Jamison

Jamison Barber Shop may have been located in Asheville. It was listed in the Green Book as “Jamison, 211 Ashland Ave.” under “Barber Shops” in 1954.¹

The Jamison Barber Shop was advertised in the Green Book in 1954. The listing for the shop stated that it was located at 211 Ashland Avenue in Asheville, NC. Unfortunately, the business is not found in city directories for this time period, nor is anyone with the last name “Jamison,” “Jameson,” or “Jamerson” listed in the city directory as a barber in Asheville from 1953-1955.²

The building that was located at 211 Ashland Avenue during the Green Book era was the parsonage for Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church. Rev. John W. White lived at the parsonage with his wife, Ethel, and their family.³

Essay by Brandie K. Ragghianti, 2022

Notes

1. Victor Green, 1954 Green Book, 52.

2. Miller’s 1940 Asheville City Directory, 712; Miller’s 1954 Asheville City Directory, 10. If you have any information about this Green Book site please contact the NC African American Heritage Commission.

3. Miller’s 1954 Asheville City Directory, 487 (alphabetical listing), 7 (street listing); Viola Spells, interview by Lisa Withers, NC Green Book Project, May 7, 2019; “Pastoral History,” Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, https://www.mtzionasheville.org/about-us/pastoral-history/. 

Did you know?

• This entry was listed as “Jamison, 211 Ashland Ave.” under “Barber Shops” in the 1954 Green Book.
• The address 211 Ashland Ave. was the parsonage house for Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church. Rev. John W. White served as the pastor at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in 1954 and listed as living at 211 Ashland Ave. with spouse Ethel B. White.