Watch: A short film on Hattie Sewell, one of Peirce Mill’s historical figures, and Black Washington of the early 20th century

At the October 2021 premiere of a Hattie Sewell, a documentary about a Black woman and entrepreneur who is part of Peirce Mill’s early 20th century history. (Friends of Peirce Mill photo)

One century ago, Hattie Sewell, a Black woman, was awarded the contract to operate a teahouse at Peirce Mill. By many accounts, she was a successful businesswoman who increased the sales and profitability of the teahouse, which had been in operation since the early 1900s. Her contract was terminated in October 1921, after a prominent neighbor, E.S. Newman, complained that Peirce Mill had become “a rendezvous for colored people, soon developing into a nuisance.”

What we know of Sewell’s story may have ended there but for the efforts of Dr. Amy Yeboah Quarkume, a filmmaker and Africana Studies professor at Howard University, and Howard students. They dug into historical documents for more information about Sewell’s life before and after the teahouse. Together with Friends of Peirce Mill and Rock Creek Park, they produced a 30-minute documentary which premiered at Peirce Mill on October 22nd. The film chronicles not only Sewell’s path to Washington, DC, but also Black life at the time. It makes for a compelling story.

Now, the Hattie Sewell, the film, is available for viewing on YouTube. Enjoy!