Hamilton Heights and Sugar Hill explores four centuries of colonization, urban development, and architectural splendor in this historic landmark West Harlem neighborhood. Home to Alexander Hamilton's country estate, the creative spark of George Gershwin and Norman Rockwell, the literary genius of Ralph Ellison, and countless other luminaries, this picturesque enclave has long been a hub of cultural and artistic innovation. Davida Siwisa James brings to life its evolution-from lush farmland in the 1600s, the Harlem Renaissance, to its modern-day history-highlighting its remarkable residents, stunning architecture, and enduring legacy as a cornerstone of New York history.
"Strings of sentences sing so poetically. Old Hamiltonian New York and twentieth-century Harlem come alive with the stories in each chapter. We lovers of New York City thank you."-Ron Howell, Associate Professor of Journalism, Brooklyn College, author of One Hundred Jobs: A Panorama of Work in the American City
"Her story of the geography, history, architecture, and cultural life of the area covers its origins as the land of the Lenape people, colonization by the Dutch and British, the construction of Alexander Hamilton's country estate, the Harlem Renaissance, ... gentrification, and the present day. James describes the social connections between Harlem residents while supplying readers with context for each person she discusses, expertly capturing a sense of life in Harlem. A fascinating record of the history and culture of influential neighborhoods in Harlem."-Amy Trendler, Library Journal
DAVIDA SIWISA JAMES is a Philadelphia native and lived in Manhattan's Morningside Heights and Sugar Hill. She has a BA in English from UCLA and attended Penn State Dickinson Law in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. She has been a university public relations director, a freelance journalist for the twice Pulitzer Prize-winning Virgin Islands Daily News, and has a twenty-year management career in performing arts finance and marketing. An accomplished writer, she has published nonfiction books, short stories and poetry. She resides in Los Angeles, CA.
