Sites in Indianapolis, Terre Haute and Washington important to Black heritage in Indiana are now listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the National Park Service’s official list of the United States’ historic places worthy of preservation.

The sites are:
• Beulah AME Church & Dunbar School in Washington
• Spruce Street AME Church in Terre Haute
• St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church in Indianapolis

Thanks to grants from Indiana Landmarks’ Black Heritage Preservation Program, the churches were able to hire a consultant to compile and submit the complex nominations.

“These nominations are part of our effort to identify, document and preserve sites important to Black heritage in our state,” said Eunice Trotter, director of the Black Heritage Preservation Program. “When a site is listed in the National Register, it’s a milestone for preserving and sharing the history and heritage of Black communities for future generations.”

The primary benefit of listing in the National Register is the honor conferred by official federal recognition, but owners of income-producing National Register properties and nonprofit owners may also be eligible to apply for preservation grants or historic tax credits.[MW1.1]

The Beulah AME Church and Dunbar School at 805 W. Walnut Street in Washington were culturally significant sites for the Black community in the 19th century. Located in a neighborhood sometimes referred to as Boxtown, the church was built in 1883 and the school in 1890 on land donated by one of the Black community’s leading families. These two buildings are rare representations of Black heritage in Daviess County, along with the nearby Hawkins Cemetery. While the school closed in 1950, it has been repurposed for other uses by the congregation.

The Spruce Street AME Church at 1660 Spruce Street in Terre Haute has remained a tangible link to the city’s Black community since the early 20th century. Black minister James A. Mitcham designed and built the church and parsonage in 1927. For nearly 100 years, the church has played an important role in the city’s spiritual life. The imposing one-story church building was constructed in the Tudor Revival style and includes several historic stained art glass wood windows. The church still serves as a place of worship today.

St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church at 1651 Dr. Andrew J. Brown Avenue in Indianapolis has held a significant place in the city’s Black history, social and civic affairs since it started in 1916 with a small group meeting in homes. Eventually congregants erected a tent and held services on the northeast corner of 17th Street and what was then Martindale Avenue. The tent was on property owned by Freewill Baptist Church, which the new congregation eventually purchased and used until the new building was completed in 1926. Dr. Andrew J. Brown came to pastor the church in 1947. In addition to his fiery preaching, Brown became a prominent civil rights leader in the city and state, and St. John’s became a center of activity for the civil rights movement, hosting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during his visits to the city. Brown served the church for 43 years, and to honor him, the city of Indianapolis renamed Martindale Avenue to Dr. Andrew J. Brown Avenue in 1986.

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Indiana Landmarks revitalizes communities, strengthens connections to our diverse heritage, and saves meaningful places. With nine offices located throughout the state, Indiana Landmarks helps people rescue endangered landmarks and restore historic neighborhoods and downtowns. People who join Indiana Landmarks receive its bimonthly magazine, Indiana Preservation. For more information on the not-for-profit organization, call 317-639-4534, 800-450-4534, or visit www.indianalandmarks.org.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Eunice Trotter, Director, Indiana Landmarks Black Heritage Preservation, Program, 317-822-7935, etrotter@indianalandmarks.org.

Mindi Woolman, V.P. of Communications and Marketing, Indiana Landmarks, 317-639-4534, mwoolman@indianalandmarks.org