 |
| Photo Courtesy of Mrs. Grace Briggs Walker |
The land for the school, church, and cemetery was donated by Robert "Free Bob" Vernon. Arcola/Roseland. Demolition of the old school building took place not to long ago. Former students and descendants of Robert "Free Bob" Vernon often recall the good old days at the school. Mrs. Grace Briggs Walker is one of Free Bob descendants that recall those days. The rich collection of photographs hold many stories of those days for her.
 |
| Burnell Muse Muse 3 Farm Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell |
During my visit to Muse 3 Farm, I interviewed Burnell Muse and several of his brothers. His attention was drawn to the hibiscus plants on the farm while driving around. It is estimated that there are several hundred species of flowering plants native to warm climates. From the flowers of the Hibiscus plant, a delicious tea can be made. Cold or hot tea can be served. My favorite way to start my day is with a hot cup of Hibiscus, peppermint, or ginger and turmeric tea in the morning. This is followed by a cold glass of tea with some honey throughout the day. I find it to be so refreshing and tasty. Matter of fact, it is one of my drinks for comfort.
Hibiscus is described as having a number of medical uses. It is said to lower blood pressure. In Asia and Africa, hibiscus has been used to treat high blood pressure for centuries. Be sure to check with your primary care physician before taking this natural approach. Other health benefits of Hibiscus tea, it can be used to lower cholesterol, manage diabetes, protect the liver, aid in weight loss. Please see the links below for more information about Hibiscus Tea.
Links
https://facty.com/food/nutrition/health-benefits-of-hibiscus-tea/6/
 |
| Eddie Ponds At the Gravesite of Rev. Arthur Tasker Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell |
The children listed in the 1870 census were: David Tasker, Clinton Tasker, Mary Tasker, and Harriet Tasker. In the 1880 United Census the children listed were: Wm. C. Tasker, Levina Tasker, Amma Tasker, Lois Tasker, and Augretia Tasker.
For years Eddie Ponds and I have been talking about the need to place a historic marker in Ponchatoula for Rev. Arthur Tasker. We both know how important these historic marker are. There isn't on historic marker from Ponchatoula to Kentwood, Louisiana.
 |
| Quincy Walker Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell |
Nathan Walker was born in 1919 in Bolivar, Louisiana to Albert Walker and Monnie Walker. Earnesteen Walker, Luella Walker, Esterrann Walker, Millie Walker, Charles Walker, and Lula Walker were their children.
The year of Albert's birth was around 1888. Mr. Quincy often spoke of the lessons he learned from his grandfather Albert, whom he called "Pa". He used many of the lessons he learned today. His grandmother used herbs to heal the family and community when they were sick, and he shared some of the things she taught him about herbs as part of his Native American heritage. Albert's parents were Harrison Walker and Phillis Walker. Harrison was born around 1859 in Mississippi. According to the 1900 United States Federal Census, he was living in Police Jury Ward 2, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. Harrison was a farmer by occupation. He could read and write. He was rented his home. Harrison and wife were the parents of a large family; Fetus Walker, Handy Walker, Florence Walker, Albert Walker, Charley Walker, Flancy Walker, Elizabeth Walker, Geneva Walker, Jessie L. Walker, and Mary E. Walker. Harrison Walker died at the age of 84 on January 29, 1939.
He is no longer able to do things he used to due to his advancing age and health problems. Upon turning 60 years old, he began farming. He regrets not starting sooner. Growing up on a farm, he had no interest in farming, so he went to college to get an education. Formerly, he was a teacher in the Tangipahoa Parish School System.
 |
| David Clinton Reeves Photo Credit Gwen Carter |
According to his U.S. World War I Draft Card, 1917-1918, he was living on Crossett Street in Ashley County, Arkansas. Professor Reeves had several siblings: Lela Reeves, Arthur Reeves, and Eva Reeves. His father Jeff was born around 1861 in Pike County, Mississippi. Jeff died in 1938 and is buried in China Grove Cemetery in Tylertown, Walthall County, Mississippi.
Jeff Davis Reeves was the son of Sami (Samuel R. Reeves) and Polly Reeves. Sami was born in 1836 in Louisiana.
Our school has always been patriotic under Professor Reeves. Every time he rang the bell, each class marched to class in line. Upon entering the classroom, we prayed, sang "My Country Tis of Thee" as told by Mrs. Ella Ash Badon, and recited the 23 Psalms.
Several students picked up chips and started a fire. In one classroom, there were 56 children. As cold as it was, we gathered around the old wood heater to warm up the room. "During that time, the community was involved in raising the children," said Mrs. Badon.
They were sisters, Mrs. Ella Ash Badon and Mrs. Ruby Ash. Both of them were teachers. The love that teachers have for their students is evident from Mrs. Ruby Ashe's perspective. My students wouldn't leave my class when I taught first grade, said Mrs. Ruby Ashe. When it was time for the first graders to be promoted to 2nd grade, they would cry on their way to their new class room she said.
 |
| Professor David Charles Reeves Photo Credit: Gwen Carter |
Professor Reeves was a peacekeeper. He negotiated a plan with the white principal Tangiphaoa Parish School Board asking that the white students be dismissed before the black students. This was to avoid afterschool fights between the black and white students. Professor Reeves started his principalship in 1928.
Former students noted that black students started school in July and were dismissed in March to pick strawberries. Those were hard times, and some people talked about walking a long way to school. The black student had hand me down books from the white schools during the hard times in the 1940s. However, that didn't stop black students from studying hardand succeeding.
As Norma Watkins Stallworth recalls, "I remember marching to class, keeping time, and collecting wood to start a fire if it was cold." Reeves often walked the community collecting money for the March of Dimes she also noted. Professor Reeves was highly regarded by Ethel Cooper Porter. When he rang the bells for classes, he had a mysterious way of grabbing everyone's attention. The bell seemed to talk to you because you understood what it meant. Reeves was fair in all his dealings with people. He was an outstanding educator.
"There were many hard times. I picked up many buckets of coal to keep the room warm," Mildred Elliot Richardson said. In one room, Professor Reeves taught two classes. Rattan was his favorite switch to keep us in line, especially the boys. In home economics class, I learned how to sew and made all the clothes for my children. Reeves demanded and accepted on the best his students had to offer. He went to the homes and asked the parents to send their children to school to get an education. Under Professor Reeves' leadership and administration, the school continued to grow. A junior high school was established in 1951 at Perrin. Professor Reeves dedicated his life to improving his students' academic, vocational, and civic education. In order to accomplish this, he increased the number of subjects, teachers, and facilities.
During his tenure we went from four-room elementary school with five teachers to an eighteen-room elementary school and Junior High School with seventeen teachers. A well-equipped woodworking shop offered students pportunity to study woodworking, and a home economics department provided them with the opportunity to study homemaking. In the auditorium and gymnasium, students could hold assemblies and participate in athletics.
During the 1940s, every young man worked and did not miss a day of school or sleep in class since he needed the education and money to buy clothes. A student named Joe Brumfield worked at Carruth Drug Store. The black students had to make the transition from Ponchatoula to Hammond to finish high school. Mrs. Dorothy Andrews, a teacher, used to write on the chalkboard with her left hand and erase with her right hand as soon as she finished writing. Two of Ponchatoula most admired, and loved teachers Mrs. Ruby Ash Loves and her sister Mrs. Ella Ash Badon.
Fifty-four years ago, in 1947, we proudly accepted out grade diplomas from Professor Reeves. Long before the Army's slogan "be all that you can be" or the United Negro College Fund slogan " a mind can be a terrible thing to waste" Professor Reeves reminded us daily that we could be anything we wanted to be, and he did not allow us to waste our minds. We appreciate him being a model educator for his teachers and students. They gave us the best they had to offer. He demonstrated that teaching is a twenty-four hour creative profession, which provide students with the desire to learn and motivate them to be their best.
"Professor Reeves taught us to be proud and not just to be good, but stride to be better. Reeves realized long before it was a popular saying," it take a community to raise a child." He worked hard to get the. parents and community to become involved in the education of the students.
The class reunion attendees honored him and their former teachers by remembering and recognizing the solid foundation they bestowed upon them.
Written and Published by Eddie Ponds, Editor and Publisher of The Drum Newspaper
Reprinted by Nurturing Our Roots
Rear: Isaac Defrick, Gilmore Green, Dr. J L. Garrett, Andrew Jackson, George Perkins, Walter Ard, and James Martin.
