Mount Vernon African Methodist Episcopal Church (Palestine, Texas) Explained

Mount Vernon African Methodist Episcopal Church
Coordinates:31.7681°N -95.6228°W
Label Position:top
Locmap Relief:yes
Architect:J.B. Rountree
Added:June 3, 1998
Area:less than one acre
Mpsub:Palestine, Texas MPS
Refnum:98000635
Designated Other1:Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Designated Other1 Date:1986
Designated Other1 Number:8782
Designated Other1 Num Position:bottom

Mount Vernon African Methodist Episcopal Church is a historic church at 913 East Calhoun Street in Palestine, Texas. It is the third oldest AME church in Texas. The church was organized by freedmen in the early 1870s. The congregation originally worshiped at a church that it shared with Missionary Baptist Church. In 1878 the church bought 2.2 acres at its present location and constructed a wood-frame structure in 1885. In 1921 the structure was razed and a new church designed in a Gothic vernacular style was built. The church's two front bell towers are typical of the AME faith-based churches of the 1920s. Mount Vernon was the first church to introduce Palestine to integrated low-income apartment housing. In 1968 a 100-unit apartment housing project was erected at 2020 Sterne Avenue. In 1986 the church was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark.

In 1988 it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The church closed its doors in 2014. In 2015, Mount Vernon was placed on Preservation Texas' Most Endangered places list.

The building is brick with Gothic Revival details.[1]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: National Register of Historic Places Registration: Mount Vernon African Methodist Episcopal Church . National Archives . David Moore . Matt Goebel . March 1998 . April 22, 2018 .