Images of Brookland: Black Brookland

Monday, October 31, 2011

THIS WEEKEND IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

You Are Invited To A Multimedia Experience of Brookland’s History

@OPTIMISM w/Brookland co-author Rosie Dempsey

Saturday November 5th from 4 to 7 p.m.

OPTIMISM LOUNGE @ 3301 12th St. NE @ Kearney in Brookland: Rosie Dempsey, co-author of Brookland, will project historic photos from the new neighborhood history book & share our neighborhood’s rich African American history. Signed copies of Brookland, as well as Black Brookland posters & T-shirts for sale. Info: BrooklandBook@gmail.com OR BrooklandDChistory.com

About the Book

Brookland is a new publication in the Images of America series published by Arcadia Publishing. Like the other books in this series, it uses archival photographs to present distinctive stories from the past that shape the character of the community today. Its images and text celebrate Brookland and bring to life its fascinating history.

Brookland D.C. is located in the North East corner of Washington, D.C. It is a neighborhood with strong connections to Howard and Catholic Universities, the Catholic Church, and Washington's black intelligentsia. Its rich past is well preserved in its architecture, historic sites, and social institutions. It is a thriving middle-class neighborhood and a place full of family stories. It is a place graced by beautiful institutional open spaces, woods, and large backyards. Above all, Brookland is a place of history. The Brooks' Mansion, the Twelfth Street business corridor, the Franciscan Monastery, Fort Bunker Hill, and the Ralph Bunche House — each site tells another story of Brookland.

About the Authors

John J. Feeley Jr. is a Brookland native. He grew up roaming around Turkey Thicket, the woods of Sisters College, Fort Bunker Hill, and all the sites of old Brookland. When he took the 1965 Brookland Tour, an insatiable interest in all things Brookland was sparked that has yet to be satisfied.

Rosie Dempsey's Brookland roots date back to her parents, who met and married there. Rosie and her husband bought their c. 1896 home 25 years ago and joined numerous relatives in Brookland. The example of her cousin, Helen D. Young, inspired Dempsey to embrace civic life and neighborhood history.