Black History Month: ‘The Moonlight Grill’

MILFORD, Del. – Our Black History Month continues with a spotlight on the Moonlight Grill. A key establishment in Milford that helped fight segregation in Downtown Milford. At 518 Church Street was the original site, an epicenter for black entertainment in North Milford.

HOW THINGS BEGAN

In the 1940s, Milford differed from how the city ran today. The downtown section did not allow African Americans to enter establishments or use bathrooms. Milford High School did not allow Black Americans to attend the school.

Many African Americans did not make enough money to live, which resulted in most having to bootleg to earn. The Milford Theater occasionally held $1,000 lucky drawings for residents. Frank and Hayes Fountain were lucky enough to be chosen, and that’s when their life changed.

“They took the thousand dollars and built the largest building behind their house, which became the moonlight grill,” said Dr. Reba Ross Hollingsworth, a local historian.

TURNING POINT

Hollingsworth said this marked a pivotal moment for the city and African American residents. As she recalls, they established ‘The Moonlight Grill’ in a predominantly black neighborhood in North Milford. The place is known for its acceptance and cultivation of community members. Charles Hammond is a member of the Fountain Family, the original owners of the Grill. He said his family has always been full of trailblazers. It has allowed him to step into that role since a young child.

“William Penn Fountain achieved the distinction of being Milton’s first African American Vice Mayor; his sibling, Hayes Fountain, became the town’s inaugural police officer; and their youngest brother, Kenneth Fountain, served as line captain for the Carlisle Fire Company.”

IT’S PURPOSE

The club offered a shared experience of fun and fellowship to a diverse group. People traveled from all over the East Coast to be part of the movement. This included Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Virginia. People wanted to see the acts that performed, and The Moonlight Grill brought along several high-profile acts. Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie all performed at the venue.

Hollingsworth’s family, who lived only a couple homes down, would host musical acts before and after their performances. She shared with WMDT her vision of a unified future, made possible by embracing people of all backgrounds and ethnicities. She believes the grill did that,

“My dad used to tell us it’s an enormous world. Go get out and see some of it, and when you get out of your own backyard, and get into somebody else’s backyard and front yard, you have a different attitude about people.”

The establishment declined post integration, leading to its eventual closure. However, too many residents of Milford, its history and influence last forever.