By Gus Saltonstall
In the 1950s, multiple communities of color on the Upper West Side were razed under either the mechanism of eminent domain (government seizure) to construct urban renewal projects, or separately justified development initiatives. San Juan Hill, a bustling Puerto Rican community that was also one of the city’s largest Black communities at the turn of the 20th century was reduced to rubble as part of Robert Moses Lincoln Square Development plan, resulting in Lincoln Center. Slightly farther uptown, during the same decade, the “Old Community” on West 98th and 99th streets was knocked down as part of a “slum clearance” initiative that saw its 2,000-4,000 Black residents forced to relocate without help from the government.
However, before either of those Upper West Side communities, there was Seneca Village — the largest community of free African-American property owners in pre-Civil War New York.
In the mid-19th century, Seneca Village was a thriving community of predominantly Black landowners who lived in the area that is now Central Park between West 82nd and 89th streets. The community began in 1825 when Andrew Williams, a 25-year-old Black shoeshiner, bought the first three lots in the area for $125.
A crucial element of the Seneca Village story is the ability to own land. During that time period, New York State required that African-American men own at least $250 in property and have at least three years of residency to be allowed to vote. In 1845, of the 100 Black New Yorkers who were eligible to vote, 10 of them lived in Seneca Village.
By 1855, Seneca Village was home to approximately 225 residents, about two-thirds of whom were Black New Yorkers.
The community would not survive much longer, though.
During that decade, city planners faced with an unhealthy urban sprawl wanted to build a public space where New Yorkers — of all economic backgrounds — could breathe fresh air.
The state enacted a law in 1853 that set aside 775 acres of land to create the nation’s first massive public park, and allowed officials to claim the land beneath Seneca Village.
While the city did pay the Seneca Village landowners for their property, many contested that their land was undervalued. The last of the residents had to leave by the end of 1857.
Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux then famously led the construction of Central Park starting in 1858.
Now, during Black History Month, the Central Park Conservancy is conducting three tours of Seneca Village on February 17, 19, and 25, for those interested in learning more about the history of the community. There will also be tours during April.
“On this tour, visitors will read the physical landscape of Seneca Village to understand the particular value it provided to Black New Yorkers seeking refuge from the crowded conditions and racial discrimination prevalent in early 19th Century NYC,” a description of the tour reads.
The 90-minute tour will cost you $25, and sets off from the Mariner’s Gate at West 85th Street and Central Park West.
You can find out more about the Seneca Village tour — HERE.
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Were they the only people who lived in the park boundaries and had to move?
Area known as Seneca Village demographics broke down to roughly two-thirds African-Americans, one-third Irish immigrants, and a small number of Germans.
Unusual for the time there was a racially integrated church called All Angels, where Irish parishioners who had moved into the area worshiped alongside African-Americans.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/28/opinion/seneca-central-park-nyc.html
CPC has never allowed more than limited archeological digs to take place. Thus there likely is far more to be known about Seneca Village that is buried beneath soil we shall never find out.
“Never find out” is too final. Administrations come and go. You never know when a future CPC member would want to see move excavation. And I bet if there was a groundswell of interest, something would happen.
Central Park website page about Seneca village notes that there were 1600 inhabitants of the 775 acres taken by eminent domain to construct the park. Doesn’t mention other communities on that page. Ver interesting about the landowners and property that was in Seneca village, however- some good historians/archeologists have found records of quite a lot Since 2011 (and maybe before). : https://www.centralparknyc.org/articles/seneca-village
Thanks for this timely refresher/reminder, WSR
Keep in mind comparatively few persons actually owed land in Seneca Village. Rest were squatters, renters or others.
As wont to happen with eminent domain some land owners received a decent sum for their property, far in excess of what they paid. Others of course didn’t do as well.
https://usuntold.travel.blog/2020/09/11/a-village-in-central-park/
Well, at least it’s not like the NY Times getting the state to eminent domain private property so the NY Times could build a new corporate HQ for itself.
There’s a long history of eminent domain for public projects; the building of Central Park is NOT akin to various Moses abuses in the 20th century.
No, but cut from same cloth.
Robert Moses was allowed to do what he did largely due to fact NYS’s eminent domain laws and power derived from state constitution are extremely broad.
Parks Commissioner Robert Moses evicted an elderly woman from her mansion (J. D. Mott Mansion — 2122 Fifth Avenue) to build a playground.
From an earlier period in NYC’s history the house was filled with architectural gems and other things of value. None of that mattered, Robert Moses wanted it gone, and that’s what happened.
They are charging money to learn about Seneca village when it no longer exists in Central Park? On black history month. Not even one home or an area to show they lived there vibrantly! areas that are so outrageously high, now no one from black and brown communities can even afford to live near there without expecting a sideways glance from their “neighbors”. This is sad and Then you have San Juan hill. They post banners and say this was here but do not realize that these linages were forced Into bad areas to constantly rebuild over and over because other communities felt threatened by their presence. Black and brown communities have always been targets for “health reasons” or “safety concerns “ and eventually pushed out … so this is very fitting for nyc to make money off of them for the month of Feb. they should teach about the pioneers who changed history …the ones who mad history and are no longer in our books , the history that was wiped away and the covered up, the history of black leaders who lead rallies and spoke up for justice . They should teach about the racism that is still prevalent to this day but black advocates…creators who are speaking up and are showing the way out of the murky way people are telling these stories. They should talk about why black history is important to nyc and why it is essential to look at history and to learn from it in the terms of growing together and not coming up with excuses or validation for certain behaviors.
Jones’s Wood an area of UES was first sight chosen for a new grand park. Land was acquired by bills passed in Albany and from 1850 through 1851 a battle waged between owners of property (the powerful Joneses and Schermerhorns) and others. This included residents of UWS who insisted proposed park was too far away for them to reach easily.
Wealthy, powerful and “white” Schermerhorn and Jones families were not without resources and connections. Soon enough first an injunction was won to prevent state from taking their land by eminent domain was granted. Thereafter the families prevailed in court when law was invalidated.
City and state then turned to their attention to Seneca Village which made more sense than Jones’s Wood from start. Area was centrally located and thus easily accessible from both UWS and UES well as from midtown or uptown.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jones%27s_Wood
Thing to remember is Seneca Village wouldn’t have been long for this world regardless. If area hadn’t become Central Park lots would have been sold and property developed same as every other area of Manhattan.
Each generation or so Manhattan as an urban area pushed about ten blocks north. In process farms, great estates and other open land were divided up into lots and sold.
West Village, Greenwich Village, UES, UWS, Harlem, Inwood, etc… all at one time were bucolic open “country” .
City government intended for area known as Seneca Village to be developed at some point. Manhattan’s famous street grid included land known as Seneca Village. Indeed just inside CP off CPS there is a marker indicating Sixth Avenue
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commissioners%27_Plan_of_1811#:~:text=The%20Commissioners'%20Plan%20of%201811,uptown%20until%20the%20current%20day.
https://thegreatestgrid.mcny.org/the-1811-plan
As elevated train then subway lines pushed north into UWS or UES into Harlem and areas north all that undeveloped land became very valuable.
Tidbit of history…
Vast park land that surrounds American Museum of Natural History actually is mapped as part of land designated for Central Park.