In reference to the 1940’s portrait of my parents, King Alfred Grant Sr. and Queen Birdie Grant SR, who were millionaires due to property holdings and investments.
The gardens in their home consisted of Iris, roses, and tulips in abundance with orchards of plum, apricot, cherry and apple trees and two magnificent pear trees in the front yard.
Eight children along with parents in Norton California occupied a fine palatial home, all of which graduated from high school and attended colleges.
My people were taken from the continent of Africa, around 1526 to 1619, although there may be earlier accounts. I am glad to know that there are 350 million African Christians in the continent of Africa now.
African American pioneers came here to work and preach the word of God. The mills in Northern California brought thousands from the southern United States. Some were also loggers and I worked on the green chain. I also fought forest fires for the US Forest Service when I was 18 years old, and stocked trout in the Sacramento River.
My cousin Sam’s daughter married a Bishop and Caroline had 3 Children. Millions of Blacks look for Jesus Christ to appear on a white cloud. Many people, black, white and red feel that we are in the days of Noah. They were eating and drinking and didn’t take note (Matthew 24:37-39) just like the days of Noah.
The NWBK Black Knight watchtower, the new world Black Knight association Pope Robert Grant, his majesty, knew most of the African American families in Mount Shasta and met regularly with them in the Weed Baptist Church as well as in McCloud and Dunsmuir California.
My spiritual work is as a pioneer in the teaching of the works of Jesus Christ.
Dunsmuir, California Theatre
The historic California Theatre in downtown Dunsmuir, California.
#.1) The Hearst Castle
#2.) Castle Craig
#.3) The Kingdom of Jehovah Witness
Hotel Dunsmuir 1800's
The finest Hotel in Northern California at one time.
French, Spanish, and Italian Architecture.
It was the tallest building in Siskiyou County.
In 1904, it was a beautiful building. It was popular in the 1940's, as it offered the most luxurious stay. It was a place for Hollywood Elite like: William Randolph Hearst, Marilyn Monroe, The Grant Family, 1940's Charlie Chaplin, and Kennedy.
It was an absolutely beautiful establishment.
I ate there many times in the 1950's & 60's.
The people of the town were very hospitable families.
They were Christian people, and there was many churches:
There was the Assembly of God church - of which I participated mainly at. This was also the church I was born into.
There was also the Methodist Church, Baptist Church, The Catholic Church, and other Christian families there.
For a time, there was a Jehovah Witness Kingdom Hall. I attended the Kingdom Hall in both Mt. Shasta & Dunsmuir.
All the people were wholesome, kind hearted individuals.
I met with African American families.
I also got to meet a lot of other families:
The Italians, The Irish, The Germans, The French, Spanish, Mexican, Asian, Swedish, Dutch, and many more.
A lot of the people that visited did some fishing in the Sacramento River. Fishing in the River with friends was a lot of fun.
There was a man named Mr. Coleman who fished regularly on the Sacramento Riverbank. He was a fly fisherman who was well known in the community, an excellent fisher. An African American who loved to fish, and lived on Butterfly Avenue.
In those days Dunsmuir was like a big family, like brothers and sisters. At that time Hotel Dunsmuir was a wholesome, fancy and upscale establishment for families. The meals there were terrific.
I felt like God's Spirit was with us there. At that time God's Spirit permeated Dunsmuir. It was very much family oriented, and you could feel the comradery.
#1.) The Mccloud Baptist Church
My family, and the Weed Baptist Church traveled to Redding to sing. Other churches would meet us there in Redding, and it was a very large conglomeration of different churches.
Mr. & Mrs. Grant were also involved in the Black Baptist church in Mccloud. The area that the Black Baptist church was located in, was later deemed "Little Africa" by the local community. That's were the Black Baptist church was.
The Red Carpet
In the 1950's and 60's, The Dunsmuir Theatre was a Red Carpet Establishment. It was very fancy, and the rich and famous would go there to enjoy movies. One movie I saw was "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner" starring Sidney Poitier & Katharine Houghton.
Elivis' movie "Easy Come, Easy Go" showed there, as well as Marilyn Monroes' "How To Marry A Millionaire".
The Rich & Famous
People can be rich and famous. However, someone could just be famous without being rich.
The Flamingo Club
The Flamingo Club was located 841 Dunsmuir Ave, Dunsmuir, CA 96025. This was another meeting spot for the rich and famous.
Martinis were a popular drink in the 1950's & 60's.
