First African Baptist Church, North Cut Road on Half Moon Bluff, on north end of Cumberland Island, Saint Marys

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS GA-2450. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

North Cut Road at The Settlement on Half Moon Bluff, a.k.a. High Point, on the north end of Cumberland Island. Cumberland Island National Seashore, St. Marys vicinity, Camden County, Georgia. The church is located at latitude: longitude: This point was obtained in August using Google Earth There is no restriction on its release to the public. The church is part of the High Point-Half Moon Bluff Historic District (NRIS

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS GA-2450. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

The First African Baptist Church aided in establishing a sense of community for descendants of freed slaves of Cumberland Island, as a place of worship and as a landmark of the site where blacks were first allowed to own land on the island. Historians: Ralph B. Johnson, Professor of Architecture and Director of the FAU, School of Architecture, Center for the Conservation of Architectural and Cultural Heritage (CCACH) Information: Documentation of the First African Baptist Church was carried out by students from Florida Atlantic University s School of Architecture Historic Buildings Documentation course under the supervision of Professor Ralph B. Johnson. Students in the Fall class were Viviana Azuero, Jorge A. Carmona, David J. Garcia, Luisa Lescano, Colleen Nasta, Donald W.

Pruett, Adrian Roman, Luis Solares, Cristina Valdes, and Jason Warner. Students in the Spring class were Larry Cornelius, Gene Grant, Dory Khater, Maureen Kussler, and John Reed. Project support and assistance were provided by Jennifer Bjork (National Park Service), William Kussler (volunteer), and Gogo Ferguson (Cumberland Island Preservation Society). The history and measured drawings were reformatted in for submission to the HABS Collection. FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH HABS No. GA-2450 (Page !2) Part I. Historical Information A. Physical History 1. Date of erection: The First African Baptist Church was established in then known as the Old Colored Baptist Church. The present building replaced the original praise house structure in 2. Architect: Unknown 3.

Original and subsequent owners: The church was originally owned by residents of the Settlement area. It is currently owned by the National Park Service. 4. Builder, contractor, and suppliers: The founders of the Church constructed the church themselves without the use of a contractor. Charles Candler may have supplied some materials for construction of the church. Mr. Candler was the proprietor of the Cumberland Island Hotel, which operated on the island for a short period in the late nineteenth century. Upon its demolition, it is believed that Mr. Candler donated some lumber from the hotel or its outbuildings to construct the present church building. 5. Original plans and construction: Simple basilica-type plan, one room, with an apse on the north end of the building. 6.

Alterations and additions: No major alterations of or additions to the current structure are apparent. It is likely that the front steps have been replaced several times, simply as a matter of safety maintenance. After the original bell an cornerstone was stolen, the latter was replaced by a replica. B. Historical Context After the Civil War, many emancipated slaves stayed on Cumberland Island. They came to live primarily in the High Point district at the north end of the island, near a bluff from which the area took another name: Half Moon Bluff. In the late a portion of the land was divided into lots which were sold to free blacks on the island.

The First African Baptist Church was built on one of those lots at the Settlement, as the black community was called in The Settlement, validated by the existence of the Church, is important as the successor to an older, isolated black community ( Brick Hill or brick Kiln ) which had endured for more than two decades in the ante-bellum period, but was unable to survive due to the fact that black freedmen were prevented from owning land. FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH HABS No.

GA-2450 (Page !3) According to Mary Bullard, author of An Abandoned Black Settlement on Cumberland Island, Georgia, Kinship ties are what made the little Brick Hill community viable as a black home, it carried emotional support allowing for, among other things, significant burial rites, reinforcing the intricate system of social, personal and quasi-legal relationships the freedmen had adapted from white relations and their secluded position on the island.1 The revival of the neighborhood at High Point, of which the First African Baptist Church was an integral part, allowed the island s black residents to establish a community of their own, providing a sense of identity and pride, security of home and recognition as property owners. Part II. Architectural Information A. General Statement 1.

Architectural character: Simple one room, wood frame vernacular construction. 2. Condition of fabric: Fair. B. Description of Exterior: 1. Overall dimensions: The main body of the church is 28' x The apse is 7' x The area is 520 square feet and the perimeter is 2. Foundations: There are eleven brick piers. The rectangular and C-shaped piers are 8" wide x 16" long x 16" high. The L-shaped piers are 16" wide x 16" long x 16" high. 3. Walls: 2" x 4" wood studs, 24" on center, with wood siding. Dimensions vary due to the salvaged origin of the lumber. 4. Structural system, framing: 2" x 8" wood floor joints, 36" on center, on 3" x 9" beams. 5. Porches: There are no existing porches, only front steps. The altar exit door shows no visible signs of porches or steps. 6. Chimneys: None 7.

Openings: 1 Mary R. Bullard, An Abandoned Black Settlement on Cumberland Island, Georgia (South Dartmouth, MA: Bullard, FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH HABS No. GA-2450 (Page !4) a. Doorways and doors: The front (south) entrance has double doors, wood, with four raised panels each, wood frame, accessed by three wood steps, x each. The apse or alter has a single door (west), wood with four raised panels, wood frame. No indication of porch or steps. b. Windows and shutters: There are seven double-hung 6-over-6 (9" x 12" panes), wood frame, and painted panes. There are three windows each on east and west sides, and one on the north side. No shutters are present, however, researchers found evidence of hanging hardware for shutters. 8. Roof: a.

Shape, covering: Gable roof, 24" tin standing seam panels, 810 square feet b. Structure: 2" x 4", 30" on center. Sheathing: 1" x 12" wood boards c. Eaves: Exposed rafters 2" x 4" with l" x 2" fascia board d. Dormers, cupolas, towers: None 9. Other features: A replica of the original carved marble cornerstone on the south east corner acknowledges the founders of and the church officers of Also, there is said to have been a schoolhouse type bell used to announce church meetings, which has been missing for some time. C. Description of Interior: 1. Floor plans: The rectangular main body is 21' x The rectangular apse is 7' x 2. Stairways: None. 3. Flooring: Wood tongue and groove, 1" x 6" 4.

Wall and ceiling finish: Wood tongue and groove, painted white, varying sizes due to salvaged origin of lumber. 5. Openings: Same as exterior. 6. Decorative features and trim: Arched opening between apse and main body, x " wood trim in corners, 4 " to 5" wide wood trim around doors and windows. 7. Hardware: Brass knobs on front doors. Porcelain knob on apse door. FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH HABS No. GA-2450 (Page !5) 8. Mechanical equipment: None. The church did not have any air conditioning or heating. Natural ventilation was utilized through cross ventilation. D. Site: Situated in an oak clearing on lots 15 and 16, The Settlement, Oriented to the points of the compass, site slopes away from building. 1. Historic landscape design: The church remains in its original siting. 2.

Outbuildings: None apparent; however, there is a cemetery within a quarter of a mile north of the church. Part III. Sources of Information A. Architectural drawings: The church was constructed without the use of architectural drawings. B. Early views: The National Park Service has early photographs of the church. C. Interviews: Jennifer Bjork, Resource Management Specialist, National Park Service (October 2- November 15, Gogo Ferguson, Cumberland Island Preservation Society (November 14, Eleanor Morrison Simmons, Granddaughter of Reverend Lenworth Morrison, pastor of the First African Baptist Church in (November 25, D. Selected sources: 1. Primary and unpublished sources: Bjork, Jennifer. Dungeness Historic District. March 2.

Secondary and published sources: Andrews, Larry, Joanne Werwie, and H. Rice. Cumberland Island: A Treasure of Memories. Tampa, FL: World Publications, Bullard, Mary R. An Abandoned Black Settlement on Cumberland Island, Georgia. South Dartmouth, MA: Bullard, Bullard, Mary R. Robert Stafford of Cumberland Island Growth of a Planter. Athens, GA: University of Georgia Press, FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH HABS No. GA-2450 (Page !6) National Park Service. Historic Structure Assessment Report, First African Baptist Church, Building 1, Cumberland Island National Seashore. University of Georgia Press, Miller, Mary. I Remember Cumberland. Printed in the U.S.: Mary Miller, Miller, Mary. Cumberland Island The Unsung Northend. Printed in the U.S.: Mary Miller, second edition. Respess, Susan.

Few traces remain of Half Moon Bluff settlement, The Florida Times Union (March 15, pp. Al-A2. Thomas, Kenneth H. Cumberland book looks at black life, The Atlanta Constitution (April 3, E. Likely sources yet to be investigated: Descendants of residents of the Settlement. FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH HABS No. GA-2450 (Page !7) ! Fig. 1: Vicinity map. Source: The National Map (U.S. Geological Survey). August FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH HABS No. GA-2450 (Page !8) ! Fig. 2. Vicinity map. Source: The National Map (U.S. Geological Survey). August FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH HABS No. GA-2450 (Page !9) ! Fig. 3. Area map. Source: The National Map (U.S. Geological Survey). August FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH HABS No. GA-2450 (Page ! Fig. 4. Front (south) and east fa ades.

This photograph and the following images were taken by field team members in FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH HABS No. GA-2450 (Page ! Fig. 5. Partial view of west fa ades (in background). FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH HABS No. GA-2450 (Page ! Fig. 6. West fa ade. FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH HABS No. GA-2450 (Page ! Fig. 7. Rear. FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH HABS No. GA-2450 (Page ! Fig. 8. Detail of pier on the northwestern corner of the main body of the church. FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH HABS No. GA-2450 (Page ! Fig. 9. Cornerstone on front fa ade. FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH HABS No. GA-2450 (Page ! Fig. 10. Cornerstone detail. FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH HABS No. GA-2450 (Page ! Fig. 11. Main entrance (double doors) on front (south) fa ade. FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH HABS No.

GA-2450 (Page ! Fig. 12. Interior view of front doors. FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH HABS No. GA-2450 (Page ! Fig. 13. Detail of front doors (interior view). FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH HABS No. GA-2450 (Page ! Fig. 14. View of main body of the church, looking south from the altar to the front doors. FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH HABS No. GA-2450 (Page ! Fig. 15. View of pews and windows along the west wall. FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH HABS No. GA-2450 (Page ! Fig. 16. Altar. FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH HABS No. GA-2450 (Page ! Fig. 17. Altar. FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH HABS No. GA-2450 (Page ! Fig. 18. Detail of arch above altar.