Saving Family Places: Villa Lewaro & the Skinny House of Mamaroneck

As one of the League’s first events of 2021, our Excelsior Society was honored to welcome A’Lelia Bundles and Julie Seely to speak about their work in sharing the stories of their families and preserving their historic family homes.

A’Lelia Bundles has written several books about her great-great-grandmother Madam C. J. Walker. Madam Walker developed a cosmetics line that reportedly made her the first female self-made millionaire in the nation. She was a well-known entrepreneur, philanthropist, and political and social activist. Madam Walker built her home, Villa Lewaro, in Irvington, New York, not far from the Gould and Rockefeller estates. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976, the preservation of her beautiful Villa reminds us of a remarkable life once lived.

Located at 175 Grand Street in Mamaroneck, New York, a three-story house is just 10 feet wide. Known locally as the “Skinny House,” the curious structure was built by an ambitious Black carpenter who owned a successful construction business in the 1920s. Nathan Seely and the house he built are the foundation upon which his granddaughter, Julie Seely, tells the story of three generations of her family — both its highs and lows. This marvelous house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.

The live event was organized exclusively for members of the Excelsior Society and other invited guests, but the recording is available for all. To join us for events like this in the future, with the chance to interact with and ask questions of engaging speakers like A’Lelia and Julie, we hope you consider joining the Excelsior Society. Members of this leadership giving group are a cornerstone of the League, and the support of these members is integral to the work we do across the state.