This week for Black History Month, we’re celebrating Adam Blake, Jr., a successful entrepreneur in Albany during the 19th century!
- He was the adopted son of Adam Blake, Sr. an enslaved man.
- After early education, he worked his way up the ranks to become head waiter at Delavan House on Broadway.
- He became a prominent restaurateur, opening his first restaurant in 1851 on Beaver/Green Streets. By 1865, he opened two more on James and State streets.
- He ventured into the hotel business, renovating and running the Congress Hall Hotel, then opening the Kenmore Hotel in 1878. (The Kenmore Hotel still exists today, and in 2021 opened The Blake Annex, 25,000 sq. ft. of private office suites, meeting/training facilities and co-working spaces.)
At his time of death, Blake’s net worth was estimated at more than $10 million in today’s dollars.
A stained-glass rose window honoring Blake, Jr. at Israel AME Church in Albany reads, “He loved liberty and abhorred slavery. He believed in the equality of all.”
Make sure to check out ODEI’s Facebook (@HVCCODEI) and Instagram (@hvcc_odei) throughout the month where we’ll continue to celebrate black history!
In solidarity,
Kayla Miller
Technical Assistant
Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
k.miller1@hvcc.edu
Published: Wed, 16 Feb 2022 12:55:23 +0000 by k.miller1