Mt. Providence Baptist Church Bell - Athens, TX
N 32° 12.813 W 095° 51.185
15S E 231089 N 3567677
Mt. Providence Baptist Church's bell stands in front of the sanctuary at 806 Needmore St, Athens, TX.
Waymark Code: WMZ90F
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 10/01/2018
Views: 1
This bell is uncommon, if not rare, as it was manufactured by "Lookout School Fur." -- "Furniture?" "Furnishings?" -- who really don't show up much in Internet searches. "No. 30 Yoke" is on the yoke on the back, and "30" is between "Lookout" and "School Fur." on the front. Painted black, the bell is in excellent condition, but there is no indication as to its provenance.
A 2012 Texas Historical Marker provides some church history:
Mt. Providence Baptist Church was first organized in 1888 in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church under Reverend F.M. Jackson. For a while the church would meet in different churches, homes and brush arbors. On April 19, 1890, church trustees S.M. McIntire, Green Wright and Henry Cook purchased land for Mt. Providence Baptist Church. In 1890, a small building was constructed and Reverend McIntire served as the first minister. At this time, church services were held once a month, but by 1902 building expansion was necessary. During the weekdays, the newly built classrooms were used to accommodate students at Blackshear School. In the early days ministers preached at several different churches similar to circuit rider preachers. Baptisms at Mt. Providence were less frequent and held at the pool near the old Harbison-Walker Brickyard during the summer.
After World War II, the government sold military buildings and Mt. Providence purchased a building from Camp Fannin located near Tyler. The old barracks became the new church home and, several years later, the structure was bricked. During the 1950s, Reverend J.C. Delly became the first full-time pastor and improvements were made to the church that included an indoor baptismal pool and a small organ. Under Pastor C.C. Taylor, a fellowship hall was added and improvements made to the church interior. Today the church is a large part of the community and makes donations to the sick and those in need, contributes to scholarship funds, visits nursing homes, donates to the African Relief Fund, distributes Christmas cheer baskets and operates an in-house food pantry.
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