� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � Hattie Carthan Mural, Lafayette Ave., Bed-Stuy
On Saturday, I attended an orientation for the Bed-Stuy CSA which was held in the Magnolia Tree Earth Center on Lafayette Avenue, a center for environmental education.� � The center was inspired� by the work of environmental activitst and community leader Hattie Carthan (1901-1984).� � Originally from Virginia, Ms. Carthan came to Bedford-Stuyvesant and made it her life purpose to beautify our neighborhood with� greenery. She encouraged her neighbors to start block associations,� urged people to plant trees in the neighborhood� and she was� affectionately known as “the tree lady” because of her campaign to save the magnificent Magnolia Grandiflora.�
Magnolia Grandiflora
The Magnolia Grandiflora stands tall in front of the center.� I feel a special kinship with this tree because, like me, this tree came from North Carolina.� It was brought to Bedford-Stuyvesant and planted in this spot around 1885 when it was just a seedling.� � At the time William Lemken was living at 670 Lafayette Avenue, and he had the seedling sent up from North Carolina to place in front� of his home.� Although the Magnolia Grandiflora was designated an official landmark by the New York City� Landmarks Preservation Commision, it did not happen without a battle.� The city wanted to tear down the tree and raze the surrounding brownstones to� build a 120-unit housing project in� this spot, but Ms. Carthan elucidated the significance of preserving this� magnolia tree to the LPC and other organizations whose support was crucial in saving the tree.� Thanks to Ms. Carthan the tree was designated a landmark in 1970.
Today the building at 677 Lafayette houses the Magnolia Tree Earth Center as well as the George Washington Carver Gallery.� The center contains photographs of Ms. Carthan and information on all of the great things she did for the neighborhood.� A mural out front and a beautiful community garden on Marcy and Lafayette bear the name of� the woman� who cared so much for her community.
Thanks so much for this information. I grew up around there and never knew about this woman. Imagine if there were 25 Hattie Carthan’s working hard to bring beauty (dignity really) to Bed-Stuy.
I am new to the neighborhood and have tried phoning the center to find out what types of programs are offered there, but have not been able to reach anyone. Do you have any info? Thanks!
Pam, welcome to the neighborhood! I’ll check the center and try to post information early next week.
There is a novel by Paule Marshall called The Fisher King. BTW Ms. Marshall grew up in Bed Stuy. The novel is about a family in a gentrifying neighborhood. One of the matriarchs (sp?)is a womman who planted a magnolia tree in front of her house that survived throughout the years. Tourist-types are brought to her house to hear her discuss her tree. I wonder if this character is based upon Ms. Carthan.
That’s interesting! I’m going to try to find out more about this. Thanks for the the tip, LisaBB. Michael, I wish we had a few more Hattie Carthans around here, but the Bed-Stuy Clean-Up Day has shown me that we have many residents who are indeed following in her footsteps.
I was there too! It was nice to know you were among the attendees.
Thanks for the information. It was interesting.
My son told me a story about Hattie Carthan this morning as we passed by the mural..he told me that she hung herself from the tree to prevent the tree from being taken down, but I’m reading various stories and none of them state that..Is the story my son told me true?