Rapp Road Community Historic District
Encyclopedia
Rapp Road Community Historic District is a historic district
in the Pine Bush area, in the western end of the city of Albany
, New York
, that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 2002. It is significant as a "rare example of chain-migration community resulting from the Great Migration
."
The Reverend Louis W. Parson and his wife migrated to Albany from Mississippi
in 1927. He founded the First Church of God in Christ in Albany. In four trips to Mississippi, Parson encouraged friends and family to move to Albany and join the church. Many friends and family did, during the 1930s and 1940s. Eventually the majority of Shubuta, Mississippi
, moved to Albany.
The Rapp Road community was a response to congregation members' discomfort with the urban Albany moral values and urban living. Some moved back to Mississippi. Two 14 acres (56,656 m²) undeveloped properties were purchased by Louis W. Parson, in 1930 and 1933. The community grew by "haphazard" splitting of the property, along Rapp Road, a narrow land, including properties that spanned the road. The community thus reflects the First Great Migration
of black Americans from the South to the North.
years, especially, building materials were hard to obtain, and thus one family found they could complete a small shotgun house but not the larger house that they had started.
The residences are a mix of cottages and shotgun houses, and are clustered on Rapp Road between Pine Lane and the South Frontage Road of Washington Avenue Extension
, just north of Crossgates Mall
. At its peak, 23 families lived on Rapp Road, and in 2001, 16 of the original families were still represented. In 2008, 15 of the original 23 families remain. In 2002 the community was designated by the state of New York as a "New York State Historic District" and in 2003 a National Historic District; and in 2006 the Board of Regents
chartered the Rapp Road Historical Association.
Historic district
A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries, historic districts receive legal protection from development....
in the Pine Bush area, in the western end of the city of Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2002. It is significant as a "rare example of chain-migration community resulting from the Great Migration
Great Migration (African American)
The Great Migration was the movement of 6 million blacks out of the Southern United States to the Northeast, Midwest, and West from 1910 to 1970. Some historians differentiate between a Great Migration , numbering about 1.6 million migrants, and a Second Great Migration , in which 5 million or more...
."
The Reverend Louis W. Parson and his wife migrated to Albany from Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
in 1927. He founded the First Church of God in Christ in Albany. In four trips to Mississippi, Parson encouraged friends and family to move to Albany and join the church. Many friends and family did, during the 1930s and 1940s. Eventually the majority of Shubuta, Mississippi
Shubuta, Mississippi
Shubuta is a town in Clarke County, Mississippi, United States. Shubuta was incorporated in 1865. It had become a trading post community in the 1830s, but it was not until the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek was signed under the Indian Removal Act and the Choctaw ceded the land to the United...
, moved to Albany.
The Rapp Road community was a response to congregation members' discomfort with the urban Albany moral values and urban living. Some moved back to Mississippi. Two 14 acres (56,656 m²) undeveloped properties were purchased by Louis W. Parson, in 1930 and 1933. The community grew by "haphazard" splitting of the property, along Rapp Road, a narrow land, including properties that spanned the road. The community thus reflects the First Great Migration
Great Migration (African American)
The Great Migration was the movement of 6 million blacks out of the Southern United States to the Northeast, Midwest, and West from 1910 to 1970. Some historians differentiate between a Great Migration , numbering about 1.6 million migrants, and a Second Great Migration , in which 5 million or more...
of black Americans from the South to the North.
Community
Parson found undeveloped land in the Pine Bush for the community to move to because he did not think life in Albany's South End was compatible with religious. The community saved money and built houses similar to those in Mississippi from which they came. They continued a similar lifestyle to that of the South in the middle of a woodsy area in the North. During the World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
years, especially, building materials were hard to obtain, and thus one family found they could complete a small shotgun house but not the larger house that they had started.
The residences are a mix of cottages and shotgun houses, and are clustered on Rapp Road between Pine Lane and the South Frontage Road of Washington Avenue Extension
New York State Route 910D
New York State Route 910D is an unsigned reference route designation for Washington Avenue Extension, a divided highway extension of Washington Avenue in Albany, New York, United States. The state-maintained portion of the highway begins at an intersection with NY 155 and ends at...
, just north of Crossgates Mall
Crossgates Mall
Crossgates Mall is a shopping mall located in Albany, New York, United States, not far from Schenectady. The mall opened on March 4, 1984, and in October 1994 underwent a large expansion that nearly doubled its size. It now has a gross leasable area of with two floors including 250 shops and...
. At its peak, 23 families lived on Rapp Road, and in 2001, 16 of the original families were still represented. In 2008, 15 of the original 23 families remain. In 2002 the community was designated by the state of New York as a "New York State Historic District" and in 2003 a National Historic District; and in 2006 the Board of Regents
Board of Regents
In the United States, a board often governs public institutions of higher education, which include both state universities and community colleges. In each US state, such boards may govern either the state university system, individual colleges and universities, or both. In general they operate as...
chartered the Rapp Road Historical Association.