The Jewels Heritage Project

11/27/2022

The Jewels Heritage Project is calling all Brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, our beloved Divine 9, and the greater community in joining us in Reclaiming, Restoring and Reviving our history. Our history is your history and we want to make sure the story is told for generations to come. We have many updates to share over the next few days!

For now- follow, reshare and repost


l

04/10/2021

Join us raising funds to save our homes!
Campaign updates will be given today at the Eastern Region #1906

08/12/2019

The brothers of the Jewels Heritage Project would like to thank everyone who stopped by our booth at the General Convention. There is still a lot of both sweat equity and financial support the Project needs. If you are interested in joining us in these efforts, please contacts us via DM or by email [email protected]

07/18/2019

We will be hosting a booth to share our updates on the project. See you brothers in Las Vegas

06/05/2019

The Jewels Heritage Project, Inc. mission is to Reclaim, Restore, and Revive two historic properties

We will accomplish our mission thru acting on two phases

PHASE II

JHP will work with the current owner of 421 North Albany St. to restore this deteriorating building, which the City of Ithaca has condemned for several years.

Edward and Lula Newton owned the house, built by Norman Dennis around 1868. In autumn 1905 their tenant, C.C. Poindexter, started gathering friends there for the literary and social study club. This residence became the hub of social, cultural, and literary activity for African American students attending Cornell University, who had few other places to go due to the social segregation in the early 1900s. This club was the very origins of the organization now known as Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

As of Wednesday, April 1, 2015 the City Common Council unanimously voted to give the “Dennis-Newton House” its historic landmark status.

Now that the Dennis-Newton House is designated as historic by the city, the property owner cannot allow deterioration to go on to such an extent that demolishing the landmark is necessary, according to Bryan McCracken, city historic preservation planner.

1 year later the owner plead guilty to 35 counts of violations in Ithaca City Court and has agreed to pay fines totaling $5,000 and absent upcoming compliance, up to $42,000, the city announced

JHP wants to continue to revive this historical residence and restore it for service as a community and literary center in partnership with local community groups.

#1906

06/05/2019

The Jewels Heritage Project, Inc. mission is to Reclaim, Restore, & Revive two historic properties

We will accomplish our mission thru acting on two phases

PHASE I

JHP will acquire the original site where Mr. and Mrs. Archie Singleton residence at 411 East State St. once stood.

We will then build a monument park that will replicate the original façade of the former residence and provide a place where the local community and visitors may reimagine the historical events that occurred there.

#1906 @ Ithaca, New York

06/04/2019

“Now, unfortunately, the Dennis-Newton House is condemned and in disrepair, but Alpha Phi Alpha wants to claim, restore and revive this building that was essential to their founding,” said Jay DiLo…

05/28/2019

421 North Albany Street — is the original home of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first African-American fraternity in the United States. Charles Cardoza Poindexter started a social study group in the house that would eventually become Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity in 1906.

The City of Ithaca recognized the property as a historic landmark in April 2015. The landmark status requires the house’s owner to maintain the property or face penalties or fines.

The house was built by African American mason Norman Dennis in 1868 and inherited by Dennis’s daughter Lula and her husband Edward Newton.

The Newtons rented the space to a group of African American students that included Poindexter. These students used the house as a social space for African American students before developing into Alpha Phi Alpha.

03/18/2016

Jewel Founder of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and a Cornell-educated architect is one of three influential African American architects.

The legacy of three pioneering African-American architects: Robert R. Taylor, Vertner Woodson Tandy, and Paul R. Williams.

04/01/2015

We Made History Today, Wednesday, April 1, 2015. The Ithaca City Council unanimously designated Edward Newton, Sr.'s residence, also known as 421 North Albany St., a local historic landmark. Brothers this is great news. This will put pressure on the current owner to sell the house to us or spend a significant amount of money to restore the currently condemned house. This would be an excellent time to support the Jewels Heritage Project by visiting our website, www.jewelsproject.org and making a donation. 06!

HOME

12/29/2014

Brothers, we're close to completing Phase I of the Jewels Heritage Project, getting the land where 411 East State St., Ithaca, NY was and then building a monument. Go to jewelsproject.org for more details and to make a tax-deductible donation. Let Alpha be FIRST to build a monument at its birthplace.