I have a small book entitled "Hand Book of the Baptist Anniversaries...A Souvenir Programme" in connection with a meeting with the Highland Baptist Church held in Springfield in May of 1901.

On page 12, there is a picture of a primitive looking wooden building labelled, "The Mother of Us All, The First Baptist Church Building in Springfield." The write-up describes the establishment of the first Baptist Church in 1811. At that time "there was no regular place of meeting and no settled pastor. In 1821 a lot at the corner of Central and Cherry Streets was purchased and a plain wooden building erected as a house of worship. In July, 1822, with a membership of 50, Rev. Allen Hough of Meriden, Conn., was installed as pastor." The article goes on to say that the next house of worship stood at the corner of Mulberry and Maple and was dedicated September 12, 1832.

If you are interested in a copy of the picture and/or article, let me know.

Hi Barbara --

Yes, definitely. I am working on a map of churches with pictures, similar to the school map, and there are some churches which are very hard to get pictures of, particularly the early ones. Thanks!

Ralph

Here are pictures of churches I have if you need them. does any one else have others for Ralph? I also have a marble memorial plaque from the Emmanuel United Church of Christ that was originally on the corner of Orange and White. Anyone have a picture of that? It was originally called the White Street congregational church but it name was changed in 1894 to emmanuel. Jim

PC’S of Springfield Churches: Jim Boone Collection

RP Real Photo PC usually a very limited number, each a real photo print
B&W Commercially made card in black and white, mass produced, commercial printing
Color Can be linen color card, chrome or early German card, hand colored

Church that is now the Dunbar Community Center RP
St Michaels Cathedral Color, B&W
Saint Paul’s Universalist Church B&W, several different ones
1st Church Congregational Court Square Color, B&W
Church of the Unity Color, B&W many
Highland Baptist Church B&W
Highland Baptist Church on fire B&W
Sacred Heart color, several different ones
Holy Family color
Park Memorial B&W
Wesley Methodist several B&W
First Highland Baptist B&W
Park Congregational RP
Ashbury First M.E color and RP
Trinity
St Paul’s Universalist Chestnut and Bridge B&W
Our Lady of Hope
Emanuel Congregational B&W
East Springfield Baptist B&W
St. Mary’s Church B&W
South Congregational color, B&W
Memorial Church Memorial Square, several
State Street Baptist B&W, RP
Trinity M.E. Bridge St. B&W
Grace M.E. B&W
Carlisle Chapel Dresden St. B&W
State Street M.E. Myrtle and State
Church of Living God King St. B&W
First Church of Christ Science color
East Congregational
Church of Immaculate Conception Indian Orchard
Evangelical Church Indian Orchard
Swedish Mehtodist now Holy Trinity on lower Bay St. RP
Holy Temple Church of God on Bay between Thompson and Westminster, orig had dif name. RP
Park Baptist Forest park Ave RP

Missing Hope Congregational Winchester Square, thought I had one, couldn’t find it, fairly common card.

What makes the church list so difficult is that the term "church" can refer to a building or a congregation. This means:

1) A church building could have been used by more than one congregation over its history, taking on different names. For example, the church that used to be on the corner of State & Spring was built as the First Baptist Church, but then became known as St. Paul's First Universalist Church.

2) A church congregation could have had more than one building, even on the same plot of land (if a building burned, for example).

If you want a sneak-peak of what I have so far, you can look here:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=1013972323310048...

The very early church buildings -- pre 1850 or so -- are hard to even know about. For example, the two Baptist churches that Barbara referenced above, at Cherry/Central and Mulberry/Maple don't appear on early maps because they had been likely razed by 1899, which is when the most detailed city atlas had been published.

I'm working on a database that separates the congregation from the building and the name, but it's a low-priority thing right now.

I snail mailed the Baptist church picture yesterday. I can probably offer some assistance on some of the early 19th century churches. For
years I've researched the anti-slavery movement in Springfield and churches with abolitionist sympathies played a major role (the first Baptist was one of them). Pictures are, indeed, very hard to come by but I will compile some documentation and get back to you.

Thanks, again, for your invaluable contributions to the preservation of our heritage.

On at least one occasion, Sojourner Truth stayed in the home of prominent abolitionist Dr. Jefferson Church. At the time he lived on Elm Street.

On another occasion, Sojourner Truth accompanied other abolitionists including lecturer George Thompson to a speaking engagement in Springfield. She stayed at the Hampden House. which was located on the corner of Main and Court Streets. Rioters opposing Thompson threw rocks through her window in the hotel but did not succeed in running her (or the other antislavery people) out of town.

Es raro encontrar a escritores con conocimientos sobre este asunto , pero creo que sabes de lo que estás hablando. Gracias compartir un articulo como este.