Weeksville Heritage Center Revives 19th-Century Architecture of Free Black Community Houses

One of the USA's largest free Black communities, built before the American Civil War, will be facing a million-dollar renovation.

Kicking off on October 3, the restoration project costs $3.9 million and includes three houses at the Weeksville Heritage Center, located in Brooklyn.

According to The Art Newspaper, these three "historic" houses came between 1840 and 1880. It's one of the last physical remnants of the said free Black communities, but also has poor construction standards. Weeksville Heritage Center stated that they "definitely need work."

Weeksville Heritage Center's Renovation Project

To be specific, The Art Newspaper shared that the renovation project is focusing on the Hunterfly Road Houses, which will be led by the Department of Cultural Affairs. While the site opened as a museum in 2005, this time, the renovation will focus on the house exterior and improvements, like outdoor lighting, security system, and the like.

Weeksville Heritage Center emphasized that they hope to finish the project by 2026, during spring, to ensure that they remain open to visitors.

Per Black Enterprise, the Hunterfly Road Houses were once part of Weeksville's Black community, which was founded by a former enslaved man, James Weeks, in 1838. The place became a refuge for those looking to find a safe place during slavery and racial violence. The homes in the area were considered sturdy and complete with self-sufficient features such as parlors, schools, churches, and more.

Unfortunately, urban development led to neighborhood changes that erased Weeksville from history, especially the achievements of Black and Brown communities.

With the ongoing renovation, developers hope to keep Weeksville's spirit alive and let visitors be reminded of its historical value in the USA.