2003.02.26_Meaningful ties to Black History in Putnam Valley
Dublin Core
Title
2003.02.26_Meaningful ties to Black History in Putnam Valley
Creator
Heumann, Joel
Source
"Yorktown History Scrapbook" Binder, Volume 5 - People
Publisher
North County News
Date
2003.02.26 - 2003.03.04
Contributor
Compiled by the staff of the John C. Hart Memorial Library
Rights
This item is made available for research and educational purposes by the John C. Hart Memorial Library. Rights status is not evaluated.
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Text
Coverage
1883-1961
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
February is Black History Month. Looking at Putnam Valley's Barger Street neighborhood today, few people would suspect meaningful ties to Black History, but have I got a story for you!
As you come up Barger Street, just past Stephen Smith Drive, you pass two blue and white concrete columns on the right, roughly opposite a mall sign for Larksburg Avenue. Some folks may realize that the columns are markers for a cemetery, variously known as the Lawson, Larksburg, Emanuel Cemetery. It is here that the Rev. Bishop Robert C. Lawson and at least 30 of his family, friends, and disciples are laid to rest. Bishop Lawson was one of the Founding Fathers the Pentecostal movement, and his followers today credit him with the creation of over 600 churches worldwide, with over 600,000 members. This one fact alone would make Bishop Larson the most important person ever to have an association with the Barger Street area, but there's more...
Robert Lawson was born on May 5, 1883 in New Iberia, Louisiana. In 1913, at 20 years of age, Robert was a well-educated and ambitious young man, considering a career in Law, when he suddenly took ill. Diagnosed with tuberculosis, he was given little hope to survive. An elderly visitor, a "Holy Ghost Woman," urged him to start praying-something he had never been in the habit of doing! One evening, while praying, an overwhelming Divine Vision came to him, saying, "God preach my word..." He was healed the rest is history.
He came to Harlem, and began his ministry. This led to the creation of several churches, and his founding of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Church, Inc. he became hugely successful. In 1932, he began a radio broadcast career that continued for almost 39 years, often "butting heads" with famous adversaries Father Divine and Daddy Grace.
His influence and church-building spread nation-wide, and he followed up with a Foreign Mission program. Bishop Lawson traveled all over the world many times, established churches in the West Indies, Africa, and elsewhere.
He was also quite the entrepreneur. Near his main church, he also owned Day Care Center, print shop, grocery store, book and record store, and funeral home (he eventually owned four). In 1926 he founded the Church of Christ Bible Institute, a seminary which was accredited by the NYS Board of Regents. H was also a prolific author and composer of religious songs. In 1951, Lawson was presented the Carver Award of Merit. To put this in perspective, other recipients include Eleanor Roosevelt, Jackie Robinson, William Randolph Hearst, Joe Louis, and Daryl Zanuck. In 1954, the Star of Ethiopia Medal was presented to him by Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie. And in 1957, he spoke at the first March on Washington, along with two younger ministers-- Rev. Ralph J. Abernathy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
A bit closer to home, in the area near the cemetery, Bishop Lawson established a summer colony for middle class Afro Americans in 1927. The Emanuel Inn had 20 rooms, a swimming pool, garage, gas station, and grocery store, set on 121 acres. Ads for the Inn show rates of $8 a week for children, and $12 a week for adults. The foundations of the hotel and gas station are still visible. There were numerous other summer homes built around the Inn, some of which are still in use today as full-time residences. Lawson's friend, attorney George D. Lark, who is also interred here, owned a home with 200 acres. Larksburg Avenue is named after him. Bishop Larson and his own 66-acre farm, which he shared with the Refuge Temple Boy Scouts.
Bishop Larson passed away on June 30, 1962 at the age of 78. He chose to rest here, amid the serenity he so enjoyed. A remarkable man, an historic figure who did so much for so many, Robert C. Larson seems to have gradually faded into obscurity. I am very happy to rekindle awareness of him in our community, and honor his memory this Black History Month. By his farmhouse door he wrote from a favorite poem, "Let me live in the house by the side of the road and be a friend to man." May we walk in his footsteps.
As you come up Barger Street, just past Stephen Smith Drive, you pass two blue and white concrete columns on the right, roughly opposite a mall sign for Larksburg Avenue. Some folks may realize that the columns are markers for a cemetery, variously known as the Lawson, Larksburg, Emanuel Cemetery. It is here that the Rev. Bishop Robert C. Lawson and at least 30 of his family, friends, and disciples are laid to rest. Bishop Lawson was one of the Founding Fathers the Pentecostal movement, and his followers today credit him with the creation of over 600 churches worldwide, with over 600,000 members. This one fact alone would make Bishop Larson the most important person ever to have an association with the Barger Street area, but there's more...
Robert Lawson was born on May 5, 1883 in New Iberia, Louisiana. In 1913, at 20 years of age, Robert was a well-educated and ambitious young man, considering a career in Law, when he suddenly took ill. Diagnosed with tuberculosis, he was given little hope to survive. An elderly visitor, a "Holy Ghost Woman," urged him to start praying-something he had never been in the habit of doing! One evening, while praying, an overwhelming Divine Vision came to him, saying, "God preach my word..." He was healed the rest is history.
He came to Harlem, and began his ministry. This led to the creation of several churches, and his founding of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Church, Inc. he became hugely successful. In 1932, he began a radio broadcast career that continued for almost 39 years, often "butting heads" with famous adversaries Father Divine and Daddy Grace.
His influence and church-building spread nation-wide, and he followed up with a Foreign Mission program. Bishop Lawson traveled all over the world many times, established churches in the West Indies, Africa, and elsewhere.
He was also quite the entrepreneur. Near his main church, he also owned Day Care Center, print shop, grocery store, book and record store, and funeral home (he eventually owned four). In 1926 he founded the Church of Christ Bible Institute, a seminary which was accredited by the NYS Board of Regents. H was also a prolific author and composer of religious songs. In 1951, Lawson was presented the Carver Award of Merit. To put this in perspective, other recipients include Eleanor Roosevelt, Jackie Robinson, William Randolph Hearst, Joe Louis, and Daryl Zanuck. In 1954, the Star of Ethiopia Medal was presented to him by Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie. And in 1957, he spoke at the first March on Washington, along with two younger ministers-- Rev. Ralph J. Abernathy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
A bit closer to home, in the area near the cemetery, Bishop Lawson established a summer colony for middle class Afro Americans in 1927. The Emanuel Inn had 20 rooms, a swimming pool, garage, gas station, and grocery store, set on 121 acres. Ads for the Inn show rates of $8 a week for children, and $12 a week for adults. The foundations of the hotel and gas station are still visible. There were numerous other summer homes built around the Inn, some of which are still in use today as full-time residences. Lawson's friend, attorney George D. Lark, who is also interred here, owned a home with 200 acres. Larksburg Avenue is named after him. Bishop Larson and his own 66-acre farm, which he shared with the Refuge Temple Boy Scouts.
Bishop Larson passed away on June 30, 1962 at the age of 78. He chose to rest here, amid the serenity he so enjoyed. A remarkable man, an historic figure who did so much for so many, Robert C. Larson seems to have gradually faded into obscurity. I am very happy to rekindle awareness of him in our community, and honor his memory this Black History Month. By his farmhouse door he wrote from a favorite poem, "Let me live in the house by the side of the road and be a friend to man." May we walk in his footsteps.
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Citation
Heumann, Joel, “2003.02.26_Meaningful ties to Black History in Putnam Valley,” John C Hart Library Archive, accessed April 29, 2024, https://hartarchive.omeka.net/items/show/388.