Chariton's African Methodist Episcopal Church

Black History Month seems like a good time to point out the precise location of Chariton's African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church building, or buildings I should say --- there were two of them, one built in 1888 and its replacement, in 1907.

I'm willing to bet that no one else, when driving down Court Avenue past the digital sign in the parking area west of Carpenters Hall, would be able to tell you that immediately behind it a century ago you'd have found the building where a majority of Chariton's black population gathered for worship on Sundays and for special events on other occasions.

I have no idea what the building looked like --- descendants of those who worshiped here probably have snapshots somewhere. But those descendants are scattered from coast to coast now; none live here. 

The location of the church is clearly drawn on the 1927 Sanborn Fire Insurance map of the neighborhood around Columbus School, just west of the square. The Google street view is of Carpenters Hall, built as the Hy-Vee carpentry shop, now a public events venue. I don't remember what the buildings on the site looked like before they were cleared and the area turned into Carpenters Hall parking.

Chariton's A.M.E. congregation was organized formally about 1887 and during the next year the lot just north of what then was known as South School was purchased. After a fund-raising effort, the congregation's first building here was dedicated on Nov. 4, 1888.

The first building was destroyed by fire about 4 a.m. on Sunday, March 24, 1907, when the house next door caught fire due to a faulty chimney and the flames spread. The organ, chairs and other items were saved but the building itself was a total loss.

The congregation, led by the Rev. James A. Wright, began to plan immediately for a new building and it was dedicated on Sunday, July 14, 1907, during a celebration to which the entire community was invited. At the time, the wooded South School grounds also served as a public park, so a basket dinner was held there before the program in the park and at the church began at 2 p.m.

The Rev. Edward G. Jackson, of the Buxton A.M.E. church and presiding elder of the Iowa A.M.E. Conference, presided and preached the dedicatory sermon. The choir of the Albia A.M.E. church also participated, as did the pastors of Chariton's First Baptist, First Presbyterian, United Brethren and First Methodist Episcopal churches. A free-will offering gathered $120 --- and that was enough to leave the congregation debt-free.

I'm not sure when the congregation closed its doors. It was active during the 1920s and well into the 1930s, but there were few opportunities in Chariton for the young people of the congregation and most of them moved elsewhere in search of better lives. The congregation aged and the Great Depression and World War II seem to have delivered the final blows.

Nothing's left now --- but a faint memory can be stirred a little as you drive along Court Avenue past the digital sign that would have amazed those who once worshipped in buildings that stood just behind it.