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LEAVITTSBURG -- A Braceville group that made a 75-minute video of the history of African Americans in the township are taking the production on the road both locally and out of the area.
Members of the Braceville Community Foundation and the Braceville African American History Museum hosted a gathering this past weekend at LaBrae High School and showed the documentary "History Forgotten and Now For All to See."
A similar event is set at 5 p.m. Saturday at Newton Falls High School, where the documentary will be shown.
Terry and Gwen Shavers, who were instrumental in getting the documentary, completed said it showcases African Americans who grew up in Braceville.
Terry Shavers said the film shows the African American families who grew up in areas of Braceville and those who gained recognition and achievement in different fields. One such man was boxer Earnie Shavers, one of the sport's all-time greats.
"Braceville is a small town with a lot of history," Terry Shavers said.
Terry said interviews began in 2016 and many of the senior citizens featured in the documentary have since died, but their stories have been recorded.
Interviews were done by the Shavers and Neil Heller.
Gwen said people who view the documentary have said they are amazed at all that happened and the people from a small rural area in Trumbull County.
Terry said plans are to show the film in Toledo on June 21.
"We want people to see the community many grew up in Braceville and the history of the people who lived here," Terry said.
He said African Americans lived in a one-third of a mile area of Braceville, which was 25 square miles.
The museum, which has artifacts and displays, is located on Cedar Street in Braceville and open from 1 to 4 p.m. each Saturday to showcase local history.
Events planned are a golf outing July 12 and a 5K run Aug. 16.
The group will have a booth at the African American Achievers Festival in early June in Warren.
For information, call 330-373-8395.
The Shavers said the group is also working with the Braceville Historical Society and its plans to celebrate America's 250th anniversary, with the first event set for July 13, which is Family Fun Day.
Gwen said plans include fundraising dinners and the sale of bricks.
She said 14 students from Newton Falls High School came to the museum and helped plant flowers and made two benches for the museum.
Warren G. Harding High School students are scheduled to visit the museum May 16.
Nelson Toles said the group was able to get a home restored in Braceville for the museum.
Terry said they contacted PBS about showing the film but were told it was too long and needed to be cut down to 20-minute segments.
Gwen said the plans are to get the film copyrighted.
Terry said there has also been discussion with Newton Falls school officials to possibly include some of the local Braceville schools in the history curriculum.
Gwen said the group has been able to collaborate with the Trumbull County Historical Society, Braceville Historical Society, Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership and Trumbull Planning Commission.