History of Taborian Hall-An African American Achievement
In 1916, the fraternal organization the Order of Twelve - the Knights and Daughters of Tabor - began building Taborian Hall to serve as their international headquarters. The building was entirely funded and erected by the Black community in Arkansas. When it was completed in 1918, it was the most expensive building constructed in Little Rock that year.
Taborian's spacious design made it an invaluable multi-use building on West 9th Street. Beyond serving as the Tabors' headquarters, it offered space for community organizing, entertainment, retail businesses, and professional offices. As one of the two largest buildings on The Line, Taborian was central to the growth of Little Rock's African American commercial district in the early 20th century.
The Great Depression
The Great Depression put severe financial strain on the residents and business owners of West 9th Street. Regular dues to the Knights of Tabor dropped considerably and the organization was forced to relinquish many of their assets, including Taborian Hall. Through the 1930s and early 1940s, the building changed hands and its ownership is difficult to track. Businesses continued to operate inside, but the building wouldn't have unified ownership again until World War II.
WWII brings Soldiers to The Line
In 1942, young officers training at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock - many of them African American - were crossing the Arkansas River to West 9th Street on their nights off. The Line had a reputation as an entertainment district, and at the height of the war, Camp Robinson supported tens of thousands of trainees. The nightly influx of soldiers was both a boon and a strain on the locals.
To help manage the flood of servicemen, the Ninth Street United States Officers Club opened inside Taborian Hall in January 1942 and was an instant hit.
“The USO Club is located in the New Dreamland,” the State Press reported, “and occupies five rooms of the second floor, including the Lounge which is used for the Soldier’s Lounge and for small parties. Other rooms are used as game rooms, reading rooms, and offices, etc.”
The USO years brought some of the greatest names in American music to the Dreamland Ballroom stage. See the full list of performers on our Chitlin Circuit page.
The End of an Era
After WWII ended, the USO sold Taborian Hall and the building's ownership became fragmented. Various businesses, private clubs, lawyers, dentists, and doctors operated out of the building through the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. The last tenant, the Twin City Club, vacated the basement around 1979.
A New Beginning
In 1982, Taborian Hall was placed on the National Register of Historic Places alongside its sister building, the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center. Nine years later, in 1991, Kerry McCoy bought the building to house her growing business.
Today Taborian Hall is home to the Dreamland Ballroom on the third floor and the headquarters of Kerry McCoy Enterprises - including FlagandBanner.com, OurCornerMarket.com, Kerry’s Bannerisms blog, and the Up In Your Business Radio Show and Brave Magazine. On the first floor, where Gem Pharmacy once served the community for nearly four decades, the Dreamland Lounge has brought life back to the corner of Taborian Hall, carrying on the tradition of gathering on The Line.
The building that the Black community of Arkansas built over a century ago is still standing, still active, and still telling its story.