Florence Mills House, Historic residential building in Harlem, Manhattan, US
The Florence Mills House is a two-story residence located at 220 West 135th Street in Harlem, built in the early twentieth century. The structure stands among comparable homes from that period in northern Manhattan and reflects the residential architecture typical of that era.
The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 based on the presumption that performer Florence Mills lived there during the 1920s. Further research later revealed this attribution was incorrect, resulting in the landmark designation being removed in 2009.
Florence Mills became one of the first Black performers to achieve major success on Broadway and used her prominence to speak out against racial discrimination. Her commitment to equality made her a respected voice within the African American entertainment world of her era.
The house remains a private residence, so visitors cannot enter the interior, but the exterior facade can be seen from West 135th Street. The location in Harlem is easily accessible by public transportation, and viewing the building from outside requires no advance arrangement.
Later research into the building's history revealed that Florence Mills actually lived on West 133rd Street and not at this address. This discovery prompted authorities to reverse the historic designation that had been assigned to the property.
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