Mount Morris Park Historic District
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Mount Morris Park Historic District was designated to be a Historic District by New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1971. It is a large 16-block area in central Harlem. The boundaries are North from West 118th to West 124th Streets and West from Fifth Avenue to Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard (Seventh Avenue). "Doctor's Row" is West 122nd Street, Mount Morris Park West and Malcolm X Boulevard. The name Mount Morris remains a mystery.
The houses that cover Mount Morris Park Historic District are designed in the late 19th and early 20th century residential row houses and church architecture. There are several unaltered streetscapes. The Romanesque Revival, neo-Grec, Queen Anne, and 1893's World Columbian Exposition in Chicago were the influences that created the eclectic style from the Gilded Age.
Before the European Settlements came, the rocky hill of Manhattan mica-schist was used by the Native Americans. Because they could see over the entire island on the hill, they used it as a look-out station. In 1658, Dutch colonists established Nieuw Haarlem and named the hill Slang Berg (which translates to "snake hill"). Slang Berg led to the mouth of the Harlem River. This was an advantage during the War of Independence against the British.
On September 4, 1839, Mount Morris Square became a 20 acre residential square which was formerly a race track for horses. This was 20 out of 173 acres owned by the Benson family land grant farm.
In 1973, the name of the land was changed to Marcus Garvey Park. This was in honor of the international Pan-African movement leader.
In 1981, the Mount Morris Park Community Improvement Association (MMPCIA) was created. They wanted to make a 21st century Renaissance. They promoted several different buildings such as: Apollo Theatre, National Black Theatre, Schomburg Library, the Studio of Harlem, and many African and Caribbean restaurants that serve soul food in Central Harlem. Also, they sponsored annual Historic Neighborhood House Tours, held on the second week of June. The association features historic brownstones and landmark buildings open for the public to view.
In 1996, the boundaries of Mount Morris Park were expanded. They were pushed west to include blocks between Lenox Avenue and Seventh Avenue, and south to include some of West 118th Street. Now they are advocating to extend the area to reflect the area on National Register of Historic Places.
