Bethel Missionary Baptist Church Bell Tower - Tatums, OK
Posted by: 
hamquilter
N 34° 28.950 W 097° 27.699
14S E 641261 N 3816730
This bell tower is located on the historic Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, built in 1919.
Waymark Code: WMXK0F
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Date Posted: 01/21/2018
Views: 2
The Bethel Missionary Baptist Church was established in 1894 and met in a brush arbor outside of town. When fall came, a small log cabin was built, which was eventually moved into town in 1901. From 1917 to 1919, this church building was under construction and services began in 1919. The church conducted services here until 1969 when a brick church building was constructed behind this building. This old church continued to be used as a fellowship hall.
The church building was placed on the National Register in 1995. This is a one-story frame building, 40 ft. by 60 ft. The exterior walls are clapboard, and the roof is gabled and currently covered with composition shingles. Above the entrance is a frame bell tower, with a pyramidal roof and wood slatted vents on all four sides. The bell is still intact.
Tatums is one of the All-Black towns established after the Civil War, for freed slaves. It is one of only 13 still in existence today. This bell tower is no longer used today, but stands as a symbol of the rich heritage of this community.
Address of Tower:
Jct of Webster and Lane Streets
Tatums, OK US
73487
Number of bells in tower?: 1
Rate tower: 
Tours or visits allowed in tower?: No
Still Operational: Not Listed
Relevant website?: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Please post an original picture of the tower taken while you were there. Please also record how you came to be at this tower and any other interesting information you learned about it while there.