St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1956-01-20

pattern, and the community o.
them, says Selwyn james in X
Although the residents Of
later made the calm decision not
TO give up their homes and they
set out 10 live amicably with their
colored neighbors in an interracial
community. Writing in the De-
cember issue. Mr.. james tells how
this wise move preserved for the
people OF Teaneck. the market
value OF their homes and their
own integrity as well:
Until Jay Payne. a Negro. be-
gan working on his house, this
part OF Teaneck was traditionaliy
'all-white,' although 1t housed
members of various natonalitics
and diversified religions. When
the Paynes moved in three years
ago. their white neighbors did not
openly voice their resentment.
They sat tight, watching and
waiting. Property values did not
fall; In fact, the real estate mar
kct rose slightly In keeping with
the national trend. Anxietlcs were
relaxed, and although the Paynes
made no lasting friendships with
their white neighbors, they were
not made TO feel unwelcome.
During 1854 other Negro fam
lies began to move into the COM
munlty. Most OF them bought
homes in a few streets on the
fringes OF the area: only one or
two Negro families moved into the
broad white avenues in the
heart of the community. BY the
end OF the year the total had risen
TO rs Negro families, with prop
erty values still intact.
The trouble didn't start until
early in 1855, when too-enter-
prising real estate firm In neigh
boring town. hearing OF the inter-
racial trend In Teaneck, began TO
use scare tactics In the hope OF
forcing sales and collecting COM
missions, In sudden invasion OF
the neighborhood. the company's
agents opened high-preasure
door-to-door campaign. They told
each home owner: You are living
In a fringe area. Negroes are
moving in all around you. Why
not put up your house for sale
now while you can still get n good
price for IT."
1T was then that the selling
began. II soon spread through the
entire community, even TO streets
seven and eight blocks from the
house Of the nearest Negro fam
lily. Before long Merry Dolssler,
Teanecis's nonpartisan mayor. quit
the big house on Shepherd Ave-
nue. In which he had lived for
years.
ITO keep business booming, the
soliciting realty agents began TO
SOW distrist among neighbors. As
these tactics went on, the Negro
families In the community sensed
growing hostility. White neigh
bors began 10 eye one another sus-
pleiously. The inquiry. Are you
selling out became a challenging
question, met by silence. hesitant
denlals. or embarrassed admis-
aions.
But the tide stopped when
some OF the residents. reluctant
TO leave community they lived,
began TO hold block meetings In
an attempt to talk the thing
through. As one resident said at
a meeting, Unless we want to
sell at loss. there's only one
thing we can do, Take It easy. Try
10 persuade your neighbors 10
stop these panic sales, and lets
try TO get those real estate men
TO cut out scare tactics. After
that we ought TO get in touch with
out new Negro neighbors and gel
their cooperation. I've a motor
they don't want this to become 4
rundown community any NOR,
than we do
AT the end OF the meeting. tn,
neighbors had already decided {,
remain in their homes and ha,
promised to try to persuade other
TO do the same. Meanwhile a
emergency committee was forme
TO track down local rtlmorx and {
find out how other communitie
were dealing with similar up
heaveis.