Existing comment:
A New Beginning
In the meantime, Peirce Mill was developed into a picturesque place for picnics and the building was converted into a teahouse. Patrons could view the waterfall cascading over the rustic-style dam (1905) while dining on sandwiches, various types of salads, and playing in bridge tournaments.
Hattie S. Sewell, an African-American entrepreneur, operated the teahouse in 1920 and increased business by over 200 percent. Racial prejudice and political pressure from a neighbor and descendant of the Peirce family led to the non-renewal of her concession license in 1922.
Later operators of the Peirce Mill Teahouse were the Girl Scouts of America and the Welfare and Recreational Association of Public Buildings and Grounds, Inc. |