"Weeksville"(1838--)

Was a nineteenth century free community located in what is now the Bedford-Stuyvesant are of Brooklyn,New York.It is remembered today as historic site for its community programs,urban

employment opportunities,and the promotion of racial respectability.In 1838,only 11 years after slavery ended in New York,Weeksville,was formed by a free black man named James Weeks when he purchased a substantial area of land from Henry C.Thompson,another free black man.James then encouraged other African-Americans to settle on the property as he sold lots to the newcomers who named the community  Weeksville.Weeksville quickly a self-sufficient and thriving free black community.It also became a refuge for southern black fleeing slavery and for northern African-Americans who desired to escape racial violence and drafts riots in New York and other cities.By 1850,it was the second largest community for free blacks in pre-Civil War America.The community was known for employing blacks in urban occupations and was a community where black doctors,professional,and entrepreneurs were able to practice skills and develop clientele.Weeksville residents established churches,schools,benevolent associations,and elderly Home,and had an orphanage by the 1860s.In addition to housing a variety of black-owned businesses,Weeksville saw the creation of the Freedman's Torchlight,of one the country's first African-American newspaper.Weeksville not only provided opportunities for blacks to attain entrepreneurial success,but also offered political and intellectual freedoms was a site for abolitionist action.Community member participated in a wide rage of anti-slavery action and promoted equal rights for free blacks,including voting rights campaigns,the black convention moment,and resistance to the 1863New York City Draft Riots.After the Civil War encouraged Freedman's schools in the South and supporting Black Nationalist aspirations across the North.By the post-civil War era,Weeksville had become and emblem of community empowerment and racial pride.By 1900,the community was home to over 500 families comprised of doctors,ministers,tradesmen,teachers,and laborers.The community existed until the 1930s,it was overtaken by the growth of Brooklyn and almost forgotten amidst urban renewal plans of the 1950s when many of its old buildings were replaced by newer structures.In 1968,subway engineer James Hurley and pilot Joseph Hayes rediscovered and worked to save four wooden cottages,now known as the Hunterfly Road Houses,that are now the only existing remnants of 19th Century Weeksville.The homes were threatened by demolition plans shortly after their discovery Joan Maynard,the first Executive Director of the Weeksville Society,was successful in leading youth groups and members of the community in a campaign to preserve the houses.Weeksville achieved landmark status in 1971.In 2005,the four homes were fully restored and open to the public.