Paul Lewis (London, Ontario)
Encyclopedia
Paul Lewis was a notable African-American and popular figure in downtown London, Ontario for nearly 60 years.
Lewis arrived in London, Ontario, in 1914, finding work at White's Barbershop on Dundas Street where his many customers included future big band leader Guy Lombardo
and his musical family (The Royal Canadians).
Active in the city's Black community, Lewis became a trustee
at Beth Emmanuel Church (today, a designated heritage
property under the Ontario Heritage Act
and is still an active church to this day) at 430 Grey Street. He collected funds for the church and served as its choir director, soloist and clarinet player. He also helped organize the Canadian League for the Advancement of Colored Peoples with Dr. Fred Landon and Sir Adam Beck, founded in London in 1925. This national organization subsequently merged with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
(NCAAP).
"Paul Lewis: A thoughtful man, born with a creative incentive to do great things so impressively -- inspiring and helping children and adults of all ages." -- program for Beth Emmanuel Church, April, 1970.
After the closure of White's Barbershop in 1948, Lewis took a variety of odd jobs, including work as a janitor at Woolworth's
and Silverwood's Dairy. In later life he became a much-sought-after subject for photographers and painters. Some of this work went on display at national exhibitions.
Although he enjoyed a reputation as an actor, Lewis's only known stage role was as the black gardener, Genesis, in the London Drama League's production of Seventeen by Booth Tarkington
. Unfortunately, he auditioned unsuccessfully for the role of Joe in the Grand Theatre's production of Showboat in 1968.
With his health failing, Lewis was forced to leave his meagre lodgings on Rectory Street in east London and enter the Dearness Home for the Aged. He died there in July 1974. The money collected for his trust fund by friends was put towards a music award for local Grade 12 students.
Twenty years after his death in 1994, Lewis's story became part of Museum London's exhibit, People and Places: London's Black Community.
In February 2005, the Paul Lewis Black History Room was opened by Lewis's friend, Pastor Delta McNeish, at 55 Centre Street in London, featuring a permanent collection of Black history information and artifacts.
Lewis arrived in London, Ontario, in 1914, finding work at White's Barbershop on Dundas Street where his many customers included future big band leader Guy Lombardo
Guy Lombardo
Gaetano Alberto "Guy" Lombardo was a Canadian-American bandleader and violinist.Forming "The Royal Canadians" in 1924 with his brothers Carmen, Lebert, and Victor and other musicians from his hometown, Lombardo led the group to international success, billing themselves as creating "The Sweetest...
and his musical family (The Royal Canadians).
Active in the city's Black community, Lewis became a trustee
Trustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
at Beth Emmanuel Church (today, a designated heritage
Cultural heritage
Cultural heritage is the legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a group or society that are inherited from past generations, maintained in the present and bestowed for the benefit of future generations...
property under the Ontario Heritage Act
Ontario Heritage Act
The Ontario Heritage Act, first enacted on March 5, 1975, allows municipalities and the provincial government to designate individual properties and districts in the Province of Ontario, Canada, as being of cultural heritage value or interest....
and is still an active church to this day) at 430 Grey Street. He collected funds for the church and served as its choir director, soloist and clarinet player. He also helped organize the Canadian League for the Advancement of Colored Peoples with Dr. Fred Landon and Sir Adam Beck, founded in London in 1925. This national organization subsequently merged with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, usually abbreviated as NAACP, is an African-American civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909. Its mission is "to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to...
(NCAAP).
"Paul Lewis: A thoughtful man, born with a creative incentive to do great things so impressively -- inspiring and helping children and adults of all ages." -- program for Beth Emmanuel Church, April, 1970.
After the closure of White's Barbershop in 1948, Lewis took a variety of odd jobs, including work as a janitor at Woolworth's
F. W. Woolworth Company
The F. W. Woolworth Company was a retail company that was one of the original American five-and-dime stores. The first successful Woolworth store was opened on July 18, 1879 by Frank Winfield Woolworth in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as "Woolworth's Great Five Cent Store"...
and Silverwood's Dairy. In later life he became a much-sought-after subject for photographers and painters. Some of this work went on display at national exhibitions.
Although he enjoyed a reputation as an actor, Lewis's only known stage role was as the black gardener, Genesis, in the London Drama League's production of Seventeen by Booth Tarkington
Booth Tarkington
Booth Tarkington was an American novelist and dramatist best known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning novels The Magnificent Ambersons and Alice Adams...
. Unfortunately, he auditioned unsuccessfully for the role of Joe in the Grand Theatre's production of Showboat in 1968.
Lewis honoured by London city council in 1970
With the death of his wife in 1959, Lewis's church and friends became his life. In 1970 he was honoured by London city council with a citation for his almost "daily acts of cheerful goodwill."With his health failing, Lewis was forced to leave his meagre lodgings on Rectory Street in east London and enter the Dearness Home for the Aged. He died there in July 1974. The money collected for his trust fund by friends was put towards a music award for local Grade 12 students.
Twenty years after his death in 1994, Lewis's story became part of Museum London's exhibit, People and Places: London's Black Community.
In February 2005, the Paul Lewis Black History Room was opened by Lewis's friend, Pastor Delta McNeish, at 55 Centre Street in London, featuring a permanent collection of Black history information and artifacts.