Edward Johnson
October 13, 1969
Rev. Edward Johnson arrived in Bethlehem in 1915. He joined the City of Bethlehem Mounted Police from 1917 until 1924. After that he was employed by Bethlehem Steel from 1925 until retiring in 1950.
Donald O. Johnson
DONALD O. JOHNSON
Donald, the youngest of 10 children, was born May 4, 1931 to Leila Childs and Rev. Edward Johnson, a pastor of Second Baptist Church, Bethlehem, PA
Donald graduated from Liberty (Bethlehem) High School in 1950 and then attended West Virginia State. Thereafter he joined the air force where he served as an MP in Spain and other miltary locales. After beign honorable discharged he returned home and joined the Bethlehem Police Force.
Donald was the first African American police officer.
After serving for 19 years he resigned in October 1978 and accepted employment as a security officer at Trump Casino, Atlantic City, NJ. He eventually retired and remained in Atlantic City.
Ernest “Bubbles” Enix
Ernest “Bubbles” Enix
Born in Denmark, S.C., he was a son of Ernest and Essie (Glover) Enix. Ernest moved to Bethlehem, Pa in 1926 when he was five years old. He was baptized at age 12 under the pastorship of Rev. G. R. Pratt. He and his mother Essie (Glover) Enix became active members of Second Baptist Church. He was a member and former trustee and choir member of Second Baptist Church, Bethlehem, and a member of its board of deacons.
Ernest attended Bethlehem schools and played football for the Pawnee Red Raiders, the Miller Heights Marines and the Bethlehem Panthers. Ernest attended Bethlehem schools and played football for the Pawnee Red Raiders, the Miller Heights Marines and the Bethlehem Panthers.
An amateur boxer, Enix became known as “Bubbles” in the ring, a name that stuck with him throughout his life.
Enix worked for 44 years in the blast furnace at Bethlehem Steel, a hot, dirty job that paid 35 cents an hour when he started. When the United Steelworkers of America formed, he became an active member, petitioning to end mandatory 12-hour days. He was a former trustee and shop steward for United Steelworkers Local 2598. Other union activities included the Education Committee, Civil Rights Committee, and Legislation Committee. He served in the Army during World War II, and was a judge of election in the First Ward.
He was the husband of Mamie Louise (Coleman) Enix. Together they had 3 children, Wandalyn, Ernestine, and Ernest, Jr.
He left a legacy of volunteerism and patriotism. On Election Day, he drove senior citizens to the polls so they could vote. He made sure newcomers put out their garbage for collection on the appropriate day and encouraged residents to keep their homes tidy. In his honor the City of Bethlehem changed the name of the Pawnee/Mohican Street Park to Enix Park in 1997.
Hudson and Malloy Warner
HUDSON WARNER
As a young boy, Hudson helped his father unload other people’s trash from the back of their truck into the dump. Hudson eventually went into the trash hauling business with his father Henry and brother Malloy. Hudson remebered how his father worked very hard and stressed education.
Hudson got involved in the hauling business in 1955 but left in 1967. He really didn’t like that type of work. He ended up giving his route to his brother Malloy and took a maintenance job at the Bethlehem Steel.
MALLOY WARNER
“It wasn’t easy for a black person to prosper in business,” says Malloy Warner who encountered several incidents of racism while on the job.
Malloy stayed with the business and garnered several large accounts : Food Fai, Bethlehem Steel, Air Products and Dixie Cup. When he started hauling for Food Fair, Malloy was concerned whether the store managers would accept him, but they did. There was one instance of sabotage where too large of materials and excess trash were thrown across the lot on purpose.
Malloy was also president of the Bethlehem Trash Collectors Association.
After Malloy retired that was the end of Hudson Hauling.
Hudson Warner and his wife Betty.
(Photo by Frank Kittek, Morning Call)
Malloy and Janet Warner.
Henry Warner and Hudson Hauling
(Excerpted from 1995 morning Call article by Denise Reaman)
HENRY HUDSON
Henry Hudson was Bethlehem’s first African American trash hauler.
Henry Hudson Warner was born in the 1890s to a large family in Atlanta. He migrated to Bethlehem and had four sons with his wife Hattie Warner, (nee Bowers). In 1927 Henry bought met a man selling potatoes from a truck. Henry then bought the truck along with two bags of potatoes for $50 even though he couldn’t drive.
He taught himself to drive on the field next to the Lynn Ave. Bridge, passed his exam at the State Police Barracks on 8th Ave., and started his hauling business. Since there were only a few haulers, he was able to build an impressive route, enabling him to buy a larger truck. He worked from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. hauling residential trash as well as trach from Lehigh University.
Henry originally raised his family in South Bethlehem but eventually purchased land and a house on Walters St., in Bethlehem. Due to his successful business sense, he sold off lots to Ray Butts and Eddie Benets, plus engaged Fred Bowers to work hauling routes as well as his two sons, Hudson and Malloy.
Henry Hudson was well-known in the community and through St. Paul Baptist Church where he held the position of church treasurer. Henry passed on in 1980.
Henry Hudson Warner.
(Photo courtesy of Hudson Warner)