Long before AirBNB existed, homeowners would offer up rooms to rent in their home. During segregation, these homes would be listed in The Green Book as tourist homes. These homes would offer safe places for Black travelers to stay while traveling.

In Asheville, the Mrs. S. Foster tourist home still stands on Clingman Avenue. The two bedroom bungalow was built in 1914. In 1925, Samuel and Sudie “Bell” Foster purchased the home. Samuel was a Pullman Porter and Bell served as the director of the Industrial Home for Girls.

Mrs, Foster died in 1947. Her husband ended up remarrying to Laura Foster. Starting in 1957, the Mrs. S. Foster Tourist Home was listed in the Green Book. Tourist Homes were almost always being listed as being run by women. This was two years after Mr. Foster’s retirement.

Samuel Foster died in 1965. Laura Foster continued to make her home available through The Green Book until she passed in 1967.

The home continued to be an important part of Black history in Asheville as it served as a meeting location for the Asheville Federation of Negro Women’s Clubs.