New Bethel Baptist Church (Oak Ridge, Tennessee) Explained

New Bethel Baptist Church
Location:Bethel Valley Rd., Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Coordinates:35.9336°N -84.3053°W
Built:1900
Added:May 06, 1992
Refnum:92000409

New Bethel Baptist Church is a historic church on Bethel Valley Road in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

The church was built in about 1900. One of the concrete steps that leads to the church entrance is inscribed with the date "1924," but this is not thought to be an original part of the church. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

The church was founded in 1851.[1] The church ceased operation in 1942 when the land was taken over by the U.S. federal government for Manhattan Project facilities.[2] A large stone marker was erected behind the church in 1949 to commemorate the church and its congregation. It is inscribed "The church having been left in extended session in 1942, this monument was dedicated and the final church session closed at Memorial Day services May 29, 1949."[1] The New Bethel Baptist Church is the only remaining structure from the pre-World War II community of Scarboro, Tennessee.[3]

The church building is a frame, gable-front, three-bay structure with weatherboard siding, resting on a poured concrete foundation.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Archived copy . www.cfo.doe.gov . 13 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060929193920/http://www.cfo.doe.gov/me70/history/NPSweb/doe_properties-multiple_property_documentation.pdf . 29 September 2006 . dead.
  2. Web site: New Bethel Baptist Church Homecoming planned May 28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20031224172929/http://www.ornl.gov/info/press_releases/get_press_release.cfm?ReleaseNumber=mr20000519-01 . May 19, 2000 . December 24, 2003 . Oak Ridge National Laboratory . press release.
  3. Web site: [{{NRHP url|id=64500613}} National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form: Historic and Architectural Resources of Oak Ridge, Tennessee ]. https://web.archive.org/web/20121015071028/http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/64500613.pdf . October 15, 2012.