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Historic Baptist Church a winner

Online Contest
Tuesday, October 30, 2018

The votes have been counted in the online campaign for Partners in Preservation restoration funds, and the historic First Baptist Church is a winner.  

The church restoration project was one of the top 11 vote-getters in the campaign. Each of those 11 projects will receive $150,000.

“This is exactly what the community needs,” said Ramika Adams, treasurer for The Calaboose African-American History Museum. The Calaboose is spearheading restoration efforts for the church, which was built in 1908 to replace a building that had been burned down by the Ku Klux Klan. The church subsequently served as the heart and soul of the Black community in San Marcos, hosting graduation ceremonies for the Black high school before integration and meetings of the local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoples. 

Every time the project seems to stall, Adams said, something happens to provide “a little bit of hope, a little bit of inspiration.” This win, she said, provides that hope.

Adams said the funds will be used to pay preservationist James Nolan to repair the roof and stabilize the foundation of the church. McCoy’s has promised to donate materials to help with the restoration project, and Austin Community College will provide volunteers, Adams said.

Other winners in the Partners in Preservation contest were the Tabor Opera House in Leadville, Colorado; The Women’s Building in San Francisco; the City Hall Clock Tower in Biddeford, Maine; the Church of the Epiphany in Los Angeles; Bronzeville Cookin’ in Chicago; the Wah Chong Mercantile in Butte, Montana; the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama; Spring Street in Danville, Virginia; the National Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York; and the Arch Social Club in Baltimore.  

From Sept. 24-Oct. 26, members of the public voted online for a selection of 20 participating sites that played a significant role in the development of our diverse nation. The grassroots efforts of the San Marcos community and beyond helped the Historic First Baptist Church win a portion of this significant grant funding. 

The San Marcos Main Street Program, which applied for the grant for the church, invites the public to attend the proclamation commemorating the community’s efforts to support the restoration project. The proclamation will be read at City Hall at 4 p.m. on Nov. 19. 

“Remember, this grant funding is only the first step towards preserving this iconic landmark,” a press release from Main Street said. “We may have won this grant, but much more funding will be needed in order to realize the dream of a fully restored community space!”

Anyone wishing to get involved in the restoration project can contact The Calaboose at calaboosemuseum13@gmail.com or 512-393-8421. 

San Marcos Record

(512) 392-2458
P.O. Box 1109, San Marcos, TX 78666