Crossroads: The History of Rapp Road

The WMHT mini-documentary about Albany's historic Rapp Road community -- Crossroads: The History of Rapp Road -- is now available to watch online. It's not-quite 30 minutes long, and worth a watch.

The Rapp Road community on the western end of the city in the Pine Bush has been the home for generations of African-American families who moved here from Mississippi during the Great Migration. Their first stop was the South End, but they ended up moving out to what was then a rural part of the city in search of place that was more like where they'd had lived in the south.

One of the things that's good about this doc by Todd Ferguson and Beverly Bardequez (who's a member of the community) is that it includes people telling the story in their own words -- about why their families left Mississippi, about what it was like when they arrived in Albany, about building their new homes on the city's edge.

The Rapp Road Community Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.

Earlier on AOA: The Rapp Road Community Historic District

The Scoop

For a decade All Over Albany was a place for interested and interesting people in New York's Capital Region. It was kind of like having a smart, savvy friend who could help you find out what's up. AOA stopped publishing at the end of 2018.

Recently on All Over Albany

Thank you!

When we started AOA a decade ago we had no idea what was going to happen. And it turned out better than we could have... (more)

Let's stay in touch

This all feels like the last day of camp or something. And we're going to miss you all so much. But we'd like to stay... (more)

A few things I think about this place

Working on AOA over the past decade has been a life-changing experience for me and it's shaped the way I think about so many things.... (more)

Albany tightened its rules for shoveling snowy sidewalks last winter -- so how'd that work out?

If winter ever gets its act together and drops more snow on us, there will be sidewalks to shovel. And shortly after that, Albany will... (more)

Tea with Jack McEneny

Last week we were fortunate enough to spend a few minutes with Jack McEneny -- former state Assemblyman, unofficial Albany historian, and genuinely nice guy.... (more)

Recent Comments

My three year old son absolutely loving riding the train around Huck Finn's (Hoffman's) Playland this summer.

Thank you!

...has 27 comments, most recently from Ashley

Let's stay in touch

...has 4 comments, most recently from mg

A look inside 2 Judson Street

...has 3 comments, most recently from Diane (Agans) Boyle

Everything changes: Alicia Lea

...has 2 comments, most recently from Chaz Boyark

A few things I think about this place

...has 13 comments, most recently from Katherine