Rosaria Wittkop Used to Live at 565 West 162nd Street

Contrary to popular belief, Dominican migration to the United States did not begin in the 1960s. Outside of the first immigrant (Dominican and otherwise) to ever arrive to New York, Juan Rodriguez, more than five thousand Dominicans entered through the famous immigration port of Ellis Island to live in the United States. These immigrants are a testament to the long-standing presence of Dominicans in New York City, and which in turns correlates with the long list of achievements Dominicans have forged living away from the Dominican Republic.
This building in particular was where the Ellis Island immigrant Rosaria P. Wittkop lived. Rosaria Wittkop and her son, José Wittkop arrived in the United States on October 26, 1924, to 565 W 162nd Street, where Mrs. Puente, José’s grandmother, resided. Mrs. Wittkop and José intended to stay for several months.

Based on research by Vivian Guerrero Aquino, Research Associate at the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute, this story is part of the Institute’s Ellis Island Project, which documents the arrival of Dominican immigrants and preserves their personal histories. Its significance grew during an initiative led by CUNY DSI Research Assistant Waldemar Morety, which successfully resulted in the designation of a portion of Washington Heights as the Dominican Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.

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