HOPKINSVILLE, KY – The Museums of Historic Hopkinsville-Christian County is proud to announce the listing of the Dr. Bankie & Mamie Moore House in the National Register of Historic Places.

Located at 1030 East Fourth Street, the house was constructed between 1917 and 1920 by Dr. Bankie Moore and his wife Mamie. The house is currently owned by John Banks, Jr., who has worked diligently to save and restore the structure over the past few years.

Restoration process and history of home

The 2-½ story stuccoed structure was the longtime home of Dr. Bankie and Mamie Moore. Dr. Moore, a Christian County native, returned to Hopkinsville after graduating from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. He opened a private practice in 1914 to treat the local Black community. At the time, he was among the earliest African American doctors to practice in Hopkinsville and was notably the first Black native Christian Countian to do so. His wife Mamie trained to be a nurse at Perry Sanitorium in Kansas City, Missouri prior to her marriage to Dr. Moore in 1915. She would serve as his nurse for the duration of his career.

At the turn of the 20th century, Hopkinsville boasted one of the most racially-diverse populations in the state. The 1916 Hopkinsville City Directory listed the population as totaling 11,265 with 6,288 white residents and 4,977 Black residents – or 45% of the total population. Although deeply separated from their white counterparts, the Black citizens of Hopkinsville built a community that was in many ways self-sustaining and that drew Black professionals from nearby towns. Hopkinsville became a regional center for African American life.

Dr. Bankie Oliver Moore and his wife Mamie dedicated their lives to helping the people of Hopkinsville and Christian County. Dr. Moore’s 40-year career as a physician and surgeon improved the health care available to African Americans in the community. This structure represents the legacy of a prolific doctor, a trailblazer in health care in Hopkinsville, and a dedicated community member and serves as a visual reminder of the accomplishments of Hopkinsville and Christian County’s Black citizens.

Significance of inclusion on historic register

The inclusion of this house in the National Register of Historic Places ensures that the contributions of Dr. Bankie and Mamie Moore will be remembered and celebrated at the local and national levels. The house joins 45 other properties listed individually and five historic districts in Christian County. Access a complete list HERE.

John Banks, Jr. deserves special recognition for the dedication he has shown and the investment that he has made to this property. Bringing it back from near demolition, Banks has preserved a local landmark for this community.

The National Register of Historic places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.

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