February 12th 2025.
Samantha Dorm, a Black woman from York, New York, was shocked to discover that many of the city's former Black-owned businesses and community hubs had been replaced by parking lots. She couldn't help but question if this was a deliberate attempt to erase the town's rich Black history and the trailblazers who paved the way for future generations.
Driven by her passion for preserving and celebrating her community's heritage, Dorm launched the Paved Over Prominence project. She was determined to uncover the truth about the disappearing landmarks and showcase the significant contributions of York's African-American community. With the help of Andy Lynch and his company, Vision Solutions AR, they developed an app that brings the hidden history of York to life through real-time camera views, text, and art.
In an interview with the York Daily Record, Dorm expressed her personal connection to the project. She admitted that she was not aware of the depth of York's Black history until she began researching it with the Friends of Lebanon Cemetery in 2019. She was amazed by the accomplishments of York's African-American community, even in the face of adversity.
The app highlights two key neighborhoods in York: the area around North Duke and East Philadelphia streets, and the neighborhood surrounding West Princess and Beaver Streets and Pershing Avenue. One of the notable landmarks featured on the app is the former Moravian Church, which became the city's only playground for Black children after it dissolved in 1905. The park was a hub of activity, hosting boxing matches that attracted crowds of 400 to 600 people. The app even includes an overlay of the boxing ring where these events took place, as reported by old articles in The Baltimore Afro-American newspaper. The park was also home to York's first Girl Scouts chapter for Black girls, established by the park's leader, Johanna "Aunt Jo" Harris. Her legacy is honored with Aunt Jo Lane, a street named after her.
Sadly, in 1938, budget cuts led to the closure of the park, and a parking lot now stands in its place. This pattern of important Black landmarks being replaced by parking lots prompted Dorm to ask the essential question: was this a result of neglect and dilapidation, or was there a deliberate effort to erase the Black community's history? While there is no definitive answer, Dorm believes it is vital to highlight the lives and contributions of the families who once lived and built a thriving community in these now-paved-over areas.
Dorm's personal connection to York's Black history stems from her ancestors, who were among the pioneering Black families that migrated from South Carolina in search of better opportunities. However, her research revealed a much broader history that has been overshadowed by parking lots. "A lot of the places where prominent Black families lived, loved, and worshipped are now parking lots," she said, explaining the project's name, Paved Over Prominence.
The app is not just a way to uncover and celebrate the forgotten Black history of York; it also serves as a reminder to preserve and honor the legacies of those who came before us. As we mark Black History Month in 2025, let us remember and honor the Black trailblazers who have paved the way for progress and continue to inspire us today.
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