• What Do You Know About Weeksville?

     Story by Adreon Patterson

     

    Before Black Wall Street in Oklahoma and Seneca Village in NY, Weeksville served as a haven for free African Americans after the abolishment of slavery in New York before the Emancipation of Proclamation.

    The land was originally owned by the John Lefferts estate before the family sold it off to free African Americans for undisclosed amounts. Namesake James Weeks, a longshoreman, purchased the land from Black land investor and abolition leader Henry C. Thompson for $250. The area was bounded by Fulton Street, East New York Avenue, Ralph Avenue and Troy Avenue.

    Weeksville was a status of economic and political freedom by Black investors and activists. By the 1850s, the community was home to over 500 residents with churches, a school, cemetery and old age home. It boasted one of the nation’s first African American newspapers Freedman’s Torchlight. The community was a hotbed of abolition activity as it became a refuge for Black Manhattanites during the 1863 New York Draft Riots.

    The community was eventually absorbed into Brooklyn as residents adjusted or left. It became a part of current Brooklyn neighborhoods Crown Heights and Bedford Stuyvesant after the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge by the 1930’s.

    After the publication of Brooklyn’s Eastern District in 1942, historian James Hurley led a search for the village in conjunction with the Pratt Institute. This led to the discovery of four original homes known as the Hunterfly Road Houses, which were declared an NYC landmark in 1970 and the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 due to Brooklyn resident Joan Maynard’s perseverance. For the more on the historic district, the Weeksville Heritage Center can be contacted at (718) 756-5250 Extension 300 or info@weeksvillesociety.org.

    Seeing interest in this historic area serves as a reminder that Black economic and political power in combination with ownership can lead to self-sufficiency within the community.

     

  • Allow us to introduce PRESIUSA Brand Ambassador Jacob Zar!

    We’re happy to introduce #PRESIUSA brand ambassador Jacob Zar! Check out his Instagram profile @Jacobzar, give him a follow and tell him PRESI sent you!

    JacobZar photographed in New York wearing #PRESIUSA

    JacobZar photographed in New York wearing #PRESIUSA

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Jacob photographed with his dog in the Hamptons

    Jacob photographed with his dog in the Hamptons

    Jacob photographed in the Hamptons wearing #PRESIUSA

    Jacob photographed in the Hamptons wearing #PRESIUSA

  • PRESI #ThankMeLater Podcast Visit

    We were invited a couple weeks ago to do the #ThankMeLater Podcast and these are some photos from that interview with @GoodlookinLee. She asked about the start of PRESI USA as well as some of the many challenges we initially faced. During our light-hearted convo, we also talked about changes in the industry, ways that our audience grew with us over the years and we even managed to share some classic stories like the time we snuck into Governor’s Ball Music Festival and set up a PRESI pop-up shop illegally! After the initial nervousness wore off, we really had a fun time. Thanks for the invite! Can’t wait to do the next one!

  • vending booth set-up PRESI Pop-Up Shop at Beer’d Fest 2018

    We had a great time last weekend at the Beer’d Fest.  For those of you that were unable to make it out, these pics are what our booth looked like!

    vending booth set-up

    vending booth set-up

    vending booth set-up

    vending booth set-up

    vending booth set-up

  • Spring Has Sprung!

    Now that Spring has finally sprung, we’re bringing back our classic Urban Americana Windbreakers! Shop now in the Outerwear & Jackets section of the presiusa website!

     

  • PRESI Book of the Week

    “Where to Go When” is a conversation starter and a worthy addition to the home library of any ambitious person who seeks another form of leisure. Joseph Rosendo shares his insight and turns anyone who reads this treasure trove of travel info into an informed traveler who KNOWS Where to go and WHEN. He breaks down each month of the year and handpicks countries to visit, advising on national cultural events that take place during that particular time of year. Each month lists more than 15 international destinations and at least 3 or 4 are showcased in living color. You should never make travel plans without consulting a travel expert and now you won’t have to! Enjoy!