Erie-based non-profit, Housing and Neighborhood Development Service or HANDS, celebrated the opening of their new building, the Emma Howell Apartments at 1319 Parade Street, which is named after the first Black female homeowner in Erie.

“This is an significant event on a number of levels, the number of funders to come together to fund it, the history that’s involved in this location, and the city of Erie being a station on the underground railroad with the Ford family and the Howell family all coming together in one event, it’s a lot to celebrate here,” HANDS CEO, Matthew Good said.

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Emma Howell’s story was rediscovered after years of meticulous research and will now be memorialized through a historical marker placed in front of the building that shares her story and how the location was known as a place for shelter and safe passage to those seeking freedom.

“The important part of this is that this is on the property that she owned… when we found out that they were going to have this building and that it was going to be on the property where she hid and helped fugitive slaves — that was very big”, Kevin Johnson, a local historian who studied Emma Howell’s legacy said recalling the full circle moment when he learned what her property would become today.

“She’s still sheltering people, she was doing it 200 years ago and she’s doing it today,” local historian Johnson said, highlighting Emma Howell’s impact.

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In the early 1800’s, Howell owned 45 to 50 acres of land, which she used to help fugitive slaves get to freedom. Now, HANDS will use part of that land to serve those facing homelessness or disabilities.

The Emma Howell apartments have four units available, and HANDS has officially begun accepting applications. This redevelopment replaces one of many buildings in the area affected by blight, and the CEO of HANDS, Matthew Good, says this redevelopment represents what reinvestment should look like.

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