Improvement League of Plant City, Inc.

Bing Rooming House

A National Landmark in Plant City, Florida

Located at 205 South Allen Street, Plant City, Florida.

Historical Function- Served as a domestic hotel during the period of segregation.

The Bing Rooming House is a two story, wood fram residence located at 205 South Allen Street in Plant City, Florida, Hillsborough County. It was constructed in the mid to late 1920s in the Frame Vernacular style. It is primarily a two story, square structure with a front porch and balcony.

The family residence is downstairs and six boarding rooms upstairs accessed by a narrow stairway included in the front porch area. Built by Cary and Walters Builders for E.L. Bing, the eastern side of the duplex was operated as the Seminole Restaurant by Mrs. Janie Bing until 1955. This rooming house is located in the Lincoln Park, one of the earliest African American communities in the city.

Restoration of Bing Rooming House into a Community Musuem

The Bing Rooming House was deeded by the grandson of E.L. Bing, Mr. James Washington to a local non-profit, the Improvement League of Plant City, Incorporated in hopes that this well-respected non-profit could preserve one of the few remaining buildings in Lincoln Park that hold historical significance.

The Improvement League is now raising funds and applying for grants with support from local businesses to restore and preserve the history of the rooming house and surrounding community. This house will serve as a community musuem and maintain a electronic archive of family history and geneaolgoy from all local residents whom wish to do so.

Each year the Improvement League hosts its annual MLK Festival which generates support for the many programs the League operates in addition to general funds to match contributions for restoration of the rooming house.

Links

State of Florida National Landmarks
Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce