 1936, p. 6, https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/.
Did you know?
- This entry was listed in various ways in different Green Book editions:
- 1939: Listed as “Blue Duck---404 Erringhaus St.” under the “Taverns” section in Elizabeth [City]. The street name was misspelled in the Green Book.
- 1940: An advertisement was used instead of a general entry in the 1940 edition. Advertisement lists: “Blue Duck Inn Grill, Henry C. Hargraves Owner and Manager, ‘Where good fellow get together,’ and selling beer, wine, and ale.” Additionally, advertisement notes location for dining and dancing every “nite.” Advertisement includes address 404 ½ Ehringhaus St., Elizabeth City, NC, with phone 828.
- 1941: Listed as “Blue Duck Inn---404 ½ Ehringhaus Street” under “Taverns” in Elizabeth City.
- 1947-1955: Listed as “Blue Duck Inn---404 ½ Ehringhaus” under “Taverns” in Elizabeth City.
