Beacon’s West End Story: A Historical Perspective of Urban Renewal in the 1960s and 70s.
Beacon’s West End Story project examined the history of Beacon’s changing landscape during its Urban Renewal (UR) program that took place over 60 years ago. Exhibitions and public and continuing education programs used first-hand accounts and historical documents focusing on the impact on Beacon’s Black community. This project was a collaboration between Connie Whitener Perdreau, the Beacon Library, I Am Beacon, and the Highlands Current. Other organizations and individuals that helped to make this project comprehensive are listed below.
This project was supported by the Pomeroy Fund, which is a partnership between the William G. Pomeroy Foundation® and the Museum Association of New York.
The Society’s exhibition Beacon’s West End: A Historical Perspective of Urban Renewal in the 1960s and 70s allowed visitors to learn about Beacon’s Urban Renewal program through a variety of materials including: informational display panels, government produced documents (annual and study reports), photographs, flyers, advertisements, newspaper articles and letters to the editor, oral histories, interviews, primary materials, 3D models, and artifacts. Also included was a 12-minute video clip from the Foundation for Beacon School’s film “Lines of Demarcation” featuring interviews with residents who lived in the West End. In addition, a slide show of 25 photographs ran on a continuous loop portraying youngsters that participated in the summer programs at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in the summer of 1966… a turning point in Beacon’s history of UR development.
The Beacon Library held two exhibitions: The West End Story Project: A Portrait of a Community and Beacon’s West End Story: Summer of 1966. The Portrait of a Community explored the impact of Urban Renewal on Beacon’s Black community. The Summer of 1966 featured the work of Michael Raab whose beautiful black and white photos capture the energy of the young people and friendships formed at St. Andrews Church during the pivotal year of 1966, at a time of civil unrest throughout the country. To read more and see photos: https://highlandscurrent.org/2024/02/09/summer-of-66/. Watch a short video interview with photographer Michael Raab and Sandy Moneymaker of St. Andrew’s Church as they share their memories from that time period.
In addition, the library hosted a lecture and slide show presented by Professor Hochfelder on the history and implications of UR in the 1960s-70s in Beacon, New York, and the United States. Professor Hochfelder is a scholar and lead researcher at the State University of Albany on the history of NY State’s UR programs. You can learn more about his work here: https://devapp.picturingurbanrenewal.org/ and view the lecture here: https://www.beaconhistorical.org/past-events/beacons-west-end-story-urban-renewal-lecture-urban-renewal-in-the-hudson-valley-with-professor-david-hochfelder
Podcasts were created by Brooke Simmons and Reuben Simmons from I Am Beacon, a local not-for-profit service organization that hosts the podcast series This Is Beacon.
The first episode features two interviews: Professor Hochfelder acted as a guide on the history of UR through the Federal and New York State lens. He discussed UR’s intentions, successes and consequences left in its wake; Ms. Perdreau, a former resident of the West End shared her unique perspective on UR’s impact on Beacon’s West End neighborhood.
In the second episode, Brooke and Reuben shared their reflections on Professor Hochfelder and Ms. Perdreau’s enlightening discussion about UR. Also included are the voices of a number of residents that were affected by UR and the dissolution of their neighborhood. Both episodes can be heard here: https://open.spotify.com/show/46tO47uxPpqk40lazfeojI
The film Lines of Demarcation: Memories from Beacon’s Black Communities of the 20th Century was created by a team of Beacon High School students and their faculty advisor. Together, they worked with volunteers from the Rise Up Project, local filmmakers and the Society to conduct research, interview senior citizens from Beacon’s Black communities, and create a film. Rise Up is a congregational ministry of St. Andrew and St. Luke Episcopal Church, and supported by the Foundation for Beacon Schools, the Beacon City School District, and the City of Beacon’s Community Funding Grant Program. Four screenings were held including moderated panel discussion. To learn more visit https://www.foundationforbeaconschools.org/local-history-projects
To see more images and related materials about Beacon and other New York State communities affected by UR, visit Consider the Source New York. Consider the Source is a free online community that connects educators across NY State to valuable sources with a series of learning activities designed to guide and encourage students to make discoveries using critical thinking skills. Materials from the Beacon Historical Society archives were added to the Diversity and Collaborative Knowledge Program funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). You can view the materials here: https://considerthesourceny.org/browse/topic/urban-renewal
Below are samples of some of the materials that were on display at the Historical Society exhibition. For more information, questions, or comments, please email dlapis@beaconhistorical.org.
