{"id":16683,"date":"2015-04-06T17:37:53","date_gmt":"2015-04-06T17:37:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rahs.org\/?post_type=portfolio_page&p=16683"},"modified":"2020-04-16T23:45:25","modified_gmt":"2020-04-16T23:45:25","slug":"second-baptist-church","status":"publish","type":"awards","link":"https:\/\/rahs.org\/awards\/second-baptist-church\/","title":{"rendered":"Second Baptist Church"},"content":{"rendered":"

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2007\u00a0HERITAGE AWARD RECIPIENT<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Redlands Area Historical Society, Inc.
\n<\/em><\/h4>\n

2nd Baptist Church<\/strong><\/p>\n

420 East Stuart Avenue<\/strong><\/p>\n

(1928)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Most of the history of the Second Baptist Church is oral history collected by the various congregation members through the years.\u00a0 However, the Citrograph newspaper first places the Second Baptist Church on Orange Street in 1891.\u00a0 The article on July 4th of that year states that the building was sold and a lot purchased on East State Street with a new church under construction.\u00a0 The building was finished quickly because a Literary Concert was held on October 23, 1891 in the East State Street church.\u00a0 In 1892, Reverend Sebron Lee became the first pastor of the Second Baptist Church congregation.<\/p>\n

In 1924, the present location was purchased for $10.00 on the corner of 9th and Stuart Street.\u00a0 This effort was led by Reverend F.W. Cooper.\u00a0 Two stories are told regarding the acquisition of the lumber to build this new church.\u00a0 One talks of lumber from a demolished hotel and the other recounts that a barrack from the old Franklin Elementary School was given to the church and its lumber used to build the current building. Regardless of where the lumber came from we know that it was recycled and Arthur Gregory had a hand in securing the lumber.\u00a0 As a wealthy member of the First Baptist Church with a generous heart he clearly made it possible for the Second Baptist community to build their church.\u00a0 The First Baptist Church donated wooden chairs, a pulpit, pulpit chairs and a pipe organ which was \u201ctoo large for (the) small congregation to receive at that time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Through a series of fund raisers which included chicken dinners, ice cream socials and musicals the new church was raised.\u00a0 The building design is said to be modeled similarly to the House of Neighborly Services, which stood at 612 Lawton Street in 1920.\u00a0 This Spanish Eclectic style building is characterized by low-pitched roof with no eave overhang.\u00a0 The red tile roof with stucco walls all add to the ambiance of this style.\u00a0 Configured in the shape a capital \u201cI\u201d the front features a side-gabled roof.\u00a0 At each end of this facade are round tile vents.\u00a0 The centrally located arched opening over the heavy plank front door is another distinguishing characteristic of this style.\u00a0 The building we see today was completed in 1928.<\/p>\n

Israel Beal, one of the founding members and an elder of the Second Baptist Church, was an officer of the Redlands African Mutual Benefit Association in 1892.\u00a0 He is well known as a Redlands pioneer.\u00a0 Further investigation shows he was a gentleman of good character.\u00a0 His integrity was highly respected in the community.\u00a0 Born into slavery in 1848 but freed by Lincoln\u2019s Emancipation Proclamation, he served in the Union Army during the Civil War.\u00a0 Released from the army in 1865, he traveled by steamer ship to Northern California and worked in the mines.\u00a0 In 1870, Myron H. Craft asked Beal if he wanted to work for him.\u00a0 By 1874 he purchased a ranch in Lugonia where he planted fruit trees.\u00a0 Then in 1881 he was working for the town\u2019s founders, Judson and Brown, teaming and grading portions of the original town.\u00a0 He helped in construction of the Redlands reservoir, pipelines and the original Big Bear Dam.\u00a0 Later he moved houses.\u00a0 Dieing in 1929, it took 66 years for a headstone to be placed.\u00a0 The Redlands Area Historical Society, spearheaded by Christie Hammond, raised the funds to install a marker for Israel Beal and his wife Martha Embers Beal.\u00a0 The Redlands Daily Facts, of April 27, 1995, noted that a dedication would be held at Hillside Memorial Park on May 6 at 10:30 a.m. \u201cwith brief remarks from Beal\u2019s grandson Herbert Rona, Mayor Swen Larson, and Redlands historian Larry Burgess\u201d.<\/p>\n

Originally a small house was located behind the church building which was used as a parsonage.\u00a0 Later the official first parsonage was purchased, at 534 East Stuart Avenue, for $700.\u00a0 From 1941 to 1946, under the leadership of Reverend R.L. Amos, the church obtained pews, a cooling system and carpeting.\u00a0 Pastor Amos was the first black in Redlands to serve on the Redlands Chamber of Commerce.\u00a0 In 1958, during a time of growth, a new parsonage was purchased at 833 West Sharon Road for $12,000.\u00a0 Under Reverend Jonathan Brooks, in 1976, a proposal for future expansion was launched and 4.68 acres of land was purchased for $19,500 on the corner of Texas and Lugonia in Redlands.\u00a0 The $17,400 mortgage was retired after only three years.<\/p>\n

The Redlands Area Historical Society commends and thanks the Second Baptist Church congregation for their continued stewardship of their church building by presenting this well deserved Heritage Award.<\/p>\n

Researched and written by Judith Hunt.<\/em><\/p>\n

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