Seneca Village: A forgotten community

Seneca Village was a predominantly African American community that existed on the site of what is now Central Park in New York City, roughly between 82nd and 89th Streets on the West Side, from 1825 until 1857. Its beginnings trace back to 1825 when Andrew Williams, a Black shoeshiner, purchased land from John and Elizabeth Whitehead. Soon after, Epiphany Davis, another Black man, and the AME Zion Church also acquired lots in the area. Land ownership was crucial; New York had property requirements for Black men to vote, so owning land in Seneca Village provided residents with important political rights and a pathway to self-sufficiency.

City officials at the time justified the village's demolition by portraying it as an area of "squalor," a narrative that historical findings have since proven "inaccurate." Archaeological evidence has revealed stable, established households with property and possessions, contradicting the derogatory portrayal. In 2011, during an eight-week archaeological exploration, teams uncovered the stone foundation of the Wilson family home and a shared yard used by two other families. Within the Wilson home, artifacts such as an iron roasting pan, an iron tea kettle, a glass bottle, and a ceramic pot were found, offering tangible proof of a thriving community.