Indiana University South Bend Civil Rights Heritage Center Oral History Project


[Thomas Taylor]: And Billie Morris, who was a black realtor at the time, had bought some property and lots up where we are now. It’s called Chalfant Heights, between Chalfant and Bissell Street, and it borders Twyckenham and Jacob. That used to be a big empty lot. 

Billie Morris got that and he started, you know, getting some blacks who were living nearby. And we bought a lot up in there. And they put a big sign up there, whites did. “Niggers get out.” To that effect, something like that. “Niggers stay out,” “Niggers keep out.” But that’s the way it was. 

There was a white guy—just sold his house, he was the only white who lived there, and he moved out. But we got about four or five original families—that was in 1964—was started in ’63 and we moved in 1964. And we’re up there now, in that area, if you’re ever in that area you’ll see it. It’s called Chalfant Heights.