The area in New York known as Harlem begins north of 96th street, and joins the northern handle of Manhattan know as Washington heights. Dutch Governor Peter Stuyvesant established Harlem in 1658 and named it Nieuw Harlem after the Dutch city of Harlem. Harlem is a place of rich history and we will give you a little history and background the northwest highland area known as Sugar Hill. The area known as Sugar Hill extends from Edgecomb Avenue to Amsterdam Avenue, and from 145 Street to 155 Street. The name "Sugar Hill" began being used when affluent African-Americans began moving there in the late 1920's. Shortly after the entire area south of 155 Street was predominantly black.

The appellation "Sugar Hill" represented all that was "sweet and expensive". It showed that one had arrived, socially and economically at the height of African-American culture. It overlooked the valley of central Harlem where the poorer residents lived. Though central Harlem was really the heart of Harlem, Sugar Hill was the place to be because of its exclusive society.

Sugar Hill brought many with talent, education, money and social prominence. Ebony wrote and article characterizing Sugar Hill society and the residents in buildings 409 and 555 with the observation that "Harlem's most talked-about men and women in law, sports, civil liberties, music, medicine, painting, business and literature live on Sugar Hill." Though there was many prominent citizens living on Sugar Hill they also had their share of undesirables. Racketeers and gamblers were some who lived side by side with judges, scholars and writers.

"In the 1940's Ebony reported that Sugar Hill incomes ranged from $3,000 to $7,000 per annum, most being within the upper half of wages in the United States, yet also estimated that one-quarter of Hill dwellers had to take in boarders and make other sacrifices in order to meet expenses. Rents in Harlem were generally high, but in Sugar Hill they were even higher. At 409, tenants paid from fifty to ninety-eight dollars per month, while at 555 Edgecomb, two-and-one-half rooms rented for sixty-six dollars and five rooms for eighty-seven dollars." Osofsky, 71 ­ 149, and LPC, Washington Apartments Designation Report by Elisa Urbanelli states.

I went over to Sugar Hill one day to see this part of Harlem with so much history and I was surprised by the quiet atmosphere and calm the neighborhood radiated. Brian Fortune, 60, has lives on Sugar Hill for the past 30 years. When asked what living on Sugar Hill was like he replied "Entirely fantastic. Back in the 50s and the 60s it was happening. It was beautiful, this was Harlem. Everything and everyone who was anybody was here.

Thurgood Marshall in building 409, Joe Louis in 555. This was the place to be." He glowed while reminiscing with himself about his fond memories of his neighborhood. When I asked what would he like to see changed about it in the future he said "Nothing. I just don't want drugs and all that stuff moved in here. I would like to see more young people working like you." I sincerely hope that area will remain unchanged because it is an area full of history and Harlem couldn't be complete without it.