Strawbery Banke Presents
HISTORIC PORTSMOUTH #33

Getting a leg up in business was especially difficult for African-Americans in Portsmouth. William E. Allen’s bootblack stand was right next to LV Newell’s photo shop on Congress Street. Records show Mr. Allen operated from 1887 to 1905 and became a home owner. Other shoeshine stands downtown were run by Italian, Greek and Russian immigrants.(click to enlarge)

HISTORIC PHOTOS of the Greater Portsmouth Area appear here weekly

VISIT: Seacoast Black History section

HISIORIC PORTSMOUTH
Early Photographs from the Collections of Strawbery Banke
by James L. Garvin & Susan Grigg, Peter Randall Publisher
(c) Strawbery Banke Museum . All rights reserved.