INTERESTING FACT : "One of the previous Our Rich Black Heritage Black Pioneers, Deacon Bennerson Stamper was a dedicated member of St. Joseph" Have you ever bought a used item before? If you have, you probably know how frustrating buying an used item can sometimes get! Well, I have found that even though buying an used item can be frustrating, it can also get your Mind to explore new & different ways of getting things to work. Case in point : I recently bought a used DVD PLAYER. At first everything worked just find, then about 8 hours later, while I was watching a copy of my Mother, "Mrs. Jessie Mae Edwards - Phenix Blanson" Funeral on the DVD PLAYER, everything just shutdown, like the U.S. Government has just done! Well, my first thought was to take the DVD PLAYER back to where I bought it from. However, then another thought came to me to repurpose it as a vanity mirror. Anyways, as I was thinking about salvaging the other accessories that came with the DVD PLAYER, I decided to see if I could use the power cord for the DVD PLAYER on one of my other DVD PLAYERS. Surprisingly, the cord from the DVD PLAYER that wasn't working any longer actually worked on my smaller DVD PLAYER. Next, while I was checking to make sure that everything was working properly on my smaller DVD PLAYER, an idea popped in my head! The idea that came to me was," if the power cord for the DVD that stop working powered the smaller DVD PLAYER, maybe the power cord from the smaller DVD PLAYER would power the DVD PLAYER that was no longer working?" So, I went and got the DVD PLAYER that wasn't working and hooked the power cord to it, and plugged the power cord into the electric outlet. Again, to my pleasant surprise, I was stunned to find out that my power cord from my smaller DVD PLAYER ended up powering the computer that wouldn't even come on an hour ago! Therefore, instead of having to repurpose or discard my new used DVD PLAYER, it was back working. All because of me letting my mind do the "W.O.R.K.S.'" and SUPPLY ME WITH THE IDEA TO SWITCH OUT THE POWER CORDS! Now, let's get into the information that I found on The St. Joseph Missionary Baptist Church of West Monroe, Louisiana. According to records, "ST. JOSEPH WAS FIRST ORGANIZED IN 1874,"ON COTTON PORT PLANTATION, IN THE OLD ST. CLAIRE SCHOOL HOUSE IN WEST MONROE LOUISIANA," by Rev Hall, a Local Colored Pastor. Well, along with several other things that stood out about St.Joseph when I was doing my research, is not only that it's one of the oldest Black Churches in West Monroe, "BUT IT'S ONE OF THE OLDEST BLACK CHURCHES IN ALL OF NORTHEAST LOUISIANA!" Also, what amazed me too, was reading about all the different locations the church has had. You see, Rev. Hall pastored the church for a number of years, at the Old St. Claire School House, before he was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Bolden. Next, Rev. Joseph Bolden pastored the St.Joseph flock at the Old St. Claire School House, up until the School House was destroyed by fire.That's when Rev. Joseph Bolden and the members of the church relocated the church to the 9th block of Wood Street in West Monroe, in 1878. After pastoring at St Joseph for over 20 years, Rev. Joseph Bolden resigned, to take a position at another church. In 1902, Rev C.B. Collins was elected pastor of St. Joseph Missionary Baptist Church. After serving as pastor of the church for 18 years, Rev. Collins also resigned his position. Between the time of Rev. Collins departure and the incorporating of St. Joseph Baptist Church in 1952, several pastors were elected and resigned as pastor of the church. Among the names were : Rev. Oliver Williams, Rev. T.H. Evans, Rev. H.L. Broadnax, Rev. J. H. Houseley, Under Pastor Houseley's leadership, the members of the church decided to exchanged property with a lady by the name of Mrs. Esby White,"AND THE CHURCH WAS MOVED FROM WOOD and 9TH STREET, TO THE NEW CHURCH PROPERTY," which was located next to some property owned by Rev. Broadnax, the previous pastor of the church. Sadly, the church at the new location received severe fire damage around 1924, but it was totally rebuilt in 1925. In 1946, Pastor Houseley also resigned, and a pastor by the name of Rev. Rankins held the position, until an election could be held. In 1947, Rev. Jesse Allen was elected as pastor of the church, and he was later succeeded by Rev. C. D. Simmons, in 1949. Which brings us full circle to 1952, the year when St. Joseph Missionary Baptist Church was incorporated! By the way, it was reported that two Negro financial wizards, Reuben Myles and Alex Fuller, spearheaded the campaign to incorporate the church. Additionally, in November of 1952, soon after the church had been incorporated, Rev. C.D. Simmons resigned , and was succeeded by a pastor by the name of Rev. Hudson, who was succeeded by Rev. J.H. Wilbert, in 1955. Please Note ; it is at this point in our story that we see that even Negro Churches were not sheltered from "THE HORRIBLE, AGGRESSIVE GOVERNMENT LAND GRABBING TOOL, WHICH IS KNOWN UN-AFFECTIONATELY AS EMINENT DOMAIN!" In 1961, the St. Joseph Missionary Baptist Church property and Church Building,"WHICH WAS LOCATED AT 700 COLEMAN AVENUE, IN WEST MONROE, LOUISIANA WAS BOUGHT OUT BY THE LOUISIANA STATE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT, TO MAKE WAY FOR A PENDING In HIGHWAY PROJECT!" Leading the Pastor and Church Congregation "TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY AT 206 NEW NATCHITOCHES ROAD," IN WEST MONROE LOUISIANA," where the church has been since it was relocated & rebuilt, back in November of 1962. Interesting, since it took about a year for the new church to be built, services were temporary held at the Tim Tippitt School that was located in West Monroe, until the church was completely in 1962. In closing, I hope that this week's serving of "OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" by Garry O'Dell Blanson has certainly wet your appetites, and hopefully will lead some of you all to going online to learn even more about The St. Joseph Missionary Baptist Church of West Monroe, Louisiana,"ONE OF THE OLDEST BLACK CHURCHES IN NORTHEAST LOUISIANA!"
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