“Little town of big history.” African American history museum opens in Trumbull
On Sept. 27, Gwen Shavers, Terry Shavers and fellow members of the Braceville Community Foundation are celebrating their “little town of big history” by opening the Braceville African American Heritage Museum.
“Braceville is 25 square miles, and the African Americans lived in less than one square mile of the community,” Gwen said. “But we’ve had so many notable figures and great people come out of it that it was important for other people to hear about our experiences.”
Mahoning Matters got to talk to several members of the Braceville Community Foundation, including Ted Toles III, son of baseball legend Ted Toles Jr. and grandson of Theodore Toles, the first African American Deputy Sheriff in Trumbull County.
“It started around 2021; the Braceville Community Foundation was a spin-off from Braceville Blessings, which was a non-profit church group that helped the community,” Toles III said. “First Baptist Church was the foundation of our community. Over 100 years ago, the church was formed, but the stories and the facts about the people in our community was so amazing that it was imperative that we preserve those stories and that history.”
According to Toles III, they envisioned the BAAHM museum as a place where people could come and learn about the community.
“It was said that my grandfather was one of the first African Americans to own property in Braceville,” Toles III said. “On top of that, he had a dairy farm. We were a self-sustaining African American community in Braceville. We had a great time entertaining; people would come from all around the area for cookouts, juke joints, baseball and softball games. The museum is very important because it carries on the legacy of that community and will help preserve our culture and heritage.”
BAAHM inside little house where Earnie Shavers lived
The childhood home of professional boxer Earnie Shavers was converted into the museum, thanks to support from the Trumbull County Land Bank and a $264,000 grant from the Trumbull County Commissioners.
Tamara Shavers is the oldest daughter of Laverne and Earnie Shavers. Earnie was born in Alabama but came to Braceville at a young age.
“We call it the ‘little town with big history.’ It’s so full of stories, and as we’re putting all of this together for this museum, we’re still learning and finding out things ourselves,” Tamara said.
Her dad graduated from Newton Falls High School in 1963 before making history in heavyweight boxing, fighting Muhammad Ali in 1977.
“My great, great uncle Dan, his house is actually the site for a museum,” Tamara said. “He and his wife welcomed so many families into that tiny little home during their migrations. Uncle Dan played a large role in the community, in helping families to migrate until they got on their feet and got their own home. He’s one of my superheroes.”
The museum commemorates many more athletes from Braceville including boxing legend Randy Stephens, as well as acclaimed author Brian Broome and nationally recognized barbecue sauce expert/award-winning pit master Guy Hughes.
Braceville’s role in Ohio Underground Railroad, Great Migration
As early as 1823, Braceville abolitionists helped African American families escape to the North through Trumbull County, heading to Canada, according to Terry Shavers.
Most of the African American residents moved to Braceville during the Great Migration which started in 1910s, but Terry Shavers said there are records of a female African American resident living with abolitionists in the 1830s census.
“Where did she come from? How did she come here? It’s a strong possibility that the first African Americans that came to the Braceville community came on the Underground Railroad,” Terry said. “Because the Underground Railroad activity was illegal at the time, there wouldn’t be any records of this.”
While collecting artifacts and stories for the museum, Terry and Braceville native filmmaker Ron Hughes also recorded video interviews with oldest community members sharing their memories. Those are being compiled into a documentary which will tie in with the museum.
“One of my little classmates told me that my people were nothing but slaves, and that always stuck with me, because it’s sad that we weren’t taught any history of African Americans. I was the only African American in second grade in my school. We had others in the school, but I was the only one in my little class,” Gwen Shavers said. “But I think now of all the contributions people in our community alone. We’ve got so many people who have done notable things. Hopefully, the world will one day come to see it and hear about Braceville and everyone will enjoy the beauty of the community that we live in.”
