Restrictions on Locust Street

Public historian and Messiah University alumna Molly Elspas’ recent Harrisburg Historical story tackles the history of restrictive housing covenants in the capital region. Titled “Restrictions on Locust Street: Building Homes to Build Fences,” this piece examines the ways developers combined restrictive covenants and high prices to prevent African Americans and immigrants from moving into certain neighborhoods, especially suburban developments.

Here’s the lede to the story:

In the 1920s and 1930s, communities of Harrisburg and its surrounding boroughs and townships increasingly limited access of African American and immigrant residents to settle in specific neighborhoods. These restrictive covenants, common throughout the capital region, created channels of segregation with long legacies.

You can read the rest of the article at “Restrictions on Locust Street: Building Homes to Build Fences.”