Photos: Rapp Road gets recognized by Albany County Executive McCoy
Rapp Road Historical Association showed a presentation of their migration of their history on Feb. 12. The national theme for Black History Month this year is “Black Migrations.”
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Looking at history: Two visitors check out historic documents from the Albany County Hall of Records on display in the Cahill Room of the Harold L. Joyce Albany County Office Building before a presentation on the history of the Rapp Road community, located along the boundary between Albany and Guilderland.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
“It was no easy feat” says Beverly Bardequez, president of the Rapp Road Historical Association, describing the journey of African Americans who migrated from Shubuta, Mississippi to Albany. Many of them built their homes, by hand, in the then-vacant Pine Bush land that reminded them of home. Bardequez, the granddaughter of original settlers Leola and Alfred Woodward, spoke about her community on Tuesday. The Rapp Road Historic District was listed among the 2016-17 “Seven to Save” endangered places by the Preservation League of New York State.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Sitting solemnly: Juanita McCann Neighbors, a second-generation resident of the Rapp Road neighborhood, known as The Promised Land by the African Americans who migrated to the Pine Bush from Mississippi, sits alongside Beverly Bardequez, a third-generation resident and president of the Rapp Road Historical Association, during a county event on Tuesday. The national theme for Black History Month this year is “Black Migrations.” Between 1910 and 1970, over 14,000 African Americans migrated to the Albany area.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
“This was the best place in the world,” says Beverly Bardequez, right, of the Rapp Road neighborhood, known to residents as The Promised Land. Bardequez grew up there and is now president of its historical association. Juanita McCann Neighbors, a matriarch of the community, listens during the celebration of Black History Month hosted by Albany County on Tuesday.