Virgilio Hernandez 30 Fairview Avenue

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 Virgilio Hernandez lived in. Virgilio Hernandez arrived in the U.S. from the Dominican Republic on August 29, 1923. A merchant in his home country, he had $100 (about $1,523 in today’s currency) with him at the time of his arrival. Mr. Hernandez came to visit his friend, Alfredo Pogson, who lived at 30 Fairview Avenue, near 191st Street. In his Manifest, Mr. Hernandez declared that he intended to stay at that address for several months. 30 Fairview Avenue falls within the boundaries of the Dominican Historic District. It also represents a link between the first enclave of Dominicans, located between 150th and 165th Streets, and the second enclave of Dominicans, that resided on 180th Street and above.

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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