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| Left to right: Alex Richardson, Dr. Antoinette Harrell, Earl Richardson, Jr., Dr. Valarie Richardson Photo Credit: Eddie Ponds |
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| Eddie Ponds and his daughter Sharon Ponds Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell |
The link to the five collection can be found below.
Antoinette Harrell Collection
Richardson Funeral Home Collection
Bernice Alexander Bennett Collection
Dr. Kingsley B. Garrison Collection
Eddie and Carrie Wells Pond Collection
In process of being archived
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| Connor visiting Laurel Valley Planation Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell |
The plantation covers about 3,400 acres and includes several outbuildings, and slave quarters. The plantation was established in
the daily lives of the enslaved people who lived there. The plantation also hosts events throughout the year, including a fall festival and a Christmas open house.
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| Antoinette Harrell visiting Laurel Valley Plantation Photo Credit: Connor LaCoste |
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| Eddie Ponds Preparing to donate his newspaper collection Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell |
Dr. Harrell was happy to see that he finally took the step to preserve the events, history, and stories of the people who wrote about for decades. His paper will help to fill in the missing pieces of history for African American people in the Florida Parishes.
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| Left to right Eddie Ponds, Councilwoman Batiste, James M. Perrin Antoinette Harrell, Mayor Robert F. Zambia |
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| Rev. Arthur Tasker |
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| Hammond Magnet School Photo Credit: Mr. Kip Andrews |
"Having the students to explore and study local history is important. Oftentimes, we look at history on a national level. Sometimes people over look local history makers, icons, and pioneers, "said Harrell. Harrell stress the importance of exploring local history. Matter of fact, many of the students can be related to the local history makers she said. Mr. Andrew said that the students are working on a hard back book of the local history. Harrell volunteer to assist in anyway that she can.
Harrell was impressed with the interaction from the students. Some of the students had several questions for Dr. Harrell. They had good questions and comments concerning the information that Harrell shared.
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| Lester Youngblood Courtesy of Bernice Alexander Bennett Funeral Program Photo |
Among the 36 names mentioned in the charter was Lester Youngblood. Her confirmation was that there are two Lester Youngbloods: Jr. and Sr. Bernice forwarded me a copy of Lester Youngblood's funeral program. Among the civil rights icons in Head Island, a parish in Livingston, was Lester Youngblood, Sr.
Lester was born on August, 7, 1914 to Wesley Youngblood and Fannie Walker in Head Island, Louisiana He passed away on May 32, 1997 at his home. He was married to Dorothy Martin Youngblood. They were the parents of 16 children. 10 daughters and 5 sons: Dora Youngblood Harris, Elnora Youngblood Quiet, Margie Youngblood Hawkins, Helen Youngblood Raven, Georgiana Youngblood Jackson, Lillie Youngblood Davis, Jessie Youngblood Hart, Daisy Youngblood Norman, Barbara Youngblood Thomas, Toni Youngblood Jackson. James Youngblood, Elgene Youngblood, John C. Youngblood and Henry Youngblood. When he passed away he had 55 grandchildren, 74 great-grandchildren, and 8 great-great grandchildren. He and his wife had a very large family
I used Ancestry to learn more about the man who put his life on the line for the right to vote. Lester realized that during that time in the Deep South. I found information on the U.S. World War II Draft Card. His bright day was listed as 1914, he was born in Head of Island, Louisiana and was employed at McCarrol Lumber Co. In the United States 1940 Census he was working for as a logger for a Sawmill Company. Lester owned his home in 1940.
Standing up for that right to vote, Youngblood could have been murdered. That didn't deter him from doing so. In 1955, he organized the Citizens Voter League with 35 other men. Civil rights leaders are often lauded on a national level and dismissed locally. The charter provided the names of brave men such as Lester Youngblood. It wasn't that long ago that he passed away. My hope is that his family members recorded his story. It is possible to gain some insight into the time and period of voting rights in the Florida Parish by learning about a few pieces of the rich history of voting rights for African Americans through documents like this charter.
Source: Funeral Program for Lester Youngblood
Tangipahoa Parish Clerk's Office
Bernice Alexander Bennett
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| Samuel Levy Campbell Military Draft Card Courtesy of Ancestry |
Asking around in Tangipahoa Parish about the funeral home. Bobby Cyprian remembers the funeral home and its original location in Hammond, Louisiana. To search for records, I visited the Clerk's office in Tangipahoa Parish. My research led me to Campbell's Funeral Service, Inc.'s charter.
The document only contained the abbreviations for their names after I carefully read it. My search for the Campbells was conducted using Ancestry. In my research, I discovered that Samuel Levy Campbell was born on March 10, 1885, and he died in 1975. He was married to Mary Campbell. His military draft card provided a lot of useful information. Smith County, Mississippi, was the place of Samuel's birth. Campbell's Funeral Home was located at 505 North Holly Street in Hammond.
In the United States 1900 United States Census, Samuel was living with his mother Jennie Campbell, his father Joseph Patrick Campbell had passed away. Their home was in Jasper, Mississippi. Farm laborers were the family's occupation. According to the 1930 United States Census, Samuel's occupation was Undertaker, and his industry was Timeral Parlor.
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| Dr. Antoinette Harrell interviewing Bobbie Seymour |
Like Bobbie, I felt the same way earlier this year when I watched the movie "Alice," which was based on a story I discovered 20 years ago. In 1963, a woman named Mae Louise Wall Miller escaped slavery with her family. Despite the fact that it was inspired by my research, no one from the production team contacted me to discuss my research.
Contacting the families or researchers would provide the film producers with so much information about the subject. The movie Alice was criticized for not adding up after Mae ran to her freedom, as many people pointed out. Mae's life after she escaped would have been more interesting if the producers had known more about it.
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| Aaron Peter Jackson aka Peter Gordon Library of Congress |
The Jackson family is a very large family, and many Jackson family members still live in Port Hudson. "I wish they would have searched around to talk with some of Aaron Peter Jackson's descendants," said Bobbie. We weren't difficult to find if only they would have spent sometime searching for us she said. I am happy to see that his tory is being told in the end said Bobbie
We talked for about an hour during our interview. Her coffee table was covered with pictures and documents of her grandfather Peter and other family members. Additionally, she showed photographs that she inherited from a family member illustrating her Cherokee heritage. During our visit, Bobbie showed me a picture of Ruby, her 5th great grandmother, a full blooded Cherokee. Ruby was Peter's mother-in-law. Ruby was from Summit, Mississippi.
I asked Bobbie if she thought she would be emotional watching Emancipation. I warned her that the reenactment of the beatings and inhumane treatment may be difficult to watch. There are movies that can make you cry if they touch you in a particular way. If a movie is about your family member and you are watching inhumane treatment, the experience is personal. In any case, that could be a very difficult situation. The Jackson's are strong people she said. We don't allow anything to hold us down. If something knocks us down, we get right back up. That was we inherited from Peter, determination, courage, and hold on to God no matter what we are faced with Bobbie said.
She described the Jacksons as strong people. There is nothing that can hold us back. No matter what knocks us down, we bounce right back up. As Bobbie said, it was determination, courage, and holding on to God no matter what that we were facing that we inherited from Peter. Her research revealed his name, something that has been a little confusing down through the decades. There are a few things that Bobbie want people to know first is his name. His name isn't Peter Gordon, his name is Aaron Peter Jackson.
Secondly he wasn't born in Louisiana. He was born in Virginia and came to Louisiana as a slave. He was owned by Andrew Jackson on a plantation in Tennessee according the research of Bobbie. Andrew Jackson owned The Hermitage plantation.
Bobbie plans to watch the movie with family and friends. I will contact Bobbie after she see the movie and get her thoughts about the movie. I spoke with the editor of The Drum Newspaper concerning interviewing Bobbie about her family history and thoughts about the upcoming meeting. There was a time when we didn't have the platforms to tell our own stories. The only thing Bobbie feels she has achieved is to tell her own story.
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| Larry Womack Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell |
Cedrick Womack was sitting several seats behind me on the bus. The subject of his family farm was not discussed that day. In the following week he contacted me with information about the syrup making business in his family. Several years ago, I watched James Baker make sugar cane syrup. Observing the entire process for the first time, I gained an insight into the entire process. Each November, Baker drove thirteen hours from Chicago to Louisiana to produce syrup.
I was invited by Cedrick to interview his father and uncles and take photographs and video them making syrup as well. As the time approached for the syrup to be made and produced, he contacted me to remind me to come out and document the process. During the twenty-minute drive to their location, the scenery was picturesque. It is dotted with tall pine trees and curvy roads on the way to the syrup mill. The Womack family had already begun cooking the syrup and was in the process of bottling it.
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| Cedrick Womack Bottling Syrup Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell |
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| Eddie Ponds, Founding Publisher of The Drum Newspaper Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell |
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| Eddie Ponds Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell |
Julian Bond founded the organizations: Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and Southern Poverty Law Center. As a matter of fact he could not recall seeing it mentioned in the local press. He and his wife discussed the matter further after the event. His wife suggested he start his own newspaper to make a change.
There have been over 40 years since then, and The Drum Newspaper is still covering African American news throughout Louisiana's Southeast Parishes. When I asked Eddie if he had any older issues I might be able to review, he replied that he had. He had editions as far back as the development of the newspaper. The news archives sounded like music to my ears, and I couldn't wait to explore them. The newspaper holds a piece of African American history that cannot be found anywhere else in Louisiana FloridaParishes. Many of the photographs Eddie used in the early editions of the newspaper were taken by him. The black and white photographs he took were developed in his darkroom.
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| The Drum Newspaper Publisher Eddie Ponds Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell |
Ponchatoula Colored School's article provided me with a lot of information I hadn't previously seen. A number of black educators as well as one of the school's principals were named in this article. In response to the blog post, I received several phone calls. In their calls, the callers indicated that they had learned something about the school. history through reaching the electronic reprint. During integration, much of the history of colored schools was destroyed. Throughout Tangipahoa Parish, it is difficult to find the history of black schools. It is quite impressive how much of the history of the O.W. Dillon School was preserved in Kentwood, Louisiana.
Homer Plessy, challenged a two year old street car law that departed passengers traveling on trains in Louisiana. His action made him a plaintiff and defendant in the landmark. U.S. Supreme Court Case of Plessy v.s. Ferguson in 1896. March 17, March 1, 1925.
Dr. Walter A. Reed, First Black Physician Tangipahoa Parish. 1875-1945
Gideon Tillman Carter, Sr, Principal, coach, community leaders, and was the first Black elected to Ponchatoula board of aldermen since Reconstruction. March 15, 1924- November 1, 1984.
M.C. Moore filed a lawsuit in 1950 against the Tangipahoa Parish School Board in Tangipahoa Parish. The case was won. The school system is still operating under federal court orders.
"Coach" Reginald A. Cotton, Sr, was one of the Tangipahoa Parish most successful football and track coaches. He later served not he Tangipahoa Parish School Board. November 4, 1927- December 9, 1986
Wilbert Lee Dangerfield, Hammond's first black councilman. He served from 1977-1994. The community activist served on the board and held membership in many organizations to help community throughout Tangipahoa Parish. August 30, 1937- July 18, 2011
Joyce Marie Moore vs. Tangipahoa Parish School Board is one of the most famous lawsuits in Tangipahoa Parish. This case has been in court for more than 50 years.
Forchia Mae Wilson, Educator, community leader, founder and curator for Sweet Home Museum in Kentwood, LA. May 9, 1925-March 26, 2011
Edwin H. Wilson. The first black to teach tailoring to veterans in Tangipahoa Parish. He later became a full time tailoring teacher in the Tangipahoa Parish School System. October 28, 1918-November 20, 1980
Micheal D. Jackson, Jackson played for the NFL after he was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the sixth round of the 1991 NFL Draft. A wide receiver from the University of Southern Mississippi. Jackson played in eight NFL seasons from 1991-1998 for the Browns and the Baltimore Ravens before retiring. He was the first professional football player from Tangipahoa Parish.
Melvin Lee "Kip" Holden, On November 3, 2004, he was elected as the first Black Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish. August 12, 1952
Dr. Leo Stanley Butler, In 1918, Butler was the first male to receive a diploma form what became McKinley High School. IN 1926, he began a lifelong practice of medicine and community service. He was known as the "Dean of Black Physicians." He was named General Practitioner of the Year" by the National Medical Association in 1962. Both the East Baton Rouge Medical Society and the East Baton Rouge Medial Association honored him for outstanding community service. August 12, 1899 to September 8, 1978.
Arna Wendell Bontemps, is famous for his books featuring black characters, he wrote many notable pieces including God Sends Sunday (1931), Black Thunder (1936), The Story of the Negro (1948) and Great Slave Narratives (1969). October 13, 1902-June 10, 1974
Ernest Nathan "Dutch" Morial, lawyer, judge, State Legislator, and mayor. He was born in New Orleans, in 1977 he was elect the first Black mayor of the City of New Orleans. October 9, 1929-December 24, 1989.
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| Gideon Tillman Carter |
In 1951, Carter became the classroom teacher in the Tangipahoa Parish School System. He was appointed principal of Perrin Junior Hight School in Ponchatoula in 1958. In the sixties, he was instrumental in organizing the first Head Start Program in Tangipahoa Parish. In 1967, Carter was appointed to organize a news elementary school in Ponchatoula now D.C Reeves.
Realizing the advantages of a coeducation environment. Carter worked hard to implement a system of coeducation in the lower elementary schools in Ponchatoula witch included D.C. Reeves and Tucker Elementary Schools. These schools became coeducational in 1977 after Carter submitted his proposal of coeducation vs. separation by sext in the lower elementary school to the Tangipahoa Parish School Board.
In 1971, he earned an education master's degree in supervision and administration form Southern University, Baton Rouge. In 1974, he earned 'plus thirty' hours from Southeastern Louisiana University with certificate as school principal, supervisor of student teaching and visiting teacher. He was also certified as city or parish supervisor and supervisor of the child welfare and attendance.
A committee man, he knew the value of education and hard work. He spent much of his life trying got install these values and ideas into the children and the community. Very active in the community, he was visible, honest participant in government and a caring teacher.
After his retired from the Tangipahoa Parish School System he was employed by Evangeline Parish Community Action Agency in Ville Plate, working as a counselor from August 1979 to June 1981. He worked in 15 parishes setting up the job training programs for junior and senior hight schools, to keep them from becoming dropouts.
Carter was the first black elected city official in Ponchatoula. In April of 1980, he was elected Aldermen of the Fourth District in the City of Ponchatoula. He also had the occasion to serve as mayor pro-ten. In July 1981, Quad Area Community Action Agency in Hammond hired him as parish coordinator. He implemented the Home Provider Child Care Program in this parish and headed a federal food distribution program parish wide.
Carter's drive and ambition was and asset to every organization he was involved in and every person he touched. He was an active member of the following organizations: The Louisiana Association of Education, The Tangipahoa Education Association, The Board of Directors of Hammond Mental Health Center, Disabled Veterans Chapter #16 and the Prince Hall Mason. He was one fo the five board members and the first black appointed to the U.S. Army Selective Service System Board 64 of Hammond.
His wife, Mary Deemer Carter, and his four children are committed to keeping the spirit of his ambition and determination alive. Attorney Gideon T. Carter III, resides in Louisiana, are does Gwendolyn R. Carter and Genor E. Carter reside in Denver.
Gideon T. Carter was educator, administrator, organizer and political leader. He believed in education for all people. He encouraged children to strive for the best education possible.
Written and Published by the family of Gideon T. Carter
Reprint: Nurturing Our Roots Blog
Source: The Drum Newspaper
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| 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/
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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
