Pate-King House / Guidebooks for Black Americans

The Pate-King family lived here for 67 years, opening their home as a hotel and apartment. Cleta Pate (1874-1957) was born in the Philippines, where she married Buffalo Soldier William King. In 1910, the family moved to Fort Ethan Allen in Colchester, Vermont. Cleta later married Frank Pate (1872-1950), also a Buffalo Soldier with the 10th Cavalry. After his discharge, they relocated to Burlington, where Frank owned a construction business. In 1921 Cleta bought this house and secured a mortgage solely in her name. She renovated it to serve as The Pates hotel, which was listed in two guides for Black motorists from 1930 to 1966. After Cleta died, Alfred and Theresa King operated the hotel and apartment house until 1988. continued on other side After the invention of cars, motorists began traveling far and wide. Due to prejudice and discrimination, Black motorists had a difficult time finding hotels, restaurants and gas stations that would serve them, making travel limiting and dangerous. Guidebooks such as Hackley and Harrison’s Hotel Guide (1930-31) and the Negro Motorist’s Green Book (1936-1966) were published to help identify safe lodging, food, and other amenities. The Pates hotel and apartment house was among the few Vermont locations advertising in these guides; it was the longest continuously advertised site for Vermont. The Burlington Colored All Stars baseball team stayed at The Pates in 1930 and practiced in nearby Roosevelt Park.