Dennis Newton House at 421 N. Albany St.

The Dennis-Newton House was built circa 1868 for Norman Dennis, an early African-American resident of Ithaca. His daughter, Lula, inherited the property in 1893 and transferred it to her husband, Edward Newton, in 1898. The Newtons hosted a study group and literary society at 421 North Albany Street. The nation’s first Black fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, grew out of these gatherings. Later members of Alpha Phi Alpha included Martin Luther King Jr., Duke Ellington, Thurgood Marshall, and Jesse Owens. Today, Alpha Phi Alpha views this property as the birthplace of their organization, which includes over 550 collegiate chapters throughout the United States. In 1982, the property was transferred from the last descendant of the Newtons to a private owner who currently lives in the City of Ithaca. Over the years, the property has fallen into disrepair but remains structurally sound. The City of Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the Dennis-Newton house as a local landmark in 2015. Still, the building continues to degrade and without intervention, we stand to lose this important piece of African American history in Ithaca through demolition by neglect.