Lebanon in Wilson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Pickett Chapel / Civil Rights

— United Methodist Church Registered Historic Site No. 99 —

Pickett Chapel Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 4, 2020

1. Pickett Chapel Marker

Inscription. Pickett Chapel Methodists began worshiping on this site shortly after purchasing an original town lot. Congregants erected this brick structure in 1827 where white and enslaved members worshiped until 1856 when a new building was constructed on East Main Street. In 1866 freedmen who once worshiped here in bondage bought the church and established Pickett Chapel Methodist Church. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places on April 18, 1977, services continued here until 1973, when the congregation moved to a new facility because of the congregation's growth.

Civil Rights On this site, the Wilson County Chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality (C.O.R.E.) met to educate African-American citizens on the tenets of direct non-violent protest. Organized boycotts and attempts to desegregate local schools in 1961 and 1962 led to violent attacks on civil rights activists here on March 13, 1962. Afterwards Lebanon Mayor Charles D. Lloyd appointed a biracial committee to address racial inequality in the city.

Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 3A 249.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Churches & Religion

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• Civil Rights. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Historical Commission, and the United Methodist Church Historic Sites series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1827.

Location. 36° 12.536′ N, 86° 17.334′ W. Marker is in Lebanon, Tennessee, in Wilson County. Marker is on East Market Street just east of North College Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 211 East Market Street, Lebanon TN 37087, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Lebanon Post Office (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Upon This Site Stood the Law Office of Sam Houston (about 500 feet away); 103 Public Square (about 600 feet away); Lebanon (about 700 feet away); History of the Logs Used in this Cabin (about 700 feet away); Confederate Veterans and Robert H. Hatton Memorial (about 700 feet away); Neddy Jacobs Cabin (about 800 feet away); Battle of Lebanon (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lebanon.

Civil Rights Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Darren Jefferson Clay, September 5, 2022

2. Civil Rights Marker

Pickett Chapel / Civil Rights Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 4, 2020

3. Pickett Chapel / Civil Rights Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on August 20, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 4, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 326 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 4, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 2. submitted on September 5, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. 3. submitted on October 4, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.