Hadley/Washington in Nashville in Davidson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Rev. Pharaoh H. Benson

1841-1905

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 20, 2020

1. Rev. Pharaoh H. Benson Marker

Inscription. In 1869, African American pioneers in this area saw the need to build a church in the city's Northwest corridor. In 1871,the Rev. Nelson Merry, one of Nashville's first ordained African American ministers and pastor of the First Colored Baptist Church, responded by ordaining the Rev. Pharaoh Benson, a former slave, and sending him to establish Mt. Nebo Colored Baptist Church on this site. The old Ashcraft School, a one-room frame structure on Mt. Nebo Hill, served as the church's building.

Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 3A 229.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Churches & Religion. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1841.

Location. 36° 9.504′ N, 86° 48.806′ W. Marker is in Nashville, Tennessee, in Davidson County. It is in Hadley/Washington. Marker is at the intersection of Clifton Avenue and 25th Avenue North, on the right when traveling west on Clifton Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2416 Clifton Avenue, Nashville TN 37209, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Ernest Rip Patton / Modern Civil Rights Activists in Nashville (approx. 0.3 miles away); Woman Suffrage Rallies

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(approx. 0.3 miles away); Washington Junior High School (approx. 0.3 miles away); Powder Grinding Wheels (approx. 0.4 miles away); HCA Healthcare (approx. 0.4 miles away); Centennial Park Swimming Pool (approx. 0.4 miles away); Pageantry & Promotion at the Exposition (approx. half a mile away); A Lake Called Watauga (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nashville.

Also see . . . The View from Mt. Nebo: A History of Mt. Nebo Missionary Baptist Church | Nashville, Tennessee. A SlideShare history of the church, including a page devoted to founding pastor Rev. Pharaoh H. Benson. (Submitted on June 20, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 20, 2020

2. Rev. Pharaoh H. Benson Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 20, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 276 times since then and 73 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 20, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.