By Virginia Scholtz and ML Wright
Northside News

“We have changed our minds and the house is not for sale”

When Hazel and James Tookes decided to buy a house, they were shunned by the owner of the first house they viewed. Hazel and her husband arrived early and parked in front of the house for sale. When the owner saw that an African American couple was going to tour his house, he came out to tell Hazel, “we have changed our minds and the house is not for sale.” When the realtor arrived, he told the homeowner, “these people took time off from work and I am going to show them the house.” 

The house backed up to a railroad track and the basement was in poor condition with low ceilings that couldn’t accommodate the 6-foot-tall James. There was a crack in the kitchen ceiling. When Hazel and James had completed their inspection of the house, the homeowner again stated, “we are not selling this house.” Hazel pronounced, “I don’t want to buy this house. I won’t live in a house that’s got a cracked ceiling.”

Soon after that episode, a woman Hazel worked with was moving back to Arkansas and selling her house. She sold her house to the Tookes as a private sale. Days later the realtor called and said the first homeowner was now willing to sell Hazel and James the house. Hazel said, “No, thank you. I bought a better house for less money and no cracks.”

Hazel and James lived there for 50 years, raising their son, Wayne, in the home.