1939: Realty Board wants racial covenants, but residents fear Orientals and colored people could still move in between Grove & Sacramento, Dwight & University. Council takes action in support of racial covenants.
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1939: Realty Board wants racial covenants, but residents fear Orientals and colored people could still move in between Grove & Sacramento, Dwight & University. Council takes action in support of racial covenants.
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Description
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10/17/1939:
"4. President Gaines presented a letter from Mrs Mary M. Utter appealing for assistance in regard to certain realty dealers trying to place Orientals and colored people in the section bounded by Grove and Sacramento Streets, Dwight Way and University Avenue.
Councilman French stated that he thought it should be clearly understood from a legal point of view the Council cannot take any action which would hold in the courts on a matter of this kind; that the only thing for the people to do is to enter into a covenant plan which must be a one hundred percent agreement to be effective and that they can only express their sentiments in this matter but are not able to take any effective action. He moved the adoption of resolution instructing the City Attorney to write Mrs. Utter giving her a legal opinion on this matter. The motion was seconded by Councilmen Berg and the resolution was unanimously adopted.
Councilman Mork stated that he had read in one of the magazines where one of the southern cities had the some problem and it had solved the question by setting aside a certain section of the City for the colored people and a certain section for the white people, and that the colored people did not go into the white section of the City and vice versa. He further stated that this is an American problem and should have the proper treatment.
Mrs. W. N. Lindbled addressed the Council stating that a number of years ago the Realty Board came into their neighborhood and asked them to sign these covenants in order to protect their properties from the influx of Orientals and colored people and the property owners agreed not to sell or rent their properties to any but the Caucasian race and that she had signed and paid a $5 fee, and this covenant was recorded in the County Recorder's Office and at that time the Realty Board stated it would defend these covenants in the courts and that they had a fund set up for this purpose. She further stated that since then certain realty firms in the City were bringing Orientals and colored people into the district showing fault of the realtor and not the Oriental or colored people. Mrs. Mary E. O'Connell, 1746 Virginia Street, stated that property in her neighborhood at the present time is for sale and certain realtors are bringing Orientals and colored people to see it.
Councilman Mork stated that he felt the Realty Board should have the interest of the people at heart and they should get together and work this matter out with them as the Council is entirely helpless. G.P. Warren stated that he felt the influence of the Council over the Realty Board would help the people quite a lot."
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Date Created
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1939
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