Step Back in Time at the Weeksville Heritage Center in Brooklyn

by Kelcy June 3, 2024June 2, 2024

The Weeksville Heritage Center in Brooklyn is a really interesting historical site. The center aims to be a bridge between local residents, artists and more. It does this by using education to preserve an important part of Black history in the U.S.

The site houses a preserved community of 19th and early 20th century homes. This community was one of the largest free Black communities in pre-Civil War America.

These four wooden houses built around 1630 stood on the old Hunterfly Road, used by the Dutch as early as 1682 and abandoned with the introduction of the grid system in 1838. These houses were within the boundaries of the area known as Weeksville, a predominantly free Black community which grew up after the abolition of slavery in New York State in 1827. Many Black families took refuge here during the Civil War draft riots of 1863. At its peak, Weeksville had at least seven all Black [?], including the African Civilization Society, the Colored Orphan Asylum and the Home for Aged Colored People.

The Weeksville community was named after James Weeks. He was one of the Black investors who purchased the property used for the community in 1838. The community included the present-day Crown Heights and Bedford-Stuyvesant Brooklyn neighborhoods.

In 1968 the remaining houses were rediscovered and saved from demolition. The preserved houses are referred to as the Hunterfly Road Houses. Let’s learn a little about one of the houses.

A unique property is 1702 & 1704 Bergen Street. This style of house is called a double house. This style of house was commonly found in the Weeksville neighborhood. Commonly, unrelated families shared these double houses.

The houses all had beautiful facades with contrasting shutters and large paned windows. One had a screened porch to the side of the entrance.

There was no electricity or indoor plumbing in houses during this time. An outhouse was located in the backyards. Wells located throughout the community provided water.

I made the mistake of not booking a tour, so I was not able to tour the inside of the houses during my visit. Though I was able to peek inside and get a few shots for you all.

If you’re not able to book an official tour, the self-guided tour includes audio descriptions of each house. It also includes the exhibits inside the main building.

Check the website for current exhibits in the gallery. See a few of the exhibits I saw below.

I encourage anyone who enjoys historical and heritage tourism to visit the Weeksville Heritage Center in Brooklyn. You won’t regret it. And be sure to book a tour.

158 Buffalo Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11213
weeksvillevillagesociety.org