Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote about Thomas Truesdale

Jim Driscoll, historian at the Queens Historical Society and a longtime advocate of the historical importance of 227 Duffield, pointed out that Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote about Thomas Truesdale, previous owner of 227 Duffield. Here is a quote from Emerson's journal from 1847 (pages 332-333):

Emerson was one of the most prominent American intellectuals of the time. He was one of the greatest spokesmen against slavery, and Mr. Driscoll thinks this passage might possibly indicate the attendees of an Underground Railroad meeting.

Demolition begins of historic Duffield Street building

Here are photos of the scaffolding that has been erected around 231 Duffield Street. While most attention has been on 227 and 233 Duffield, one important part of the history of the block is that all these buildings were connected underground. 231 Duffield is controlled by the V3, the same company building the hotel at 237 Duffield, and it looks like they intend to use their demolition permit. Some speculate that escaped slaves may have used other buildings on the block for various purposes, but that they stayed in 231.

These photos were sent by a reader.

City Secures Rest of Willoughby Square Park Properties

Brownstoner covers the City acquisitions to create Willoughby Square:

It looks like we were on to something when we reported the city's acquisition of two properties in the Willoughby Square Park footprint earlier this month. Now the rest of the pieces of the puzzle have fallen into place: Public records show that the city has taken title to nine properties through the process of eminent domain. The properties include 392, 402, 404, 406, 416, and 418 Albee Square as well as 223, 225 and 229 Duffield Street. Based on our understanding of how the eminent domain process works, the owners will not receive full compensation from the city until appraisals are completed. A few of these buildings still have some rent-controlled tenants in them who are being relocated by HPD. As for the city's plans for the project, the RFP process for both the landscape design of the 1.25-acre park and the development of the 700-car underground parking garage have been completed but the contracts have not been awarded or announced yet.

Surviving '08 and hope for '09

227 Duffield keeps on keeping on, and the press keeps noticing. Curbed puts Duffield on its list of three "Threatened Neighborhood Landmarks That Are Somehow Still Standing":

The houses, on Duffield Street in Downtown Brooklyn, found themselves the target of the city's eminent domain policy as politicians eyed--er, a parking garage, for the space. Given the economic situation, this one's anyone's call as to how it will end up. Our prediction: Underground Railroad-themed parking garage! Yes? Good?

AMNY put Duffield #4 on list of 10 to save at the end of 2007. Here's their recent follow up:

Nos. 231 and 233 Duffield Street
New plans for this block of homes included an Underground Railroad museum and sale of air rights for a new hotel. But negotiations between the owner and developer have stalled, and the project may be scaled back.

Finally, the Brooklyn Paper puts Duffield on "90 to watch in ‘09!":

67. Abolitionist monuments: The city announced plans to create a $3-million, four-part abolitionist memorial throughout Brooklyn, with plans to start a museum in the former Underground Railroad houses on Duffield Street, set to start in the new year. We’ll believe it when we see it.

There are several factual errors in all these... AMNY should know that 227 Duffield is the most prominent of the Abolitionist homes, and that 233 is owned by a strong advocate of the history. He is not selling, but the developers at V3 have already gotten control of 231 and have applied for a permit to destroy the building.

We do hope, as implied by the Brooklyn Paper, that the city's abolitionist memorial will include Duffield Street. That's not part of the city's plan, but the the groups awarded the contract have the opportunity to include Duffield. Let's hope they do!

I remain hopeful about establishing a museum at 227 Duffield this year. Keep posted for news.

Getting rid of those pesky Abolitionists

The Downtown Brooklyn Partnership

is proud to bring Brooklyn forward by obliterating any bit of history of those pesky Abolitionists. Oh, maybe a plaque or two will be nice, but those homes have to go.

No, they haven't actually said that in words, but they have said this in images found here:

http://www.dbpartnership.org/utils/imgshow.aspx?sid=11

Here is an annotated version of their vision:





Click here for animated version.

Joy Chatel is #27 of Brooklyn's Top 50 Most Influential

Brownstoner.com is publishing its list of Brooklyn's Top 50 Most Influential. In their list of numbers 21-30, they recognized the achievements of Joy Chatel:

27. Joy Chatel tirelessly fought to save her home, which a national network of historians believe was involved in the Underground Railroad, from eminent domain ... and actually won. Now the city must build its underground parking garage and public plaza around her home. Without Chatel, hundreds of pages of history on Brooklyn's role in the abolitionism movement would not have been written. As a concession, the city has already agreed to commemorate Brooklyn's abolitionist movement in the planned plaza. And if Chatel succeeds in her dream, the home will be turned into a museum, an unplanned addition to the glitzy Downtown Brooklyn overhaul.

Joy repeatedly states that this effort is not about her— in her view, the history of Duffield Street is owned by everyone. But we're still very glad to get the recognition.

Thank you Brownstoner!

City chooses Brooklyn Historical Society, Weeksville & Irondale Ensemble to commemorate Abolitionism

The New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and friends announced today the groups they have chosen to memorialize Brooklyn's Abolitionist history:

New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), in cooperation with the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) and the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, and in partnership with a Commemoration Advisory Panel, has selected In Pursuit of Freedom, a multi-faceted proposal to memorialize the history of abolitionism, the anti-slavery movement, and the Underground Railroad in Brooklyn. The proposal was designed by the Brooklyn Historical Society, the Weeksville Heritage Center and the Irondale Ensemble Project in response to a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued by NYCEDC. The project will provide new resources for understanding Brooklyn’s important role in the abolitionist movement through exhibitions, marked walking tours, a theater project and a website.

We applaud the City's efforts to celebrate this history, and it is encouraging that they see that this history as an important part of Brooklyn's future. Here is a description of the project:

In Pursuit of Freedom contains four inter-related components:

• A commemorative artistic installation in Downtown Brooklyn will be the starting point for visitors to follow a series of historical markers at sites throughout the borough. A self-guided walking tour of these sites will also be created and distributed at key locations in Brooklyn.


• Interpretative exhibits will be installed at the Brooklyn Historical Society, Weeksville Heritage Center and the Irondale Center at Lafayette Avenue Church. Each of these installations will include images, maps and primary source documents, and will be closely aligned with the needs of teachers and students.


• An original theater piece will draw upon the story of abolitionism in Brooklyn as it relates to important issues that continue to challenge contemporary society.


• An interactive website will connect all of the components to make the project available to a national and international audience.

There was no mention of Duffield Street in the press release, and to this day, the City has not acknowledged any historical importance to the street.

We invite everyone— especially the EDC and the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership— to come to 227 Duffield and the neighboring historically significant sites. In the words of Deborah Schwartz, President, Brooklyn Historical Society (via the EDC press release):

The struggle for freedom was not only fought on battle fields, but also in churches, schools, newspapers and local communities all over America. Leaders and activists who lived and worked in Brooklyn were vital to the outcome; their stories need to be told and understood. With this project we hope to invigorate a lively civic discourse about the relationship of history to our present lives.

Photo essay of Duffield on June 30, 2008

For a peek into how Duffield Street looks as of June 30, 2008, please visit this photo essay.

The Quest for "it": The 227 Abolitionist Place Benefit

The Quest for "it" has a bold-name run-down of the Duffield St. fundraiser on Feb. 29:

The evening was attended by loyal supporters such as Brooklyn based Designer Sena, Historic reservationist Julie M. Finch, and Jumbie Records Partner Raul Rothblatt among others. Libations led by Activist and Author Nana Camille Yarbrough, and Author/Radio Personality Sister Olyade Stokes included thanks and prayer for the ability to be present, and to take part in the recognition of and preservation of African American culture. Words of wisdom were also imparted by guest speakers. Noteworthy speeches came from Activist and Author Kevin Powell (see photo far right), Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries, Fort Green Councilwoman Letitia James, and of course Joy Chatel herself (see photo, center). Other highlights included a riveting film short entitled Brooklyn's First Subway: The Underground Railroad, which cataloged Ms. Chatel's process in saving the historic site as well as live performances ranging from spoken word to dance.

It's not unusual: NY screwing you

What's surprising about the governor getting caught with his pants down is that they've been down for so long. Of course, if Spitzer can spend his own family's money on prostitutes, what do you think he's been doing with yours? If he makes those sorts of deals with his personal finances and as a father, why do you think he will do any better with other people's money?

Spitzer's style of government is not new, and he's pretty much followed an important part of the governing style of the previous administration. New York has the most dysfunctional state government in the country (see the PDF of the Brennan report here). While Spitzer's personal foibles may not have cost the tax payers money, his failures as the leader of the state did cost real money- and real lives.

One thing Spitzer may have learned from our state government is to use shell companies. This is what happened in the disaster known as the World Trade Center clean-up. Our state government, in cooperation with our city government, showed fine partnership by hiring shell companies to hire mob-related companies to dismantle the Deutsche Bank building. The result was not only embarrassing delays, but a fire that cost the lives of two of New York's Bravest.

In the case of the Atlantic Yards, the state is using made-up community groups whose only function is sign on to the supposed "Community" "Benefits" "Agreement." These are shell organizations whose main purpose (this is my own opinion and does not represent the views of all who support 227 Abolitionist Place) is to take real money from the taxpayers and give it to a private developer.

In the case of the Downtown Brooklyn Environmental Impact Statement, the problem was a shell government. The city hired AKRF for its environmental review, and when their own experts concluded that there was powerful evidence of Underground Railroad activity on Duffield, the City simply ignored the experts. They decided to stay in their own fantasy land.

There is so much fantasy in all of this. Spitzer's sexual fantasies haven't cost the taxpayers too much money, but his administration's hiring of the John Galt Corporation did. You might think that our state government would think twice about hiring a company with no track record, especially since it was named after a fictional character thought up by Ayn Rand in Atlas Shrugged.

I once thought that a spectacular disaster at the World Trade Center clean up site would spur New Yorkers to look more carefully at our state government. It did not. But now that all eyes are on Albany, I hope more people realize that Spitzer represents government as usual in this state.

It is time to start demanding real action in Albany. While Spitzer was off on his dalliances, he forgot to work on real reform. I would like to see our governor (whoever that is) work on eminent domain reform. Almost every other state in this country (42 out of 50, according to the Castle Coalition) has tried to limit the state's power to take property from one individual and give it to a preferred individual.

Spitzer's rule has been a huge disappointment, to put it mildly. But at least we can thank him for his novel way of bringing attention to Albany.

New Duffield Street photos

Dana L. Oliver has blogged about 227 Duffield here, and included a new slideshow with the first published photos of the Duffield fundraiser on 2/29. For more photos, click here.

African American PlayWrights Exchange spreads the word about Duffield

The African American PlayWrights Exchange is helping to spread the word about our upcoming fundraiser:

227 Abolitionist Place
Home of Brooklyn’s Abolitionist Movement

Help support the creation of an Independent museum/cultural center for the celebration of American history and Brooklyn’s resistance to slavery
Friday, February 29th
7:00 to 10:00 PM
at
Danny Simmons'
Corridor Gallery

To visit their blog, please click here.

1010WINS revisits 227 Duffield for Black History Month

1010WINS continues its excellent coverage of 227 Duffield with their article "Black History Month: Saving History in Brooklyn":

The good news is that Joy Chatel has saved her home at 227 Duffield Street in Downtown Brooklyn from eminent domain.

A bricked-up tunnel in the building's basement is believed to be an escape route used in the Underground Railroad.

Chatel now hopes to turn it into a cultural center and museum. People have already showed up on her doorstep.

The text version of the article can be found here. The audio version of the story can be found here.

Lovely little movie about Duffield

Here a new short video about 227 Duffield:
http://www.mdialog.com/movies/show/6084-duffield-house

Duffield Street is the #1 story of the year

On Jan. 3, the Downtown Brooklyn Star published its countdown of the Top 10 Stories of 2007, and Duffield Street even surpassed the Atlantic Yards. They wrote:

#1: City Backs Down on Duffield Street

Who says you can't fight City Hall and win? Don't tell that to Joy Chatel, who was in danger of losing her home through eminent domain so that the city could tear it down and build a parking garage. A bad enough situation as it is, but Chatel's was no ordinary home. She, and may others, contend that the home was a stop on the Underground Railroad, run by members of the Abolitionist movement who were active in Downtown Brooklyn. Late in the year the city did an about face, claiming they no longer needed the home and Chatel saved an important piece of history.

Joy constantly repeats that this was not just her victory, but a great achievement for everyone involved, including City Hall. There are many people who helped make this happen, including a vigilant press— such as the Downtown Brooklyn Star.

227 Duffield one of the stories of the year

The decision to include 227 Duffield in Brooklyn's future was one of the stories of year, according to two papers.

In Whatta year!, the Brooklyn Paper says:

Free at last! The city decides against condemning Joy Chatel’s Duffield Street home, which historians believe is linked to the Underground Railroad.

In Year in review, the Amsterdam News reports:

After three years of fighting, a line of homes on Duffield Street in Brooklyn was saved from the gentrification wrecking ball because of its ties to the Underground Railroad.

Saving Duffield was a group effort, and we'd like to thank everyone for staying informed and involved. There's more to come in 2008... as long as we all chip in and donate to make it to the next step. Join the effort! Please give what you can using our new "donate" button!

AM New York: Rescue Us

AM New York has put preserving New York's urban heritage on the front cover of the December 21-23 edition. The prominent treatment suggests that there is widespread support for keeping the unique features of New York City. Number Four on the AM New York's list is Duffield Street:

Development pressures in downtown Brooklyn threaten the existence of several houses possibly linked to the Underground Railroad. Preservationists say the city ignored documents detailing the historical significance of the houses on Duffield Street.

After nearly four years of protest, one of the homes, No. 227, has been saved. But the fate of others on the street (Nos. 231 and 233) is up in the air. They're slated for demolition as part of a major redevelopment project for Willoughby Square.

Also on watch: The 1847 James Sloan and Abigail Hopper Gibbons home in Chelsea (339 W. 29th St.). Newspaper editor Horace Greeley and abolitionist John Brown were known to stay here, and the house was specifically targeted during the 1863 Draft Riots. Community Board 4 is advocating its preservation: the current owner is remodeling and wants to add a penthouse.

It's good to hear that the homes on West 29th Street are also getting some news coverage. It's also good to report (contrary to the quote above) that 233 Duffield is not threatened. The owner is not selling, and the home is not threatened with eminent domain.

Some photos from Duffield press conference

Here are some photos of the Duffield press conference on Monday taken by Diane Greene Lent. For more, click here.

HISTORIC DUFFIELD STREET HOME SAVED FROM EMINENT DOMAIN!

Brooklyn, NY 11/29/07 — In settlement of a lawsuit filed by Joy Chatel and Families United for Racial and Economic Equality (FUREE) the City has pledged that it will not use eminent domain to condemn 227 Duffield. The property has been the subject of controversy since 2004 when the City announced that it intended to take the property by eminent domain as part of their Downtown Brooklyn Redevelopment Plan. The Downtown Brooklyn Plan is a massive redevelopment plan based on a rezoning of the area in 2004. The plan calls for over 4 million square feet of new retail, commercial and luxury housing in the middle of a historically low-income community.

On January 7, 2004, Joy Chatel, an owner of 227 Duffield Street was given a notice informing her that her home would be taken by eminent domain and demolished to make way for a new parking lot. Many believe that her home was a station on the Underground Railroad and a vital cultural treasure that should be preserved. The Underground Railroad was the network of people and places in which fugitive slaves sought refuge when escaping from the plantation system in the South.

The home, built in 1848, was owned by Thomas and Harriet Lee-Truesdell, prominent abolitionists of that era. Their role in the abolitionist movement, coupled with their relationships with other active abolitionists in Downtown Brooklyn, led the City’s own researchers to conclude that the property was “quite possibly” linked to the Underground Railroad and the majority of historians commissioned by the City to review its research advocated for the home’s preservation. Despite this historical documentation and the presence of several unexplainable architectural abnormalities in the sub-basements from 227-235 Duffield St, the City of New York initially concluded that the home’s historic significance did not warrant its preservation. In response to litigation and years of advocacy on the part of those who support preserving the property, the City has agreed to re-draw its plans for Downtown Brooklyn so that the condemnation of 227 Duffield will not be necessary.

“I want to thank the Mayor for listening to our plea,” Joy Chatel, an owner of 227 Duffield Street said, “My vision is to continue the Cultural Center and Museum my daughter and I started years ago; so all people home and abroad can benefit from the rich history downtown Brooklyn has to offer. I am also thankful to the many people who have gone to great lengths to make sure that this vision comes to fruition.”

“So many of us in the community did not want to see the Underground Railroad become an underground parking lot,” said Randy Leigh, area resident and FUREE board member. “Too much of our history has already been lost, and we know the City did the right thing by listening to the community and protecting our history. “

The suit was brought by Jennifer Levy of South Brooklyn Legal Services who says: “I commend the City for their flexibility. They have shown that it is possible to do development thoughtfully, in a manner that is responsive to community concerns, and with an eye to preserving our history.”

Tours of the home will be given on request.

* * * *

More information will be available at the press conference on Monday, December 3, 2007, 12 PM.

Where: 227 Duffield Street (between Fulton & Willoughby Streets in Brooklyn)

Invited Speakers: Councilmembers Charles Barron, Letitia James, Tony Avella, John Liu; Assembly Member Hakeem Jeffries, State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, US Congressional Representative Yvette Clarke, Assembly Representative Joseph Lentol; Rev. Clinton Miller, Rev. Dyson, Joy Chatel, Families United For Racial and Economic Equality, Jennifer Levy Esq., Four Borough Neighborhood Preservation Alliance, Lewis Greenstein, Raul Rothblatt, Christabel Gough, Jim Driscoll, Richard Hourahan, and others.