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There isn't really a "community" so to say, but in Johnstown, I notice over the years there have been more black people moving to the area just north of West Main Street in between School and North Melcher. It's a very, very small section of the area.
I know that Gloversville has been seeing a larger black presence over the years. There's a basketball court off of Main Street that is usually packed with mostly black kids during the summer. I'm not sure if they all live near that area as I usually see them scattered throughout the city, even all the way on the north side.
In Amsterdam, it seems pretty scattered too, although I know a lot of the "black" people there are actually Afro-Caribbean. A few friends of mine that are Jamaican still live off East Main. I think their families have been in Amsterdam for a couple generations now.
I imagine over time these smaller, run down cities will continue to see a higher black/Hispanic presence. Organizations like Centro Civico in Amsterdam have been doing a lot to help the local Latino community. They even provide transportation to those who live in Amsterdam but work in, say, Schenectady.
There isn't really a "community" so to say, but in Johnstown, I notice over the years there have been more black people moving to the area just north of West Main Street in between School and North Melcher. It's a very, very small section of the area.
I know that Gloversville has been seeing a larger black presence over the years. There's a basketball court off of Main Street that is usually packed with mostly black kids during the summer. I'm not sure if they all live near that area as I usually see them scattered throughout the city, even all the way on the north side.
In Amsterdam, it seems pretty scattered too, although I know a lot of the "black" people there are actually Afro-Caribbean. A few friends of mine that are Jamaican still live off East Main. I think their families have been in Amsterdam for a couple generations now.
I imagine over time these smaller, run down cities will continue to see a higher black/Hispanic presence. Organizations like Centro Civico in Amsterdam have been doing a lot to help the local Latino community. They even provide transportation to those who live in Amsterdam but work in, say, Schenectady.
What is interesting is that these places have had a population in these places through the years, but it is just that they aren’t as big as the bigger cities. I believe all 3 of these cities had or have an African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Gloversville still has one on its East Side(on East Fulton) and the other 2 has one, with the one in Amsterdam I believe falling victim to Urban Renewal in that city around Cedar Street(St. Paul’s AME Zion) and the one in Johnstown(on Prospect) I believe just dwindled in attendance.
I believe many worked in the leather and rug industries in that area, along with other industries.
What is interesting is that these places have had a population in these places through the years, but it is just that they aren’t as big as the bigger cities. I believe all 3 of these cities had or have an African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Gloversville still has one on its East Side(on East Fulton) and the other 2 has one, with the one in Amsterdam I believe falling victim to Urban Renewal in that city around Cedar Street(St. Paul’s AME Zion) and the one in Johnstown(on Prospect) I believe just dwindled in attendance.
I believe many worked in the leather and rug industries in that area, along with other industries.
Oh nice, never knew about Josh Beekman. There's a black Beekman family over in Johnstown/Gloversville too. I wonder if they're related.
I've lived in the South for quite a few years now and the black churches always seem to have large numbers in attendance (as well as every church down here). It's too bad the ones in Montgomery/Fulton County are seeing a lower attendance.
I imagine as more NYC AA's move north to the Capital Region, that could change things. Who knows.
Oh nice, never knew about Josh Beekman. There's a black Beekman family over in Johnstown/Gloversville too. I wonder if they're related.
I've lived in the South for quite a few years now and the black churches always seem to have large numbers in attendance (as well as every church down here). It's too bad the ones in Montgomery/Fulton County are seeing a lower attendance.
I imagine as more NYC AA's move north to the Capital Region, that could change things. Who knows.
In terms of the first part, most likely and I believe that family has been in the area for a long time. I mean at least well over a century due to some research I’ve done in the past and I wouldn’t be surprised if it is longer, given that it is a Dutch surname. Meaning, I wouldn’t be surprised if they are the descendants of enslaved Africans in NY State likely under the Dutch patroon system.
I agree with the possibility of more NYC AA’s/Black folks moving Upstate. Some come from Newark and Philadelphia, among other Northeastern areas, to other parts of Upstate too.
Last edited by ckhthankgod; 03-06-2018 at 09:52 AM..
In terms of the first part, most likely and I believe that family has been in the area for a long time. I mean at least well over a century due to some research I’ve done in the past and I wouldn’t be surprised if it is longer, given that it is a Dutch surname. Meaning, I wouldn’t be surprised if they are the descendants of enslaved Africans in NY State likely under the Dutch patroon system.
I agree with the possibility of more NYC AA’s/Black folks moving Upstate. Some come from Newark and Philadelphia, among other Northeastern areas, to other parts of Upstate too.
Never knew that about the Dutch surname thing. That's pretty neat. Not the slavery part, but you know what I mean.
I think the Capital Region is a great place for NYC natives to move. That bus system that runs between Albany/Rensselaer and NYC is great. If Albany cleaned up more of its walkable neighborhoods, I really think it could attract NYC people. I know a few tech entrepreneurs who moved their operations to Troy near the RPI area from NYC due to these reasons.
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