NEW YORK — For Ruth Harrell Wade, moving to Addisleigh Park in Queens in the 1960s felt like coming home. Now at 98 years old, Wade recalls the neighborhood’s rich history, vibrant community, and its role as a beacon of Black excellence.
“I was really not coming to a strange place. It was like coming home,” Wade said of the community that has been nicknamed “Black Hollywood East.”
A Neighborhood of Legends
By the time Wade arrived, Addisleigh Park was already famous for its star-studded residents, including musicians like James Brown, Lena Horne, and Ella Fitzgerald, and sports icons such as Jackie Robinson and Joe Louis.
“The neighborhood was beautiful. I’d always heard of it because I like jazz,” Wade shared. Her daughter, Lisa Wade, remembers stories of Count Basie opening his swimming pool to neighborhood kids and Ella Fitzgerald throwing lively parties.
“It became a family,” Lisa said.
Overcoming Racial Barriers
Despite its glamorous reputation, Addisleigh Park wasn’t always an inclusive neighborhood. Jason Antos, executive director of the Queens Historical Society, explained that racist covenants initially kept Black families out.
“When the first Black celebrities moved into the neighborhood, their agents and managers had to buy the property under another name,” Antos said.
These discriminatory practices continued until 1948, when the Supreme Court struck down restrictive covenants. Even after the legal victory, African-Americans moving into the area faced hostility from white residents.
Community Resilience and Generational Wealth
Claire Serant, an author and educator who wrote about St. Albans and Addisleigh Park, emphasized how the community overcame these barriers through resilience.
“There were so many educators and lawyers and doctors,” Serant said. “Addisleigh Park and St. Albans, they represent generational wealth.”
The neighborhood became a hub of Black middle- and upper-class professionals who built successful careers and passed down wealth and property through generations.
A Community Beyond the Celebrities
For Lisa Wade, the essence of Addisleigh Park is not just about its famous past residents but the everyday people who contributed to its growth and character.
“The rest of the people that lived here are the important folks,” she said.
These residents built a tight-knit community, raising families and supporting local businesses. Today, their legacy lives on through community efforts aimed at preserving the neighborhood’s history and unity.
Preserving the Spirit of Addisleigh Park
The Addisleigh Park Civic Association plays a key role in maintaining the neighborhood’s vibrancy. Through community events, gatherings, and public projects, they foster a spirit of togetherness. One of their latest initiatives, Live End Plaza, features a car-free space, a colorful mural, and a Little Free Library where neighbors can connect and share stories.
Olney Marie Ryland, a community member, described how these gatherings keep the neighborhood’s history alive. “The elders come down, and they tell us stories about the neighborhood, and it keeps the story alive,” she said.
For decades, Addisleigh Park has symbolized the American dream for Black families—a place of triumph over adversity and a model of generational success. Through ongoing community efforts, its legacy remains alive, serving as a reminder of the power of resilience, unity, and pride.
