Peekskill's African American History: A Hudson Valley Community's Untold Story

by John J. Curran

Overview

The first African Americans of Peekskill had no choice in making the Hudson Valley their home. What they did choose was what kind of home to make of it—choices that were to shape both their community and the course of American history. Meet the African American sharpshooter who helped swing the balance of the American Revolution, revisit a stop on the underground railroad and catch a glimpse of Paul Robeson through the tumult of the 1949 concert riots. Then follow John J. Curran beyond the headlines and behind the scenes as he seeks out the people whose quiet, consistent contributions were no less dynamic in bringing about social change.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781596294844
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	09/05/2008
Series:	Brief History
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	1,123,807
Product dimensions:	6.70(w) x 9.70(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

John J. Curran is a Peekskill High School graduate from the Class of 1963. He has been Peekskill's official historian since 1994. He is the author of eight published books, including Peekskill: A Photographic History (Arcadia, 2005). He composed the narrative and sequence for the historic videos Peekskill in Perspective and Peekskill on Postcards and edited and published My Memories of 100 African American Peekskill Families, written by Ethel Jackson (1997).

Table of Contents

Preface     11
1759 to 1815: Hudson Valley Slavery and Fighting for Independence
Human Slavery in New York State, Westchester, Cortlandt and Peekskill     13
Another Document Confirms Slavery     15
Numbers and Scope of Race Slavery     15
Peekskill and Cortlandt Slave Owners     16
"Old Slave House on Main Street"     17
An African American Revolutionary War Veteran     19
John Jacob Peterson Became a Hero     21
The First Integrated Army     25
Inside the Hudson Valley Headquarters     26
"True to the Patriotic Instincts": 1812     27
1815 to 1900: Escaping Slavery and the War for Its End
Posted: "Ten Dollars Reward...Ran Away"     29
Escape on the Underground Railroad     31
Hawley and Harriet Green's 1112 Main Street Safe House     33
More Land Dealing and Good Works     35
AME Zion Church and Underground Railroad Activities     37
Underground Railroad Tours     40
Peekskill Woman Restored Harriet Tubman's Home     41
Reverend Beecher and Harriet Made Their Contributions     42
Local Union Soldiers     43
Former Southern Slave and Civil War Leader Settled in Peekskill     44
William H. SingletonJoined the Union Army     48
Local Response to New York City Draft Riots     49
Abraham and William Hallenback     50
William Tinsley: Peekskill Success Story     52
Work, Family and Churches in the Late 1800s     54
Mount Olivet Baptist Church     57
John Duey and General Pomeroy's Sword     62
1900 to 1950: Unheard Voices on the National Scene
World War I: Buffalo Soliders     63
1900 to 1940: Modern Life, Hopes, Setbacks and Anxiety     63
Peekskill Ku Klux Klan Sets Its Stage: The 1920s     66
World War II Veterans     68
World War II's "Black Panthers"     74
Paul Robeson Sings in Peekskill: 1947     74
Social and Political Background to 1949 Events     76
Paul Robeson in Moscow: 1949     78
Role of the Peekskill Evening Star     80
Two Riot Events at Van Cortlandtville: 1949     81
"Wake Up America, Peekskill Did"     83
Reports, Committees and Then the 1960s     84
Commemorations Fifty Years Later     85
Caleb Peterson: From Drum Hill School to Hollywood     85
1950 to 1970: Troubles and Transition
Neighborhoods     87
Bohlmann Towers     90
Urban Renewal Dislocations     91
The Charitable Six     92
Vietnam War     93
Change, Rage and Opportunities     94
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.     98
Peekskill NAACP and Civil Rights Activities     99
Peekskill Chapter of the NAACP     103
Soul Music, Soul Food and "Black Power"     107
Peekskill's Black Panthers     108
Churches     110
AME Zion Church     110
Mount Lebanon Baptist Church     112
Refuge Church of Christ     115
Two Apostolic and an Evangelical Church     115
Mount Olivet Baptist Church: Reverend Wiggins's Pastorate     115
Haywood Burns Influenced the World     119
1970 to 2008: Taking Charge and Moving Ahead
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority: Nu Psi Zeta Chapter     123
Peekskill Firsts     123
Peekskill Area Health Center     127
Family Resource Center     128
Aunt Bessie's Open Door Day Care Center     128
Human Relations Commission     130
Politicians     130
Published Memoir by Ethel Jackson     133
Experiencing the Amistad     133
Community Leaders: 1970 to 2000      134
Notable Educators     140
School Board     144
Peekskill High School Hall of Honor     145
The Contemporary Scene     147
Acknowledgements     157
Author's Works     159