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Brodhead Avenue and William Calloway

by Lou64JLL | Dec 12, 2024 | People, People Firsts

Shown: Richard Calloway of Easton holds the photo of his father William Marshall Calloway.
(Photo Credit: Ed Koskey Jr, Morning Call)

William Calloway

Since many people would be hanging around on Brodhead Ave., William Calloway, Richard’s father, decided to open a pool hall giving people something to do. William Calloway was originally from Milton, Northumberland County, was encouraged to come to Bethlehem after learning of the success of his sister-in-law Grace Emory Scott who owned a restaurant at 318 Brodhead Ave. Another family member, Sam Sweeney, owned a barbershop.

William Calloway left his job as riveter at the Milton Car Foundry to work at Bethlehem Steel. With no intentions of staying in Bethlehem, he worked there just long enough to save money to buy his own business. He chose 115 E. 3rd Street since the building had a pool table on the first floor and rooms on the second and third floors to rent out. William had only a fourth grade education but taught himself how to handle accounts and business.

Brodhead Avenue in Bethlehem, PA

A smile comes to Richard Calloway’s face as he remembers Brodhead Ave., in Bethlehem and his father William’s pool hall and rooming house. The pool hall served as a gathering place for African Americans during the early part of the century, and it was one of the several businesses that provided services.

Segregation existed in Bethlehem. There were various restaurants, stores, and hotels that would not serve African Americans. Segregation was subtle, but it was there, as noted by community activist Esther Lee. Conditions weren’t open all the time and people clearly knew where they could and could not go, Lee adds.

African American workers coming to Bethlehem Steel, pullman porters, red caps, and cooks, all who worked for the Lehigh Valley Railroad needed a place to stay while in Bethlehem. This attributed to housing springing up on Brodhead Ave. and along E. 3rd Street and providing readily available places to stay when people got off the trains.

The Pool Hall

Richard Calloway who often opened up the pool hall and recollects how it was quite the experience due to all the different kinds of people coming and going… like hustlers who would act like they couldn’t shoot pool, run up the stakes and then take your money. Others would try to give fatherly advice, but they were all characters. The business eventually moved to Brodhead Ave. which was better since it was a short walk from the train station. Esther Lee recollects that area being a “beehive of activity” with everyone coming and going daily. Going to Brodhead Ave. was like going to a social every day.

(excerpted from 1995 Morning Call article by Donald Blount)

Faith P. Strong

by Lou64JLL | Dec 8, 2024 | Music, People

The Strong Sisters as they appeared on the popular Black Exposure program in 1990.
(Rev. Jean Marie Strong – Ella Strong Capers; on keyboard Faith Strong)

Faith P. Strong – Musician

October 3, 1938 – March 29, 2023

Faith Strong was born in Aliquippa, Pa. Faith was a devoted musician who started studying music at the age of 5. Her studies included piano, organ, voice, arranging and writing. She attended the Conservatory of Music of Bethlehem as a child and continued to grow under her music teacher Miss Fitch of Liberty High School and Mr. Snyder both of Bethlehem, Pa.

At the age of 9, she was the youngest musician ever elected to be voted into a position at Second Baptist Church of Bethlehem, Pa. She played for many choirs during her lifetime, Senior, Mass, Youth and Children’s choirs. She also played for the Community Gospel Chorus of Bethlehem, where the late Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Tarboro were the founders. Also, The Zionett’s and Pearls of Joy of Allentown, St. James AME Zion church choirs founded by the late Mrs. Beth Beville and daughter, Dr. Joanne Spencer.

Many concerts and cantata’s were held for the Central Baptist Association, under Mrs. Esther M. Lee of Bethlehem, PA.

One of the most memorable highlights of her life was when Mr. Tom Morgan organized the 1000 Voice Choir of the 250th Anniversary of Bethlehem Sings asked if she would participate as one of four conductors. She was humbled and honored. She worked for Western Electric of Allentown until her retirement and part of the Pioneers.

She traveled a great deal during her lifetime spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ through music when asked. She assisted her sister, Rev. Jean Strong with her ministry during her pastorate at the 2nd Traditional Missionary Baptist Church in Bethlehem, Pa. from 2003 until 2013 until its closing. Faith also recorded “You’ll Never Walk Alone” with Evangelist Rosie Wallace Brown, First Church of Love, Faith and Deliverance, Philadelphia, PA

She was not only a musician but a singer and song writer. She was a major part of the Strong Sisters recently renamed the “Strong Sisters plus one” when her niece Patricia joined.

Her father, Rev. Eugene Strong Sr., was a well-known baritone singer as well. He held many benefit concerts in the Lehigh Valley.

Rev. Roberts and the 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.