- EIGHT ACRES CORPORATION
- FEDERAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
EIGHT ACRES CORPORATION (Boxes 15-17)
Background: Wood's note on an original folder "1930's attempt
at Negro housing in Westchester." An earlier name for this
project was the "Westchester County Committee for Better
Homes for Negroes."
The impetus for the project was the building of a new post office
in White Plains with the result that many black families could
no longer afford to live in the business district.
Wood got a committee together (including representatives of the
National Urban League) to investigate real estate. Property (approx.
8 acres) was purchased by Wood and Herbert Emmerich, near White
Plains, N.Y. in 1929 with the plan that black families would be
able to build inexpensive homes there.
Wood's letter of Feb. 25, 1929 to V. Everit Macy, Esq., explaining
the project and asking for a contribution, states that "there
is no suburban development for Negroes like this in the United
State."
Because of zoning restrictions and expenses of development, the
following year they decided to sell it. Wood and his partners
ran into many problems with the venture [Wood states that he and
Emmerich each lost approx. $10,000]. The property was finally
bought in 1938 by the Town of Greenburgh.
I. EIGHT ACRES CORPORATION - "Miscellaneous correspondence,"
1928-1938. [2 folders in Box 15]
Notes on contents: letters (includes 4/14/1930 letter from National
Urban League enclosing report of conference held to discuss relationship
between white employers and black employees in Westchester County,
N.Y. "Problem of Colored Girl Help Discussed in Conference"),
legal documents.
Correspondence discusses need for affordable housing for blacks,
finding persons to be on Committee, finding financial backers
for Eight Acres project; also touches on segregation and government's
role in providing decent housing for low income persons.
- Misc. correspondence, 1928-1929.
- Misc. correspondence, 1930-1938.
II. EIGHT ACRES CORPORATION - "Correspondence with Herbert
Emmerich," 1928-1938. [2 folders in Box 15]
Notes on contents: letters, clipping.
Herbert Emmerich was affiliated with "City Housing Corporation"
("A limited dividend company organized to build better homes
and communities"). Emmerich and Wood have the biggest personal
investment in the Eight Acres project and most of this correspondence
concerns efforts to sell the property.
- Correspondence with Herbert Emmerich, 1928-1930.
- Correspondence with Herbert Emmerich, 1931-1938.
III. EIGHT ACRES CORPORATION - "Bills payable,"
1933. [1 folder in Box 15]
Notes on contents: tax bills, financial statement.
IV. EIGHT ACRES CORPORATION - "Deeds and Title papers,"
1929-1930 and "Declaration of Trust" 1929. [1 folder
in Box 15]
Notes on contents: letters, notes, legal papers.
V. EIGHT ACRES CORPORATION - "Survey and Prospectus,"
1929. [1 folder in Box 16]
Notes on contents: drafts for pamphlet promoting project, section
maps of property, subdivision plan titled "Plan of possible
development of property located on Old Tarrytown Road in town
of Greenburg for Westchester Committee for Better Homes for Colored
People."
VI. EIGHT ACRES CORPORATION - "Correspondence, Holden
& Cavanaugh re: Incorporation," 1930-1932. [1 folder
in Box 16]
Notes on contents: letters.
VII. EIGHT ACRES CORPORATION - "Minutes and memoranda,"
1929-1931 and "Memos. re: Interest on Loan at Bankers Trust
Co.," 1929-1930. [1 folder in Box 16]
Notes on contents: lists of members of committee and contributions,
financial statements, legal papers, minutes, memoranda, bank statements
showing interest due on loan.
VIII. EIGHT ACRES CORPORATION - "Correspondence with
Joseph Allen," 1928-1938. [2 folders in Box 16]
Notes on contents: letters, legal documents.
- Correspondence with Joseph Allen, 1928-1929.
- Correspondence with Joseph Allen, 1930-1938.
IX. EIGHT ACRES CORPORATION - "Correspondence with Arthur
R. Davis," 1928-1930. [1 folder in Box 16]
Notes on contents: letters, financial papers.
X. EIGHT ACRES CORPORATION - "Correspondence with Albert
L. Deane," 1928-1931. [1 folder in Box 16]
Notes on contents: letters, legal documents.
XI. EIGHT ACRES CORPORATION - "Correspondence with Max
Meyer," 1928-1938. [1 folder in Box 16]
Notes on contents: letters, legal document.
XII. EIGHT ACRES CORPORATION - Correspondence "Re: sale
of property," 1930-1935. [1 folder in Box 16]
Notes on contents: letters, clipping.
Letters are primarily with various real estate firms.
XIII. EIGHT ACRES CORPORATION - "Options" [correspondence
re sale of property, 1938]. [1 folder in Box 16]
Notes on contents: accounts of property expenses, legal documents,
letters.
XIV. EIGHT ACRES CORPORATION - "Correspondence with Mrs.
Edward. A. Quinlan," 1927-1936. [2 folders in Box 16]
Notes on contents: letters, legal papers, etc.
Quinlan was collecting the rent for the property and held the
mortgage. Eight Acres paid interest on the mortgage to her.
- Correspondence with Mrs. E. A. Quinlan, 1927-1929.
- Correspondence with Mrs. E. A. Quinlan, 1930-1936.
XV. EIGHT ACRES CORPORATION - Correspondence "Re: lease
to Frank Mucciano," 1932-1938. [1 folder in Box 17]
Notes on contents: letters re: lease to tenant Mucciano.
XVI. EIGHT ACRES CORPORATION - "Water bills and re: taxes,"
1929-1938. [1 folder in Box 17]
Notes on contents: letters, tax bills, lease, and other papers
related to property.
XVII. EIGHT ACRES CORPORATION - "Bank statements,"
1930-1933. [1 folder in Box 17]
Notes on contents: bank statements from Manufacturers Trust Co.
XVIII. EIGHT ACRES CORPORATION - "Muriel Madden vs. Eight
Acres," 1937. [1 folder in Box 17]
Notes on contents: legal documents.
XIX. EIGHT ACRES CORPORATION - "Re: Insurance,"
1929-1939. [2 folders in Box 17]
Notes on contents: letters, legal papers, bills, notes, etc.
related to policy on property.
1. Insurance re: correspondence, legal papers, etc., 1929-1931.
2. Insurance re: correspondence, legal papers, etc., 1932-1939.
FEDERAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES (Box 17)
I. FEDERAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES - Letter, 1917 and Federal
Council Bulletin, 1921. [1 folder - 2 items in Box 17]
