Profile written and provided courtesy Nowell Briscoe ( nowellbriscoe@bellsouth.net )

BESSIE & JOE GREER

MONROE’S HOSTELER’S

        One of my regrets is never having the opportunity of enjoying the fine dining that was offered up by one of Monroe’s most endearing and engaging couples, who saw to it their boarders along with most of Monroe, were treated to the meals that came from the dining room of their establishment, “The Greer House”.

        The steps leading to the legendary boarding house began in 1913 when Miss Bessie Moore arrived in Monroe to operate the old Walton Hotel.  A year after her arrival, she met, dated and married Joseph Cay Greer in 1914.  When the Walton Hotel ceased its operations to house business offices, the Greer’s decided to strike out on their own, opening a business that catered to travelers and newcomers to Monroe.  The first “Greer House” opened in 1920 on South Broad Street. When that structure was destroyed by fire, the Greer’s moved up Broad Street to the old John T. Robertson home.  In 1922 the business moved to the old E. M. Williams property on East Spring Street.  When the old E.P. Nowell house on Broad Street next door to the Robertson home became available in 1930, the size of the building was more spacious along with an area for parking and was back on Broad Street. The Greer’s moved for the final time into what most of the older contingent in Monroe now remember.

        The Greer House not only served as a haven for travelers and residents, but as a general meeting place for business meetings, social events and school functions.  And where there are meetings and social events you usually find food.  Besides serving food to the residents of the boarding house, on Sunday afternoons, immediately after church, the front doors would be opened to the Monroe community for lunch.  I feel sure there are still those in town who can remember standing in line on the sidewalk or front porch waiting for a table in the dining room to enjoy the fried chicken, ham and pork chops along with tantalizing yeast rolls that came from the Greer House kitchen.  I have been told that Mrs. Greer was one fine cook whose culinary creations received attention and praise far and wide. One of the more notable groups that held court in the Greer House was the longtime “Monroe Chittlin’ Club”, whose toastmaster was the beloved Ernest Camp, editor and publisher of the Walton Tribune.

        One friend reminisced about going to the Greer House for a Sunday repast of Mrs. Greer’s delicious fried chicken.  He said that in the back yard of the boarding house, chickens and hogs were in abundance and around mid-day on Saturday, the old porter could be seen chasing the chickens, hoping to capture enough to provide an ample supply for dinner the next day.  “That’s the reason the chicken tasted so good,” my friend commented, “You couldn’t get chicken any fresher than that.”

        While Miss Bessie tended to the kitchen and oversaw the upkeep of the rooms upstairs, Joe Greer tended the front desk and made sure the downstairs was already ready to receive whatever groups wanted to reserve the various rooms for their meetings.  Joe always knew what rooms to place the right groups and what the group’s inclinations were for the proper beverage to be served to the group. After all, certain priorities MUST be followed!

        Both Mr. & Mrs. Greer were well-loved and respected for the services they provided for the Monroe community; a nice place to lay your head at night and some good food to fill your stomachs.  Life doesn’t get much better than that…at least back then it didn’t!

        When Bessie Greer died on Saturday, March 15, 1947 at Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta at the age of 68, an important part of a successful husband and wife team came to an end.  Tribune editor Ernest Camp, a long time friend to both, said in his eloquent obituary of Mrs. Greer: “Thousands of transients, part-time residents and permanent citizens of this community have partaken of the hospitality there. The Greer House was an integral part of Monroe.  Her energy was boundless and she never waited to be called upon whenever anyone needed assistance or when some civic movement required support.  She devoted her life to others and was a ministering angel, who was always looking for opportunities for unselfish service. She was, in the broadest sense of the word, a public benefactor whose life was a beautiful symbol of all that was good, generous and noble.”

        Mrs. Greer’s funeral on Monday, March 17^th, 1947 at the First Baptist Church was one of the largest funerals of recent note.  Rev. J. L. Drake officiated assisted by Rev. J. W. Segars.

        Seemingly lost without his partner of so many years, Joe Greer continued to operate the boarding house until January of 1955 when ill health finally forced him to close his doors to the public. He moved to Atlanta to be live with his son Tom. When death claimed Joe Greer on November 10, 1955 at age 85, an era in Monroe came to a close.  Largely attended funeral services for Mr. Greer were held on November 11^th at the First Baptist Church with Rev. W. W. Richardson officiating.  In recalling his old friend, Tribune editor Ernest Camp wrote: “Joe C. Greer was one of Walton County’s most popular and highly esteemed men and his passing has saddened the hearts of countless numbers of our people.” 

        I have often wondered if the Greer’s had any concept of the value and service they gave to the Monroe community in their long years of service. If they didn’t, the rest of the community sure did with grateful appreciation!