Nomination for Mount Zion Baptist Church

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

United States Department of the Interior Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service received JUL 2 4 1980 See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms Type all entries - complete applicable sections Mt. Zion Baptist Church and/or common street & number - not for publication city, town vicinity of - state Ohio - county - Present Use - public . unoccupied - agriculture - museum X building(s) X private -park Structure . work in progress - private residence .site - object in process - yes: restricted - scientific -transportation - military _other: Mt. Zion Baptist Church Congregation c/o Rev. Edward Buffington courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. has this property been determined elegible?

X no _ federal _ local depository for survey records Location 039 both entertainment government Accessible code date Court Category Street educational Athens Status Gallipolis commercial Ownership district industrial 5. Location of Legal Description Inventory-Nomination Form 6. Representation in Existing Surveys historic Public Acquisition Ohio being considered 3. Classification National Register of Historic Places Athens County Courthouse date entered (11-78) 4. Owner of Property 1. Name For HCRS use only FHR-8 title _ religious X yes: unrestricted Mount _unaltered X original site _excellent _ deteriorated moved date entrances is a square tower, topped by a pyramidal roof. Roof covering is modern composi- and are curved toward the pulpit.

Also in this rear section is a smaller arched stained glass window on the east end, floral in design which matches the window at the rear of the building which is visible from the exterior. Condition unexposed fair 7. Description terminating at the upper walls with a curved tin cornice making the transition.A smaller Check one structure and design.Both feature a large Romanesque arched panel in the center depicting modern doors and lead toa foyer containing two sets of original oak double doors leading ceiling oriented in the opposite direction. to the main sanctuary.The ceiling of this room is of pressed tin in a gambrel Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

elevated with a simple wood pulpit.Just behind the pulpit is a recessed arched area which The stained glass windows are many and of large scale.At the rear of the church is ina floral design.All stained glass windows are predominantly blue in color. piano and organ anda recessed arch containinga pipe organ.The pews are of carved oak, composed of a small scale hipped roof section. The southwest corner, containing arched in detail below. Windows feature rusticated sotne lintels and smooth stone sills. Sma11 X good styles. It is constructed of cement block simulating stone; the foundation and water table found in the rear portion and the basement is entered from the west side.

The stained glass windows at the east and west ends of the room are similar in basic ruins tion type.Large sclae stained glass windows are found on all elevations and are described a figurative religious motif.Flanking the central panels are tall narrow arched windows The Mount Zion Baptist Church contains elements of both Gothic Revival and.Romanesque The main entrance faces Carpenter Street.An arched stained glass transom light is are of stone.The facade and east and west sides feature steep gable ends; the rear is Study."To the left of the pulpit is a raised area with a curved balustrade containing a contains central double doors and is flanked by two arched doors labeled "Choir"and Pastor's Areas of Significance - Check and justify below _ science _ sculpture _social/ . music The - other (specify) Statement of

Statement of significance

(in one paragraph) the only Afro-American congregation in the city. Methodist Church was hbused in a building formerly used by a white congregation; it was 1905, the cornerstone was laid at the corner of Congress and Carpenter Streets, a fairly tion work having been done by the members of the church themselves. Architecturally, the pulpit. The stained glass windows are fine, all donated by individual members of the War II the population of blacks in Athens County declined, due to economic factors. Since then, it has continued to decline until today a large number of the church's 1500-1599 1600-1699 1800-1899 1700-1799 economics 1400-1499 education architecture Builder/Architect commerce church.

communications invention archeology-historic engineering Period literature humanitarian agriculture prehistoric conservation law restrained Gothic exterior and interior design featuring wooden pews curved around 8.

Significance Specific dates The Mt.Zion Baptist Church is significant as representing the only major building military Mt.Zion's present building was preceded by a frame structure built in 1876.In structure having been the Berry Hotel which was demolished in 1974.At present this is standing in the City of Athens associated with its black community; the only other major the church reflects the great effort expended by the parishioners in order to have a The congregation began with only a few members and once boasted 250.Around World X1900- prominent location in Athens.The church was dedicated in 1909,much of the construc- -art - community planning exploration/settlement - - philosophy - politics/government Interest in stabilizing the aging structure undertaken; it is visually the same as it was when it was constructed.

_ religion paper articles repeatedly asked for donations; the church is not large in scale nor is has been strong in the past few years and work is underway. Little alteration has been 1905 transportation industry archeology-prehistoric landscape architecture Athens County compared to other counties in Ohio.Two churches evolved in Athens:the fine church of their own and the important role religion played in their lives.News- 9.

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

Major Bibliographical References Athens Messenger and Herald, November 9, 1905; February 16, 1906; September 27, 1909. 1: 24000 Quadrangle name - List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries _ state 11. Form Prepared By February 20, 1980 street & number 12.

State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: X local As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89- State Historic Preservation Officer signature 1 hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register )~ Keeper of the National Register county code Northing Athens Zone date national Ohio Athens County Recorders Office Kathleen Andrews Verbal boundary description and justification For HCRS use only Beginning at the northeast corner of Congress and Carpenter Streets, proceeds approximately 10. Geographical Data UMT References Easting name/title owned by the church. Chief of Registration city or town Attest: 103 Carnegie Hall History of the Hocking Valley, Ohio (Chicago, 1883) p. 249.

according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service. date 9/23/80 GPO 938 835 Acreage of nominated property less than one acre SOURAPO SHPO 665),I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated 7/1/80 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE RECEIVED JUL 2 4 1980 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM Athens, Ohio CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 9 History of Lower Scioto Valley (Chicago, 1884) p. 217. PAGE FHR-8-300A (11/78) Major Bibliographical References Continued: DATE ENTERED Mt. Zion Baptist Church FOR HCRS USE ONLY Baptist Association of Ohio (Wilmington, Ohio, 1873) p.4. Ohio, 1975) Richardson, Jeff, "Mt.

Zoin Baptist Church" Athens Magazine, Autumn Minutes of the lst Anniversary of the Eastern Division of the Union Anti Slavery Property Mount Zion Baptist Church (P. Reel 4/23/2, ARCHEOLOGIST REVIEW UNIT CHIEF United States Department of the Interior -Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service OTHER KEEPER HAER TECHNICAL CONTROL Inventory Send-back HISTORIAN Entered Review Maps Re-submit Photos 7 BRANCH CHIEF National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 2. 3.81 Working Number.7. Z4 - 80. 1979 State Athens Athens, Ohio JUL 2 4 1980 OCT31980 View looking northwest MT. ZION BAPTIST CHURCH OCT SORHAPO MT. ZION BAPTIST CHURCH Athens, Ohio View looking east SORHAPO Kathleen Andrews Feb.,1980 JUL 2 4 1980 OCT MT. ZION BAPTIST CHURCH Athens, Ohio JUL 2 4 1980 SORHAPO View looking southeast Feb.,1980 MT.

ZION BAPTIST CHURCH Athens, Ohio JUL 2 4 1980 SORHAPO View looking north-Pulpit area Feb.,1980 SORHA PO View toward south-interior Kathleen Andrews Feb., 1980 OCT Feb.,1980 Athens, Ohio MT. ZION BAPTIST CHURCH Athens, Ohio JUL 2 4 1980 SORHAPO Interior looking northwest OCT31980 MI. ZION BAPTIST Church Do, Athens, Ohio JUL 2 4 1980 SORHAPO Pews OCT31980 Feb., 1980 Kathleen Andrews 7.5 MINUTE SERIES (TOPOGRAPHIC) ATHENS QUADRANGLE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 17/405020/4354040 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ATHENS, OHIO ROAD CLASSIFICATION STATE OF OHIO 1L Smith Street June 2, 1980 Mr. David L. Brooks I - 71 and Seventeenth Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43211 church so justly deserves. Mr. and Mrs. E.C. Berry, omer-proprietors of the reknowmed Berry Hotel.

them to offer their property in this rapidly developing area in exchange for that of the old church site at 21- 23 South Lancaster Street. Ohio Historical Center Ohio State Historic Preservation Officer Dear Mr. Brooks: efforts were aided by support fron other segmonts of the Athens community also. Athens, Ohio 45701 The Berry= had purchased property in the area of Congress and Carpenter This tremendous undertaking was realized by the faith, persistence and com- mittment of Mt. Zion's members. Financial sacrifice, labor and fund-raising Mt. Zion Baptist Church. The first church building was erected in 187. Tre congregation continued to grow, and during the pastorate of Reverend witness to the love of those sho donated them. more spacious facility.Among the Mt.

Zion membership at this time were norinetion to he National Registry of Historic Places; an honor which the Cround wes broken in 1905 under the leadership of Reverend George Washington. Today, s small but determined In 1672= group of Christian-minded people assembled at the home of Joseph July 1, 1980 Ms. Carol Shull, Acting Keeper Heritage Conservation & Recreation Service W 434 Washington, D. C. 20243 by the state review board and the owners notified according to the latest Mt. Zion Baptist Church Brownella Cottage & Toledo & Ohio Central Depot One letter from owner Schuter Carpenter Shop & One letter from city with enclosure Adena Court Apartments McClelland, Harry S. House one letter from State Auto Mutual Insurance, one letter from Curtis, Walter, House Letter from Tom Carroll, July 11, Southern, October 7, 1977; letter from J. P. Apel, Nov. 21, 1977; regulations.

Nomination County Enclosures Ross Co. Residence Muskingum Co. Ohio Historic Preservation Office Washington Co. Athens Co. Erlich House Shelby Co. Holmes Co. Congressman, one letter from City, Boyd School Hostetter Inn REGISTER NATIONAL Crawford Co. Butler Co. Bucyrus Mausoleum Montgomery Co, Highbank Farm Columbiana Co. Akron Rural Cemetery Group Historic District Summit Co. RECEIVED Akron YMCA Building One letter from church secretary Grace Episcopal Church Commission with resolution. Pomerene House One letter from Kayser's Shoes, Lawrence Co. one letter from County Planning National Register of Historic Places Lane's Mill Historic Group 1977; statement from Columbus Sidney Courthouse Square Smith Road Bridge Dear Ms.

Shull: Dayton Fire Station #14 County Engineer survey form Bossler, Marcus, House Ohio Historical Center I-71& 17th Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43211 (614) 466-1500 Enclosed are twenty new nominations and enclosures.All have been reviewed Ms. Carol Shull Page 2 letter from Tom Carroll, Dec. 7, 1977; letter from Clarence Gallagher, Jan. 14, 1980; letter from John Gavin, Jan. 24, 1980; letter to Tom Carroll, Jan. 23, 1980; letter from Michael Gallagher, Jan. 30, 1980; memo from Judith Tom Carroll, June 4, 1980. David L. Brook State Historic Preservation Officer DLB: CW County Enclosures Sincerely, Nomination RECEIVED is national.Let me know if any additional information is required. JUL 2 4 1980 Curtis, Walter, House cont: Kitchen, May 7, 1980; letter from REGISTER NATIONAL Washington Co. Curtis, Walter, House Erlich, F. W., House Boyd School Honorable Howard M. Metzenbaum Honorable Clarence E.

Miller Mr. Dellas H. Harder Honorable Clarence J. Brown Columbus, Ohio 43211 Ironton Location Urbana Athens Byers/bjr/10/28/80 Sharon Center STATE Bucyrus Name Berlin vicinity Butler County Little Hocking vicinity Crawford County Lawrence County Oxford vicinity Medina County Champaign County For further information, please call the National Register at (202)343-6401. Honorable John H.Glenn,Jr. The Ohio Historical Society Holmes County Athens County Honorable Thomas N. Kindness Honorable Tennyson Guyer Also Notified Washington County Honorable Donald J. Pease Acting State Historic Preservation Officer Honorable John M. Ashbrcok Urbana College Historic Buildings Lane's Mill Historic Buildings Mount Zion Baptist Church Date Entered Toledo and Ohio Central Depot Sharon Center Public Square Historic District Interstate 7l at 17th Avenue ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OCT3 1980 OHIO