First Presbyterian Church Bell Tower - Tallahassee, FL
N 30° 26.538 W 084° 16.931
16R E 761004 N 3370935
The historic First Presbyterian Church is located in downtown Tallahassee, Florida. It has a bell tower topped with a spire.
Waymark Code: WM9Y9J
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 10/15/2010
Views: 1
From
Wikipedia:
First Presbyterian Church is a historic church in Tallahassee, Florida. It is located at 102 North Adams Street. The congregation was first organized on November 4, 1832 and the church building was built between 1835 and 1838, which makes it the oldest church in Tallahassee. On September 9, 1974, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
The building was designed to serve as a sanctuary for women and children during American Indian attacks. Rifle slots are built into the foundation but are not visible from outside.
From the Florida Division of Historical Resources website:
Tallahassee FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 102 N. Adams St. 1835-1838. Greek Revival with Gothic Revival elements. 2 stories, brick, front pedimented Doric portico, rectangular tower. One of the oldest buildings in the city and the only church still standing which dates from the territorial period. Private. N.R. 1974.
A more detailed history of this old church is available on the First Presbyterian Church website, including the following history of the bell tower:
The roof woodwork was mortised and pinned, no nails being used in the original building. The steeple houses the original bell which was an "extra" in a set of chimes bought for a church in Baltimore. The bell was the gift of Elder David C. Wilson, prominent among the church founders. During the Civil War it was offered to the Confederacy to be melted down to make cannons, but the offer was not accepted.