About Us

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Dorrance Brooks (d. 1918), was an African American soldier who died in France shortly before the end of World War I. A native of Harlem and the son of a Civil War veteran, Brooks was a Private First Class in the 15th Infantry/369th Infantry Regiment. 

In World War I, African American soldiers served in segregated regiments and were not eligible for aid from the Army Nurse Corps or the American Red Cross. In spite of these discouragements, Brooks distinguished himself as a faithful and patriotic soldier. Brooks was praised for his “signal bravery” in leading the remnants of his company after his superior officers were killed.

When this square was dedicated on June 14, 1925, more than 10,000 people were said to have attended the ceremony...

Dorrance Brooks Square is one of the 2019 Six Historic Districts to Celebrate! www.6tocelebrate.org 

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Harlem has experienced a rapid escalation in the demolition of historic sites in recent years to create space for new high-rise residential towers and upmarket commercial space. In response, DBPORA has intensified its neighborhood preservation activities. Due to the successful efforts of the West Harlem Community Preservation Organization, with support from the neighborhood advocacy organizations Save Harlem Now! and the Historic Districts Council, the Dorrance Brooks Square Historic District received a positive determination of by the New York State Historic Preservation Office for acceptance to both the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places. To continue our historic preservation efforts, DBPORA relies on donations from the public to preserve the neighborhood’s rich cultural history and its unique architectural structures.  To donate please scroll to the bottom of this page.

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CURRENT / PAST EVENTS

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    June 15, 2021

 https://youtu.be/i4yr0M7bdak

The Dorrance Brooks Square Historic District is an important reminder of both the early development of the neighborhood as well as the contributions of the African American community to the history of New York City.

The New York Public Library, Harlem Branch is an elegant Classical Revival style building that has served an important role in fostering the Black cultural life of Harlem. 

Dorrance Brooks Square Historic District and The New York Public Library, Harlem Branch

New York – Today, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) unanimously voted to designate the Dorrance Brooks Square Historic District and The New York Public Library, Harlem Branch at 9 West 124th Street as an individual landmark. The Dorrance Brooks Square Historic District is an important reminder of both the early development of the neighborhood as well as the contributions of the African American community to the history of New York City. The New York Public Library, Harlem Branch is an elegant Classical Revival style building that has served an important role in fostering the Black cultural life of Harlem. 

As we are approaching the 100-year anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance it is a particularly important and appropriate time to recognize and celebrate the significant cultural and social history of this neighborhood, along with its intact and meritorious architecture.

"I am thrilled and moved by these designations, which advance my equity goals for the agency to represent the city's diversity and community preservation," said Landmarks Preservation Commission Chair Sarah Carroll. "The Dorrance Brooks Square Historic District has beautiful, historically intact architecture and streetscapes and incredible cultural and historic significance. It's especially important as we recognize the 100th anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance, that the Commission has designated New York City's first historic district named after an African American, Dorrance Brooks, and a district that has such strong associations with the notable figures in the Harlem Renaissance who made important contributions to the arts, social justice, and New York City's civic life. The architecturally distinctive New York Public Library, Harlem Branch has served its neighborhood for more than a century, providing resources and programs as well as space for civic and cultural activities."

The Dorrance Brooks Square Historic District consists of intact streetscapes of a striking variety of 19th and early-20th century row houses, multi-family dwellings, and institutions, designed by prominent New York City architects within two sections on either side of Frederick Douglass Boulevard between West 136th Street and West 140th Street. Anchored by Dorrance Brooks Square, named after an African American war hero whose actions helped to dismantle racist notions about Black Americans in military service, it has rich associations with the Harlem Renaissance and Civil Rights movements.

Among the prominent residents associated with the Harlem Renaissance were the intellectual and essayist W. E. B. Du Bois, stage and motion picture actress Ethel Waters, and celebrated sculptor Augusta Savage. Savage and other artists also had studios in the neighborhood, such as the Harlem Artist Guild and the Uptown Art Laboratory. In their home at 580 St. Nicholas Avenue, Regina Anderson, Luella Tucker and Ethel Ray Nance, fostered the careers of notable Harlem Renaissance artists Countee Cullen, Langston Hughes and many others by hosting "the Harlem West Side Literary Salon," known simply as "580" to those who attended. Historian Charles Seifert founded the Ethiopian School of Research History on West 137th Street in 1920s, a collection of African art and artifacts and rare historical which later became the Charles C. Seifert Library.

In addition to Dorrance Brooks Square, several buildings in the historic district were the sites of important activist work. These include: The National Urban League, founded in 1910 to improve urban conditions for African Americans in New York; the W.E.B. DuBois Residence, home of the author, educator, and leader in the Pan-Africanist movement; the Walter F. White Residence, home of Walter F. White, who served as president of the NAACP; and the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first African-American trade union, which was headquartered here under the direction of Asa Philip Randolph in 1927.

"The designation of the Dorrance Brooks Square Historic District is monumental for the residents of Harlem," said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. "It is thanks to the tireless effort of the Dorrance Brooks Property Owners & Residents Association, Save Harlem Now!, Community Board 10, and so many others that we celebrate the first historic district in New York City named after an African-American. I thank the Landmarks Preservation Commission for designating this area and hope that this is part of a larger effort to designate other buildings and districts in Upper Manhattan."

"The Dorrance Brooks Property Owners and Residents Association is very grateful to all of the historic preservation organizations, elected officials, community residents and other stakeholders who worked very hard for a long time for this effort to succeed," said Keith Taylor, president of the Dorrance Brooks Property Owners & Residents Association. "We are especially proud that this will be the first historic district in the City of New York ever to be named after an African-American, hero Harlem Hellfighter Private First Class Dorrance Brooks. This designation will preserve Central Harlem's iconic cultural and architectural legacy for generations to come, in particular the many contributions of the African diaspora in the Village of Harlem to this country and the rest of the world."

"This is a great and well-deserved designation," said Simeon Bankoff, executive director of the Historic Districts Council. "Congratulations to everyone in the community who worked so hard on this effort and to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for fulfilling their commitment to expand their work in communities underserved by preservation such as Harlem and Upper Manhattan."

The New York Public Library, Harlem Branch, located on West 124th Street, is one five Carnegie libraries in Harlem designed by the prominent firm of McKim Mead & White, all of which of are designated New York City Landmarks. Designed in the Classical Revival style, the library features a limestone facade with large recessed arched openings at the first and second stories, decorated with rosettes at the first story and alternating roundels and diamond-shaped lozenges at the second. Under the careful stewardship of the New York Public Library, the Harlem Branch's building has changed little over time retaining its elegant design. 

In addition to its architectural significance, the library has served an important role in fostering the Black cultural life of Harlem.  In the late 1930s, it played a role in the Black community theater movement supported by the Works Progress Administration program that constructed professionally-equipped theaters in the Harlem Branch and other area libraries. Today, it continues to serve the needs of community residents, providing access to print and electronic resources and librarian expertise. When it fully reopens following the pandemic, it will continue to offer a wide range of programs and classes, including exhibits, musical events, literary discussions, technology training, and more.

"The New York Public Library applauds the designation of our Harlem branch as a New York City exterior historic landmark," said New York Public Library President Anthony W. Marx. "For well over a century the Library has been a proud steward of this important civic space, which has opened doors of opportunity for countless members of the Harlem community and played a central and unique role fostering Black cultural life. A beautiful and inspiring example of a McKim Mead & White-designed Carnegie library, the Harlem branch is a beloved and critical part of its community and our city, and we thank the Landmarks Preservation Commission for acknowledging its significance."

"I am thrilled that the Landmarks Preservation Commission has designated The New York Public Library (NYPL) Harlem Branch," said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. "The NYPL Harlem Branch has been an educational and cultural destination in Harlem since its establishment. This designation will ensure that future generations will continue to have an institution that will continue to provide opportunities for its visitors to learn about and honor the history of Harlem." 

April 20, 2021

Dorrance Brooks Historic District has been reviewed by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission for consideration as a NYC historic district (2:20 to 1:04:00) - 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy_jnhl96TQ&t=1641s

February 2, 2021

Dorrance Brooks Historic District has been calendared by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission to be reviewed as an NYC historic district (16:04 to 46:31) - 

https://youtu.be/qBohRMIvWFI 

Thursday, July 9th, 2020 

DBPORA Receives HDC's Grassroots Preservation Award

DBPORA was honored by the Historic Districts Council with a Grassroots Preservation Award for its work on historic neighborhood preservation. The Grassroots Preservation Awards and Preservation Party  was held on Thursday, July 9, 2020 online:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OujD3HO1Hsg&t=1267s 

Thursday, October 3, 2019 at 7 pm

St. Marks / Mt. Calvary United Methodist Church

49-55 Edgecombe Avenue 

Please attend the  

Dorrance Brooks Square Historic District 

“Historic Tax Credit 101” Informational Meeting

 to learn about the numerous state and federal historic grant and tax credit programs to benefit homeowners and businesses within the Dorrance Brooks Square Historic District!

Who Will Be There

Mr. Daniel McEneny, Coordinator, Community Engagement and Homeowner Tax Credit Program, NYS Historic Preservation Office

Ms. Kelly Carroll, Director of Advocacy and Community Outreach, Historic Districts Council

A 45 minute Facebook Live video link of the event follows: 

https://www.facebook.com/keith.taylor.773124/videos/10218664375334238?sfns=mo

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Sunday, August 18, 2019 at 10:30 am

Dorrance Brooks Square

West 136th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue 

 A Walking Tour was given by a historic preservationist to show the new historic district's architectural and cultural legacies.  

A 90 minute Facebook Live video link of the event follows: 

https://www.facebook.com/ keith.taylor.773124/videos/ 10218305970094331/

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Thursday, May 2, 2019 at 7 pm

St. Marks / Mt. Calvary United Methodist Church

49-55 Edgecombe Avenue 

A  Community Meeting was  held  on the proposal to establish the Dorrance Brooks Square Historic District and acquire  mNew York State and National Historic Register status. Representative from the NY State Division of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation were available to answer questions. 

A link to the videos of the event follows:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/gcj91sp58j28oqt/AACT8Ti9BXrK3AKjgAI4hFiAa?dl=0

 For additional information about the benefits of owning a property in a National Register Historic District, visit: 

http://nysparks.state.ny.us/shpo/tax-credit-programs/

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Dorrance Brooks Property Owners & Residents Association

invites you to participate in our event commemorating the 100th year anniversary of Armistice Day, and the  ending World War I at:

DORRANCE BROOKS SQUARE PARK

Saturday, November 10, 2018, 11:00 am

(Edgecombe & St. Nicholas Avenues - 136th & 137th Streets)

A link to the videos of the event follows: 

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2ym42w5hkxi84u6/AAAwbffjIJn7groAFwanbLiia?dl=0

The Armistice of 11 November 1918 ended fighting on land, sea and air in World War I between the Allies and their opponent, Germany. The segregated 369th United States Infantry, also known as the “Harlem Hellfighters,” assigned to fight in the French Army’s 161st Division, served 191 days in front line trenches in France, more than any other American unit, and also suffered the most losses...

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COMMUNITY MEETING

on the status of the  Dorrance Brooks Square Historic District applications for State Historic District, National Register of Historic Places and New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission status.

MARCH 9, 2018 @ 10AM

St. Marks/Mt. Calvary Church

490-55 Edgecombe Avenue

(137th & 138th Streets) 

Representatives from the Historic District Council (www.hdc.org) and other historic preservation organizations will be present to answer questions about the upcoming application process and the impact that the historic designations will have on our community.

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