OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE : THE BLACK LEGENDS AND BLACK PIONEERS OF PRICHARD'S ADDITION, IN MONROE, LOUISIANA

                                                                                   Today, as people in Monroe, Louisiana visit The Emily P. Robinson Center and The Henrietta W. Johnson Recreational Center, they can't help but notice that some of the former "NOTICEABLE PICTURES," of former individuals such as ; Emily P. Robinson, James "SHACK" Harris, Andrew Harris, Rubin Jones, and other notable people who achieved great accomplishments in our Black Communities, which used to "grace the walls" of both of these Community Centers, have seemed to have disappeared. If anyone in Monroe has any information to the whereabouts of these missing  pictures,"PLEASE  CONTACT THE PROPER AUTHORITIES IMMEDIATELY!" Speaking of The Emily P. Robinson Center, the center is actually just footsteps away from the 9 BLOCKS LONG and 3 BLOCKS WIDE subdivision, known as The Prichard Addition. In case everybody didn't already know, some of the Black Pioneers that have lived in The Prichard Addition in Monroe include ; Frank Taylor, Eva Dyann Wilson, Bernie Dayton Robinson, Mrs. Emily P. Robinson, Mrs. V.O. Robinson Hester, Lasandra Robinson Starks, Mrs. V.O. Robinson Hester, Patrick Robinson, 
 Toussaint L. McCall, Isaac Barnett,"WHO OWNED AND OPERATED HIS GROCERY STORE  AT 2800 JACKSON STREET FOR OVER 40 YEARS," and Faye Brown Blackwell, "WHO WAS THE FIRST BLACK FEMALE IN LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA TO EVER OWN AND OPERATE HER OWN RADIO STATION," just to name a few! In closing, I am asking for everyone in the Monroe area to be on the lookout for more information about the "UPCOMING CAMPAIGN" to bring "MORE ATTENTION AND AWARENESS" to the "ANNUAL EVENTS" that are being scheduled to take place in "THE PRICHARD ADDITION

OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE : LOUISE "Pudden" GILBERT TUCKER

                                                                                                                              "MARY JANE HARPER CRIED LAST NIGHT!"          In case you all were wondering who is Mary Jane Harper, and why should you care about her crying last night ; she was a child character in A 1977 Television Movie, which depicted the "CRUEL REALITY OF CHILD ABUSE IN AMERICAN SOCIETY," and how things were getting out of hand! Well, as the years have gone by, we all can now see how right the movie was about many of the things that "ARE STILL HAPPENING TO CHILDREN IN AMERICA," in 2026. Also, to make matters  worst, several  reports  keep stating that Child Abuse in America has decreased,"BUT THEY NEVER REPORT EXACTLY HOW HIGH CHILD ABUSE CURRENTLY IS IN AMERICA!" Furthermore, one report stated,"THE CHILDREN HIGHEST AT RISK AND THAT HAVE THE HIGHEST RATE OF ABUSE ARE CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF ONE YEARS OLD!" Therefore, I will go out on a limb and say,"SEVERAL MARY JANE HARPERS CRIED LAST NIGHT!"   Well, with that said, on to this week's Black Pioneer!                 Louise "Pudden" G. Tucker was born in 1910 to Tommy and Julia Gilbert, in Wisner,Louisiana. Louise was a Black Pioneer in Monroe and Ouachita Parish in the area of Healthcare. Interestingly, "NOT ONLY WAS SHE THE FIRST BLACK FEMALE LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE IN OUACHITA PARISH, BUT LOUISE WAS ALSO THE FIRST BLACK FEMALE LICENSED NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATOR IN OUACHITA PARISH AS WELL!" To this very day, it is noted that many Black People have said that Louise helped set the bar for Black Nursing Home Administrators in Monroe and Ouachita Parish.By the way, additionally to serving as "NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATOR OF THE MARY GROSS NURSING HOME, IN MONROE, LOUISIANA FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS," Louise was a pillar of her community. After uniting with The First Missionary Baptist Church on March 2, 1975, she served faithfully in different areas of the church, including Chairperson of the Dorcas Missionary Circle, and as a dedicated Sunday School Teacher. When Mrs. Louise "Pudden" G. Tucker passed away on March 27, 2005, she passed the torch and task of running the Mary Gross Nursing Home to her granddaughter, Louise Davis, and her great-grandson, Tony Wilson.

 

OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE : AUGUSTA SAUNDERS

 

 

                                       Recently, I had the opportunity to talk with "MONROE'S LIVING LEGEND, FRANK TAYLOR!" As we talked, he mentioned  that there used to be a White-owned Company that once employed many Negroes    in Monroe. Surprisingly,    the name of the company was,"THE LOUISVILLE COOPERAGE COMPANY."      The company was actually  located at 2500 Jackson Street, on the Southside of Monroe, Louisiana, near the railroad tracks. By the way, it's been reported that in the COMPANY'S HAYDAY, it employed "OVER 135 PEOPLE, AND PROCESSED  SEVERAL MILLION TONS OF WHITE OAK & COW OAK TREES A YEAR." As I end this portion of my article,    I would like to say that it sure is strange how a  company as large as " THE LOUISVILLE COOPERAGE COMPANY," which employed so many Negroes and White  People in Monroe, was never mentioned at any of the schools in Monroe, while I was in school! With that said, on to this week's Black Pioneer! Augustus Leon Saunders Jr. was born on August 9, 1909, in Whistler, Alabama. Also, he was married to Mrs.Rosaline Parker Saunders. After playing a season of baseball for the Monroe Monarchs, Augustus decided to stay in Monroe, and make Monroe his home. While there isn't much information online about Augustus, I was able to find out that he played in The Negro Baseball League from 1927 to 1932. For the first 3 years of his career, he played second baseman for the Cleveland Hornets. Next, Augustus played a year with the Detroit Stars, before finishing his career with the Monroe Monarchs. By the way, The Monroe Monarchs played their home games in Monroe at "CASINO PARK," which was located in the area between Carroll High School and the railroad tracks along Renwick Street in Monroe, Louisiana. A couple of years ago, I was able to view the City marker for the Monroe Monarchs Baseball Team, which was located near Carroll High School. For those who didn't know, in 1932, Augustus and the Monroe Monarchs played "A CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES AGAINST THE LEGENDARY PITTSBURGH CRAWFORD NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM." Incidentally, two of the Negro players on the Pittsburgh Crawford Team just happened to be "SATCHEL PAIGE AND JOSH GIBSON!"  Additionally, the Championship Series was dubbed as "THE NEGRO WORLD SERIES!" For a moment, I would like for everyone to just Imagine that it's "GAME ONE OF THE SERIES, IN THE TOP OF THE  SECOND INNING."  Satchel Paige is pitching, and Augustus Saunders comes up to bat. Satchel throws his first pitch, and Augustus swings and misses, and the umpire Yells..."STRIKE ONE!" Next, Satchel throws a fast ball straight down the middle, and this time Augustus gets a hit off of the famous Satchel Paige that Augustus would remember for the rest of his life!      Well, as far as the series went, the Pittsburgh Crawford Team went on to win the 1932 Championship Series over the Monroe Monarchs, 5 games to 1. Finally, years later when Rev. Roosevelt Wright was producing a play about the Negro Baseball League, at the Monroe Civic Center, Augustus Saunders made a special appearance, where he signed several baseballs for some of the Black Youth. Sadly, in February  of 1999, at the ripe old age of 89, Augustus Leon Saunders Jr. went home to be with the Lord. 

"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : GARTH C. REEVES SR., Publisher Emeritus of The Miami Times Newspaper

                                          While I was online reminding my Facebook Friends that "TWO NEGRO NEIGHBORHOODS" were once established on the land near, around, or maybe even on the land where the "OLD HOLIDAY INN" use to be located, it was brought to my attention that "MOST BLACK AND WHITE PEOPLE'S KNOWLEDGE OF THE PAST HISTORY OF MONROE, LOUISIANA,  SIMPLY DOES NOT GO BACK THAT FAR!" Well, for those who didn't know, the two former Negro Neighborhoods that I am speaking of are : THE OLD BRIGHT OAK and THE OLD JACKSON QUARTERS NEIGHBORHOODS. Sadly to say, had it not been for my rigorous research efforts,    I probably would of never known about these two former Negro Communities either! By the way,"THE LAND WHERE THE OLD HOLIDOME HOTEL USE TO BE LOCATED USE TO BE OWNED BY BLACK PEOPLE TOO!" It seems that due to "THE EMINENT DOMAIN LAWS," many Negroes who lived in the area of "THE BOOKER T. WASHINGTON SUBDIVISION AND HIGHWAY 165," were forced to sale their homes and land,"FOR PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR!"Needless to say, I feel that going forward, it is imperative that the older generation of Black Citizens of Monroe do a better job of passing down the legacy as well as the History of our Black Ancestors who once lived here in Monroe and helped pave the way for us today!"  With that said, on to this week's Black Pioneer, Garth C. Reeves Sr.! Anyone familiar with the "MIAMI TIMES NEWSPAPER" has probably heard of the name,Garth C. Reeves Sr., "SOUTH FLORIDA'S LARGEST BLACK-OWNED NEWSPAPER," which was founded in 1923, by Henry Ethelbert Sigismund Reeves. For over two decades,Garth
oversaw the day-to-day operations of the Miami Times Newspaper after taking ownership of the paper following his father’s death in 1970. When it came to defending the civil rights of Negroes, Garth was a fearless fighter for the Negro cause as well as a staunch supporter!  In 1949, Garth and a group of his Negro friends filed a lawsuit over the city's unfair policy toward Black citizens using it's public golf course, which led to the desegregation of the "Miami Springs Golf Course" in 1959. Interestingly, during the "Civil Rights Movement Era," Garth was one of the leading Negro figures in Miami, Florida.YOU SEE, GARTH BELIEVED AND SOMETIMES PARTICIPATED IN THE PRACTICE OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE." In 1957, Garth, a group of Negro Leaders, and a few Negro Citizens decided to challenge the City of Miami's Beach Policy of not allowing Negroes to swim or sit on the beach. The morning that the group of Negroes went to the public beach in Dade County, Florida, they were met with a parade of armed policemen. Although there was plenty of police presence that day at the beach, Garth and everyone else were allowed to stay and swim, and Negroes have been attending the beaches of Florida every since! Upon his retirement  from To his surprise, when Garth retired from his duties at the Miami Times in 1994, he was officially named "Publisher Emeritus." Additionally, in 2017, Garth was inducted into the "National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame. Finally, in 2019, after his wife Rachel passed away, Garth's health went down hill. Sadly, on November 25, 2019, after living for a little more than an "ENTIRE CENTURY," Garth C. Reeves went home to be with the Lord!