Poindexter Village and the Power of Place

Poindexter Village

"We all remember we had a good, safe life. We could count on anybody's parents if we had any problems...It was a good neighborhood, good neighbors. We know each other well, and we see each other now. Somebody will come up and say 'The Village, right?'"

PATSEY ULMER, James Preston Poindexter Foundation Board Member, and former resident

Poindexter Village and the area that surrounded the 35 apartment buildings on 27 acres on Columbus’ Near East Side was a vibrant mix of Black families, businesses, places to worship, and culture, including emerging artists, musicians, and leaders.

Named for the Rev. James Preston Poindexter, an abolitionist, civil rights advocate, and Baptist minister, Poindexter Village was dedicated in 1940 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as one of the first public housing projects in the United States.

While it is often remembered for its historical significance, to those who made their lives there, the development of Poindexter Village symbolized something much greater—hope. It ushered in opportunity—and solidified a neighborhood with roots planted long before the buildings were erected—when many of those who were part of the Great Migration made their way north and chose to settle in what was then known as the Blackberry Patch.

"So originally...[we had] all of these other Black communities, not just one region...the Hilltop area, the South area, you had American Addition...Mount Vernon and Long Street Black businesses became successful because of all of these Black communities."

Reita Smith, James Preston Poindexter Foundation Board Member, and former resident

For generations, Poindexter Village was a place where neighbors looked after one another and elders were revered and respected. However, as the years wore on, the neighborhood began to decline as its residents struggled with the pressures of disinvestment, racially unfair public policy, and the systemic inequities that disproportionately impact communities of color. While there was a coordinated and passionate effort by some to keep the Village intact, 33 of the 35 buildings were torn down in 2013. Even though most of the buildings are gone, the spirit of the Village will live on thanks to the Ohio History Connection (OHC) and the James Preston Poindexter Foundation (JPPF). The two remaining buildings, currently being renovated to house the future Poindexter Village Museum and Cultural Center, will pay homage to the neighborhood’s dynamic history.

Photo courtesy of Ohio History Connection. Carte de visite portrait of Reverend James Poindexter (1819-1907) of the Second Baptist Church in Columbus, Ohio. Born in Virginia, Reverend Poindexter settled in Columbus in his youth and worked as a barber. He was ordained at the Second Baptist Church in 1849, and later served as its pastor for several decades. He was politically active in the Columbus community in the abolition movement, education, the Underground Railroad, and city council, among other causes.

Reverend James Preston Poindexter

Photo courtesy of Ohio History Connection. Carte de visite portrait of Reverend James Poindexter (1819-1907) of the Second Baptist Church in Columbus, Ohio. Born in Virginia, Reverend Poindexter settled in Columbus in his youth and worked as a barber. He was ordained at the Second Baptist Church in 1849, and later served as its pastor for several decades. He was politically active in the Columbus community in the abolition movement, education, the Underground Railroad, and city council, among other causes.
Quilters Catching up on Gossip, 2000, Aminah Robinson. Aminah's World by the Columbus Museum of Art. "This is how people lived in one room in the Blackberry Patch. This painting took a long time because I used just a little, fine brush- a black ink brush- and kind of carved it out on cloth. I used a lot of dyes and some ink. The cloth was a piece of rag that I ironed out. The women are cutting up scraps for a quilt, spinning, dyeing material, and catching up on gossip."

Life in the Blackberry Patch: "Quilters Catching up on Gossip" by Aminah Robinson

Quilters Catching up on Gossip, 2000, Aminah Robinson. Aminah's World by the Columbus Museum of Art. "This is how people lived in one room in the Blackberry Patch. This painting took a long time because I used just a little, fine brush- a black ink brush- and kind of carved it out on cloth. I used a lot of dyes and some ink. The cloth was a piece of rag that I ironed out. The women are cutting up scraps for a quilt, spinning, dyeing material, and catching up on gossip."
Photo courtesy of Ohio History Connection. Dated August 17, 1939, this photograph shows a young man laying brick for the first floor of one of the townhouses at Poindexter Village. Poindexter Village replaced the Blackberry Patch, a tightly-knit African American community on the Near East Side of Columbus, and became the heart of African American culture and community on the Near East Side, producing prominent artists, social justice activists, medical professionals, academics, and politicians.

Construction Begins at Poindexter Village in 1939

Photo courtesy of Ohio History Connection. Dated August 17, 1939, this photograph shows a young man laying brick for the first floor of one of the townhouses at Poindexter Village. Poindexter Village replaced the Blackberry Patch, a tightly-knit African American community on the Near East Side of Columbus, and became the heart of African American culture and community on the Near East Side, producing prominent artists, social justice activists, medical professionals, academics, and politicians.
Photo courtesy of Ohio History Connection. Opened in 1940 on the Near East Side of Columbus (bound by I-71 to the west, Nelson Road to the east, Broad Street to the south, and I-670 to the north), Poindexter Village was the first public housing development in Ohio, and the second in the country, as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. Designed by architect Howard Dwight Smith, Poindexter Village consisted of 35 two-story brick townhouses, housing 333 units with monthly rent costs ranging from $18.28 to $19.25.

Poindexter Village is Completed in 1940

Photo courtesy of Ohio History Connection. Opened in 1940 on the Near East Side of Columbus (bound by I-71 to the west, Nelson Road to the east, Broad Street to the south, and I-670 to the north), Poindexter Village was the first public housing development in Ohio, and the second in the country, as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. Designed by architect Howard Dwight Smith, Poindexter Village consisted of 35 two-story brick townhouses, housing 333 units with monthly rent costs ranging from $18.28 to $19.25.
President Roosevelt in Poindexter Village, Columbus Day, October 12, 1940, 1996, Aminah Robinson. Aminah's World by Columbus Museum of Art. Poindexter Village was dedicated by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on October 12, 1940, as one of the nation’s first public housing projects birthed from the New Deal. "I was only eight months old when the President came, but my mother told me all about it. The President came to the groundbreaking when Poindexter was first being built and then he came back for the dedication on Columbus Day in 1940. It was a big event and the people were all dressed up. (Symphonic Poem p. 111)"

President Roosevelt in Poindexter Village in 1940

President Roosevelt in Poindexter Village, Columbus Day, October 12, 1940, 1996, Aminah Robinson. Aminah's World by Columbus Museum of Art. Poindexter Village was dedicated by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on October 12, 1940, as one of the nation’s first public housing projects birthed from the New Deal. "I was only eight months old when the President came, but my mother told me all about it. The President came to the groundbreaking when Poindexter was first being built and then he came back for the dedication on Columbus Day in 1940. It was a big event and the people were all dressed up. (Symphonic Poem p. 111)"
Photo courtesy of Ohio History Connection. Residents enjoyed a sense of community and connection to one another that helped the Village thrive, producing many successful artists, innovators, and civic servants. "We all remember we had a good, safe life. We could count on anybody's parents if we had any problems. If you fell down and hurt yourself, you could go to somebody's door, they check you out and tell you to take her home or take him home. I remember, they were always bringing somebody who fell on their roller skates or off their bike to my house." (Patsey Ulmer, JPPF Board Member and former resident)

"A great supporting community—nurturing."

Photo courtesy of Ohio History Connection. Residents enjoyed a sense of community and connection to one another that helped the Village thrive, producing many successful artists, innovators, and civic servants. "We all remember we had a good, safe life. We could count on anybody's parents if we had any problems. If you fell down and hurt yourself, you could go to somebody's door, they check you out and tell you to take her home or take him home. I remember, they were always bringing somebody who fell on their roller skates or off their bike to my house." (Patsey Ulmer, JPPF Board Member and former resident)
Photo courtesy of Ohio History Connection. For several years, a group of passionate politicians and neighborhood residents joined together to try to save the structures of Poindexter Village for historic preservation, but 33 of the 35 buildings were ultimately demolished. In 2017, the Ohio History Connection purchased the two remaining buildings from the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority. Created in 2014, the James Preston Poindexter Foundation, alongside the Ohio History Connection, has started converting the buildings into the Poindexter Village Museum and Cultural Center to tell the project’s story and celebrate the roots, culture, and impact of the Village.

Saving the Village

Photo courtesy of Ohio History Connection. For several years, a group of passionate politicians and neighborhood residents joined together to try to save the structures of Poindexter Village for historic preservation, but 33 of the 35 buildings were ultimately demolished. In 2017, the Ohio History Connection purchased the two remaining buildings from the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority. Created in 2014, the James Preston Poindexter Foundation, alongside the Ohio History Connection, has started converting the buildings into the Poindexter Village Museum and Cultural Center to tell the project’s story and celebrate the roots, culture, and impact of the Village.
Photo courtesy of Ohio History Connection. Poindexter Village builds on the rich, untold story of an African American experience in its neighborhood and beyond in order to nurture understanding, inspire success, inform action, and empower future generations to build the strong, vibrant, and just communities they want to live in.

A Symbol of Hope

Photo courtesy of Ohio History Connection. Poindexter Village builds on the rich, untold story of an African American experience in its neighborhood and beyond in order to nurture understanding, inspire success, inform action, and empower future generations to build the strong, vibrant, and just communities they want to live in.

As a way to connect with local students and elevate the vibrant history of the Near East Side and those who contributed to its history, OHC and JPPF recently announced the Poindexter Village—Windows of Stories Youth Art Challenge. In partnership with the Columbus Metropolitan Library, Columbus City Schools (CCS), and The Columbus Foundation, the challenge encourages students to use their creative voices to help tell the neighborhood’s story.

“We felt it was important to start with young people,” said Shelbi Toone, Project Manager for the Poindexter Village Museum and Cultural Center. “This has been an intentional initiative to have youth learn about the history of the neighborhood. Everyone working on this project is passionate about passing this history on. We want to create a learning environment for young people.”

The art challenge is broken down by age groups and open to all CCS students from K-12. Entries must focus on themes related to the Near East Side. Selected artwork will cover the windows on the Poindexter Village Museum buildings during renovation, and cash prizes will be awarded to the top winners.

Renowned, award-winning artist Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson hailed from Poindexter Village. Through her remarkable mixed-media art, Robinson told the stories of her beloved family, elders, and neighborhood, weaving events, people, and places into living pieces that she hoped would “rag on.” Toone said Robinson’s talent has been pivotal in helping preserve the Village’s story and sharing that story with others.

"Aminah is our home. She was Poindexter Village’s before she was the world's."

Shelbi Toone, Project Manager for the Poindexter Village Museum and Cultural Center

Through the art challenge and many more efforts that will follow as the museum and cultural center continues to be built, this incredible history will be preserved for the young and old to treasure.

Submissions for the Poindexter Village—Windows of Stories Art Challenge are open until March 7. Learn more here.

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