Fryeburg, Maine: Happy 250th Birthday August 24, 2013

Black Buzz News Service
Ronald B. Saunders Project
Saunders Archives
Pittsburgh, PA
August 24, 2013

August 24, 2013 is the 250th birthday of Fryeburg,Maine which is the home of the prestigious   Fryeburg Academy.  

Below is the historical program document of the First Congregation Church of Fryeburg, Maine, January 9, 1955.  The program document was obtained by my brother, Thomas J. Saunders, Jr. who was a 1957 graduate of Fryeburg Academy and a regular attendee of the church.

                            Picture of Fryeburg, Maine's famous donut tree

The top picture is of the old Oxford House.  The bottom picture is the Oxford House today.  This is where my wife and I enjoyed my Father's Day dinner in June, 2012 with a backdrop of the White Mountains Saco River with Miles Davis music in the background---"Kind of Blue".

                                                              Lowell Lake in Fryeburg, Maine

         One of the many lovely doorways of Fryeburg's fine old mansions

Our Family Visit to the Underground Railroad Experience at Spring Hill Historic Home, June 22, 2013

Black Buzz News Service
Ronald B. Saunders Project
Massillon, Ohio
August 21, 2013

 Spring Hill in Summer, built in 1821 by Thomas and Charity Rotch,
 founders of the Village of Kendal.  Home of the Wales family.

  

                                   Side view of the Wales family home.

                                                      Wales family home in the winter.

Since the year 1821, the country home on Spring Hill has overlooked Sippo Creek, the Town of Kendal and then Massillon, and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Our family's visit to the Spring Hill Historic Home, Underground Railroad Experience was one of the most rich, rewarding in-depth experiences in learning about the Underground Railroad in the Massillon, Ohio area. The acting of the reenactors in the outdoor drama depicting the Underground Railroad Experience was realistic and superb.  Our congratulations to the planners, reenactors and donors for doing such an excellent job.

Letter to Ronald B. Saunders from Farrie Mavais, Secretary of Embassy of the Embassy of South Africa

Black Buzz News Service
Ronald B. Saunders Project
National Black Political Caucus Archives
Pittsburgh, PA
August 21, 2013

                             

*Officers of the National Black Political Caucus met with the South African Ambassador to the United States, Secretary of the Embassy, and we urged all parties present to advise the hierarchy of their government to dismantle the system of Apartheid as soon as possible to avoid more blood shed.

Letter to Ronald B. Saunders from James O. Pickard, Secretary of Commerce for the Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania

Black Buzz News Service
Ronald B. Saunders Project
National Black Political Caucus Archives
Pittsburgh, PA
August 21, 2013

 *The above letter is a direct result of the Officers of the National Black Political Caucus efforts to secure a site in Butler PA as a home for the Saturn Automotive Group of the General Motors Corporation.

Proposed Butler Saturn Site For Area: March 30, 1985

Black Buzz News Service
Ronald B. Saunders Project
National Black Political Caucus Archives
Pittsburgh, PA
August 12, 2013

                                              New Pittsburgh Courier, March 30, 1985

The National Black Political Caucus worked tirelessly and relentlessly lobbying General Motors Corporation to locate their Saturn Group automotive plant in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Mrs. Beatrice L. Saunders Was Hostess to a Bridal Shower Held at Her Home, In Honor of Bride-To-Be, Lorraine Robinson: July, 1948

Black Buzz News Service
Beatrice L. Saunders Robinson and
James S. Robinson, Jr. Projects
Saunders Archives
Pittsburgh, PA
August 5, 2013

Lorraine Brown married Clifton Brown in 1948.  Clifton Brown is the brother of the famous jazz bassist, Ray Brown.  Lorraine is the sister of James S. Robinson, Jr. who married Beatrice L. Saunders.  

Lorraine's son, Ray provided an all-expense trip to St. Thomas in  2001 for his and his wife's family. 

                                                             Family Photo in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

                            Top picture from left to right are Marta Brown (Ray's wife), Beatrice L. Saunders Robinson,
                            Lorraine Brown and Ray Brown in St. Thomas.

                            Bottom picture shows Beatrice and Lorraine having a snack in St. Thomas.

                                  Pictured from left to right are: Ray Brown, Lorraine Brown and Beatrice L. Saunders Robinson
                                                                                       while in St. Thomas.

                    

                      Pictured from left to right are: Marta, Beatrice, Lorraine and Ray in St. Thomas

Lorraine Brown who will be celebrating her birthday on August 7, 2013, is Ronald B. Saunders' aunt.
Ray Brown is Ronald's cousin.

Elbert S. Hatley and Ronald B. Saunders, Co-coordinators of the Mister African American Program Crowned Chase Patterson, 1997 Mr. African American Senior and Demetrius Broadnax, 1997 Mr. African American Junior

Black Buzz News Service
Ronald B. Saunders Project
Saunders Family Archives
Pittsburgh, PA
August 2, 2013

The Mister African American Program was created, founded and directed by Mrs. Jean Bryant who is the founder of the Miss Black Teenage Pageant.   Mrs. Bryant is a retired Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter who has received many accolades and awards for her community involvement and contributions.
The Mister African American Program was a comprehensive seven-week mentoring program which involved intensive learning, preparation and self-improvement.  The young men were exposed to what amounts to two months of private school education which consisted of study of the Ten Commandments, ancient African history and the contributions of Blacks in
U. S. history.  The young men also interacted with positive Black role models from the professional community.  They rehearsed the skills that helped them become more confident, competitive, polished and poised.
The former contestants in the Mister African American Program who received scholarship assistance from the Program, are now working as doctors, lawyers, school teachers, ministers, actors, entertainers, scientists, businessmen and in other fields of endeavor.

Ronald B. Saunders was privileged and honored to have worked with Elbert Hatley and LaMont Jones, Jr. as the co-coordinators to the Mister African American Program which was a very important vital community program. Other contributors to the success of the Mister African American Program were: Lonita Ross, Business Administrator and Jean Anderson, Assistant Administrator for the program.  Volunteers for the Mister African American Program were:  Charlene Grigsby, Josephine Hatley, Gwen Moore, Carolyn Toney, Earlina Williams, and Veronica Williams.
Elbert will be greatly missed by all whose lives he impacted in such a positive manner.