Wabasso in Indian River County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, December 26, 2017

1. Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church Marker

Inscription. Beulah African Methodist Episcopal Church was the first house of worship in Wabasso to be affiliated with a national congregation. Its founders settled here in the early 1900s as laborers in agriculture, lumber, turpentine, and construction, the industries that formed the county’s early economy. Many congregants soon became successful entrepreneurs and property owners, including John Knowles, Sam Caswell, and Thomas Jackson—the three men who donated this land as a site for the church and school. The original sanctuary was built in 1916. It served as a classroom, as well, until the congregation’s commitment to education drew the attention of the Julius Rosenwald Fund. The school fund provided the seed money for Douglas Elementary School, built on this same donated tract in 1927. The teaching, spiritual inspiration, and fellowship fostered by these parishioners helped them defy racial barriers. Members became civic leaders, medical professionals, NASA engineers, business owners, educators, citrus growers, and decorated military veterans. The church was renamed Allen Chapel AME Church in 1943. This sanctuary, dedicated

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in 1957, is the third to be built on this site.

Erected 2016 by Indian River Historical Society, and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-912.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church series list.

Location. 27° 44.904′ N, 80° 27.481′ W. Marker is in Wabasso, Florida, in Indian River County. It is at the intersection of 85th Street (County Road 510) and 64th Avenue, on the left when traveling west on 85th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6425 85th Street, Wabasso FL 32970, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Florida’s Space Coast.

It is also in the American South

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory

Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church Marker Church Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, December 26, 2017

2. Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church Marker Church Building

of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A.B. Michael (Wabasso) Bridge (approx. 1.9 miles away); Winter Beach Pioneer Cemetery (approx. 2½ miles away); Quay Dock Road (approx. 3.2 miles away); Archie Smith Wholesale Co., Inc. (approx. 3.6 miles away); The Four Chaplains Monument (approx. 4.2 miles away); Four Immortal Chaplains (approx. 4.2 miles away); POW ★ MIA (approx. 4.2 miles away); Combat Wounded Veterans (approx. 4.2 miles away).

Photographed by Diane Murphy, November 2024

3. Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church Marker

Photographed by Diane Murphy, November 2024

4. Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on April 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 1, 2018, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 701 times since then and 56 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 1, 2018, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. 3, 4. submitted on April 7, 2025, by Diane Murphy of Saint Cloud, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.