The Fight to Save Abolitionist History in New York City
Photo Via Katherine Marks- New York Times
Hidden in the neighborhood of Washington Heights sits an emblem of black history. A small wood-framed house built in 1851 holds the story of abolition and activism. Once owned by Dennis Harris– a historic figure on the Underground Railroad, 857 Riverside Drive is a key piece of history in Manhattan.
History faces the threat of being erased, as the new owner of 857 applied for a demolition permit to demolish the house and replace it with a high-rise residential tower. Now, there is a movement from activists, historians, and passionate New Yorkers determined to save the historic home.
Bernice Abbot’s Photo taken in 1937
857 Riverside is the last surviving property that belonged to abolitionist minister Dennis Harris. Stories suggest that the house has ties to the Underground Railroad. Harris owned the house between 1852 and 1854 until he sold it to his business partner and fellow abolitionist John Newhouse. Harris faced intense pushback and danger for being a vocal activist and was driven away from Lower Manhattan for his work with the underground railroad.
The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 permitted slave-hunters to capture alleged escaped slaves without due process. Out of this was born the Underground Railroad, a network of secret routes and safe houses across the country for enslaved African-Americans to escape into free states and Canada. In New York, most underground railroad sights were the final push to get freed slaves across the Canadian border.
The evils of slavery will never, truly, be known except to the people that witnessed them. In present times, all we can do is comb through history books and search for the hidden history of America. New York City boasts dozens of historical sights; many people flock to sites like Ellis Island and Yorkville to trace their lineage back hundreds of years.
What can be said for black people who are desperate to find their history in a country that is quick to erase any signs of its sins? Black people are forced to dig through slave documents, family tales, and deteriorating landmarks to find some semblance of historical belonging. A site like 857 Riverside undoubtedly holds the keys to a hidden past, and once again, this country, this city, works to actively conceal its painful antiquities with new shiny buildings.
857 Riverside Drive Today | Photo via Marla Diamond
Historians have asked the Landmarks Preservation Commission to grant the home landmark status– a request that has been denied. The commission argues that since the home changed so much over the years, it no longer retains historical significance. They also say that they can not prove the ties to the Underground Railroad, so the historic significance loses value. Historians argue that exact details on Underground Railroad activities and participants are sketchy by necessity and further exploration of the history has yet to be carried out by the commission based on racial bias.
The possible fate of the home sheds light on the underlying bias in the preservation of our nation's history. Often, sites like this are overlooked due to condition, which shows systemic-bias when designating landmark status in communities of color. Many historic buildings in diverse areas such as Harlem and Washington Heights have deteriorated because property owners do not have the same access to the funds needed for maintenance and restoration as more affluent areas do.