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Addisleigh Park Is Now a Historic District
By
Garth Johnston
Published Feb 2, 2011
Modified Feb 2, 2011
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By
Garth Johnston
Published Feb 2, 2011
Modified Feb 2, 2011
Share
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Just in time for Black History Month, the Queens neighborhood of Addisleigh Park has been designated our 102nd historic district. Built initially as an exclusively white community the neighborhood changing times (and a few lawsuits) led it to eventually become the home of some serious African-American stars. A few of the notables include Count Basie, James Brown, W.E.B. Du Bois, Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horn, Joe Lewis and Jackie Robinson.
Today the neighborhood still has a large and affluent African-American population (about 90 percent of the area is black and it boasts an average household income around $80k) but it wasn't just home to black stars. Folks like Babe Ruth lived there as well. And if you are feeling adventurous, you can go and scope out their old stomping grounds (either in person or digitally) with this handy star map courtesy of the Historic District Council. Here, for instance, is where Ella Fitzgerald lived from 1949-1956.
Tagged
Addisleigh Park
babe Ruth
Count Basie
Ella Fitzgerald
Historic District
jackie robinson
james brown
Joe Lewis
Lena Horn
queens
W.E.B. Du Bois
Garth Johnston
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