Eight Acres Corporation

The impetus for the project was the building of a new post office in White Plains with the result that many Black families could no longer afford to live in the business district. Wood got a committee together (including representatives of the National Urban League) to investigate real estate. Property (approx. 8 acres) was purchased by Wood and Herbert Emmerich, near White Plains, N.Y. in 1929 with the plan that Black families would be able to build inexpensive homes there.

Wood's letter of Feb. 25, 1929 to V. Everit Macy, Esq., explaining the project and asking for a contribution, states that "there is no suburban development for Negroes like this in the United State." Because of zoning restrictions and expenses of development, the following year they decided to sell it. Wood and his partners ran into many problems with the venture [Wood states that he and Emmerich each lost approx. $10,000]. The property was finally bought in 1938 by the Town of Greenburgh.

Wood's note on an original folder "1930's attempt at Negro housing in Westchester." An earlier name for this project was the "Westchester County Committee for Better Homes for Negroes."

Materials discuss relationship between white employers and Black employees in Westchester County; the need for affordable housing for African Americans; finding persons to be on Committee, finding financial backers for Eight Acres project; segregation and government's role in providing decent housing for low income persons.