Lou64JLL

Bethlehem Community Civic League

by Lou64JLL | Nov 16, 2024 | Organizations, People

Wakefield Roberts, a North Carolina native, worked with migrant workers in Adams County during the mid-1950s after serving with the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division during the Korean War.

By 1956, Rev. Roberts was transferred to St. John AME Zion Church on Bethlehem’s South Side. After leaving the parish in 1966, Roberts went on to serve as executive director of the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley, working with Pat Levin, the then executive director of Allentown’s Community Services for Children.

“We are all grateful for his vision,” Levin said.

Roberts would go on to help found the Bethlehem Community Civic League, which strove to eliminate discrimination in housing, employment and education. He also worked with the Colored Voters Association and the Elks.

Esther Lee, then president of the Bethlehem NAACP said Roberts was a visionary who worked diligently to advance race relations in the Lehigh Valley before the civil rights movement drew national attention during the 1960s.

“Roberts always tried to push all of us to be better,” Lee said. “A lot of what we have today would not have been possible without his efforts.”

Elizabeth Farmer Beville

by Lou64JLL | Nov 10, 2024 | Allentown

Elizabeth (Farmer) Beville was the wife of Richard Payne Beville. She was born in Mineral, Va., one of twenty children of the late Mr. John Jasper Farmer and the late Mrs. Dorothy (Coleman) Farmer.

Elizabeth was a member of St. James A.M.E. Zion Church, Allentown. In her faithfulness to God, she taught Sunday School, served as president of the Missionary Society for ten years, Chairperson for the Annual Women’s Day, member of the Willing Workers Society, Church Choir, founder of the Zionettes and the Pearls of Joy Choirs, Church Organist and promoter of the annual “This Is Your Life” Awards Banquet and a recipient of the Rev. H. Taylor Award.

Elizabeth was a past member of the Executive Board of the Allentown Council of Churches and a committee member of the Council’s food program of the Lehigh Valley. She was also the Superintendent of the Buds of Promise Children’s Missionary Society.

Elizabeth’s civic duties included serving as a past member of the Allentown Y.W.C.A. Executive Board and held a present membership at the Allentown Branch, former president of the Allentown Chapter N.A.A.C.P. She was the past and the present Worthy Matron and Treasurer of the Virginia E. Holland Chapter #86, Bethlehem, Pa., member of the Golden Circle of Philadelphia Assembly Chapter #5 and served as a Deputy District Grand Matron of the 4th District, Prince Hall Affiliate, State of Pennsylvania and a volunteer worker for the National Heart, Cancer and Arthritis Funds.

Postcards

by Lou64JLL | Nov 10, 2024 | Articles

(Front Row, L – R) 1. Miss Eva Strong 2. Lucille Lane 3. _______ 4. _____ 5. _______ 6. _______

(2nd Row, L- R) 1. Helen Whitmore 2. Lavinia Lane Lee 3. Ora Harper 4. ______

(3rd Row, L – R) 1. Lillian Taylor 2. Dorothy White 3. Thelma Jenkins 4. Getha Jones 5. Theanoma ____

(Front Row, L – r) 1. Thelma Jenkins 2. ___ White 3. Mrs. Harry McKnight 4. Elray Johnson
5. Mira Bradley 6. M. Armstrong 7. Lillian Taylor

(2nd Row, L- R) 1. William Rohs 2. Louise Tarboro 3. ___ Green 4. ____Bradley 5. ____White 6. Margaret Johnson 7. Rebecca Hatfield 8. ____ Cook

Lane Family

by Lou64JLL | Nov 10, 2024 | People, People Firsts

Abraham Lane b. 1861 – d. 1906
Abraham was Bethlehem’s first black businessman, a well-known caterer and owner of properties in South Bethlehem. He also ran a tea room in the 500 block of Cherokee Street. Abraham had the property at 627 Cherokee Street built in 1890.

Abraham (Abram) Lane was born July 26, 1861, in Piney Grove, Sampson County, North Carolina to Richard and Lavinia (nee Cox) Lane. His siblings were a sister Caroline and a brother Robert. Abraham married Clara Brown in 1885 in Philadelphia. They had nine children, 7 boys and two girls. All were baptized at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity, 321 Wyandotte Street, Bethlehem, PA.

We don’t the means by which he arrived in Bethlehem, but by 1880 or maybe before, Abraham as a young man, was working as a servant for E. P. Wilbur, the industrialist / banker and nephew of Lehigh Valley railroad founder Asa Packer of Jim Thorpe, PA. Clara lived in Jim Thorpe at the time and it is known since Abraham accompnaied E. P. Wilbur on his trips to visit his uncle Asa, that the two met.

Children of Abraham and Clara:
Richard Henry Lane**
b. 1886 – d. ? – Dining Car Waiter
Aaron Faucett Lane**
b. 1887 – d. 1964 – Waiter on ships
Abraham Lane II*
b. 1891 – d. 1970 – Waiter (upstate New York)
William Thurston Lane*
b. 1893 – d. 1977 – Waiter at Hotel Bethlehem
Robert Julius Lane*
b. 1895 – d. 1980 – Waiter at Hotel Bethlehem
Albert Victor Lane*
b. 1898 – d. 1943 – Waiter
Clara Isabella Lane
b. 1899 – d. 1936 – School Teacher, Atlantic City, NJ
Lavinia Lane
b. 1902 – d. 2001 – Cook
Walter Lane*
b. 1904 – d. 1984 – Waiter and Red Cap

** Shown in photo Richard and Aaron
(boys with dresses)
* All enlisted in WWI and WWII

Clara Lane, 1940s. Wife of Abraham Lane.

Abraham Lane

Aaron Lane

Richard and Aaron Lane

Clara lane (daughter) with her students.

Bethal Lodge #1284 and Lehigh Temple #930

by Lou64JLL | Aug 12, 2022 | Organizations

Front: L-R Harry McKnight, George Miller, William Walton, Rev. Edward Johnson, William Calloway Middle:L-R Roy Jones, Fred Davis, George? Back: L-R Walter “Chinny” Penn, Mr. Webb,? Robert Robinson, Sr., William Gunn Jr., Sampson Taylor

L-R: ?, David Groves, John Baker,
Essielee Starks

Front: L-R Mack Freeman, ? Brandon, Barbara Eggleston, David Groves
2nd Row: L-R Pauline Grant, ?
Back Row: ?, ?, Audrine Perry

L-R: ?, Pauline Grant, David Groves,
Mary Williams

Bethal Lodge #1284 has been in existence for 76 years (as of 2024)

We give thanks and honor to Benjamin F. Howard, Frank Hunter, and Arthur Riggs who are considered our founders.

Early in 1948, thirty young men from the Lehigh Valley decided to join the thousands of antler herd who comprised the order. They named their lodge, Bethal Lodge #1284 with George Miller serving as the first exalted ruler.

The Charter was issued on December 31, 1948, by Grand Exalted Ruler Finley Wilson. Needing a place to assemble, the brothers met at their first meeting place, a room on the second floor of 318 Brodhead Ave., Bethlehem, PA.
Exalted Ruler Miller resigned after six months and Brother William Walton was elected Exalted Ruler.

During the mid-fifties the “brothers” purchased 316 Brodhead Ave. This building remains the home of Bethal Lodge #1284. Brother Walton resigned in the mid-sixties and the following brothers have taken on the task: George Miller, William Walton, Fred Davis, Wilson Walker, Saul Brantley, William Apple, David J. Groves, Walter Penn, John Scipio, William Eggleston, Donald Gunn, John T. Baker, Tyrone Beasley, James Claiborne, Michael O. Young, William Alexander, and current Exalted Ruler, Donald Williams.

With numerous community projects and activities to their credit, Bethal Lodge has hosted the largest attended state parade during the May 1971 State Convention, plus several other conventions over the years. In 1971 the “Social Room” was moved to the first floor for the convention, where it remains today.

It is for us, the living, to be worthy of the great cause and good heritage which these founding father have
bequeathed to us. This is our challenge from them… Keep Elkdom Alive.

#####

Lehigh Temple #930

Lehigh Temple #930 was organized as a club on June 5, 1949. This club became a subordinate temple of the Grand Temple and auxiliary to Bethal Lodge #1284. This group of women were called Daughter of the
I. B. P. O. E. of W.

Their first location was on Broad & Main Streets in Bethlehem. They later moved to 316 Brodhead Avenue, Bethlehem. Lehigh Temple #930 received its charter on June 5, 1949 under Grand Daughter Ruler, Elizabeth R. Gordon, Grand Exalted Ruler, J. Finley Wilson and Grand Secretary’s Buena V. Kelley and James E. Kelley.

Charter Member Photos (l. to r.) Lavinia Lane Lee, Charlotte Jay, Dorothy Gunn Dominick, Catherine Richardson, Eleanor Penn (not pictured)

First Officers: Martina Peachy, Daughter Ruler; Lavinia Taylor, Vice Daughter Ruler, Lavinia Lane Lee, Assistant Daughter Ruler; Dorothy White, Financial Secretary; Ruth Mayo, Treasurer; Getha Jones, Recorder; Pearl Dennis, Doorkeeper; Florence Dennis, Gatekeeper; Charlotte Jay, Mistress of Sessions; Eddie May Bell, Chaplain; Sue Marr, Organist; Kathryn Richardson, Escort; Trustees: Drucilla Austin, Mary Finney, Grace Smith.

Members: Gertrude Cousins, Annie Groone, Mildred Armstrong, Lillian Taylor, Maria Walton, Carrie Johnston, Thelma Dennis, Mary Robinson, Janet Warner, Cora Benjamin, Eleanor Davis, Adelaide Clark, Dorothy Gunn, Isabelle Anderson, Esther Bragg, Dorothy Johnston, Margaret Brown, Menard Wilson, Rose Sykes, Pearl Green, Dorothy White, Beatrice Perry, Organizer.

There were twenty-four Daughter Rulers to lead us to practice the “Cardinal Principals of Elkdom.” Lehigh Temple #930 has had long term and short term “daughter rulers,” but all have done an outstanding job.

Past Presiding Daughter Rulers: Martina Peachy, Dorothy White, Dorothy Johnson, Lillian Taylor, Mary Davis, JoAnn Johnson, Jackie Brantley, Barbara Taylor, Ruth Avery, Josephine Carter, Lizzy Brandon, Irene Groves, Pauline Grant, Dora Small, Lillie Brown, Adrena Perry, Stella Scipio, Barbara Eggleston, Faye Flynn, Betty Ann Claiborne, Sara Davis, Willette Walker, Cynthia Jackson, Judith Alexander, Estella D. McRae, and current Daughter Ruler, Sarah Davis.

Along with Bethal Lodge #1284 we have hosted mid-year conventions, state conventions and education
department regionals.

The objective of the I. B. P. O. E. of W. is equal opportunity regardless of race, creed or color.
We thank God for keeping us together, lo, these many years. We pray that we have many more years to come.

A special thank you to the late Daughter Ruler, Barbara Eggleston, PGDR, for the history of Lehigh Temple #930.