Morristown in Hamblen County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Bethel United Methodist Church

Photographed by Tom Bosse, April 1, 2021

1. Bethel United Methodist Church Marker

Inscription. Bethel Methodist Church originated as First Methodist Episcopal Church, with the Reverend Owen N. Hypsher as its first minister in 1881. The home church for the former Morristown College, Bethel served as a major hub for Morristown's Black community. It hosted leaders from the national civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1968, due to the dissolution of the racially segregated Central Jurisdiction, it became Bethel United Methodist Church and a part of the Holsten Conference.

Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 1B 68.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Education • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and the Tennessee Historical Commission series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1881.

Location. 36° 13.118′ N, 83° 17.726′ W. Marker is in Morristown, Tennessee, in Hamblen County. It is at the intersection of North Cumberland Street and Old Holt Road, on the left when traveling north on North Cumberland

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Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 703 North Cumberland Street, Morristown TN 37814, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East Tennessee.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

the State of Franklin,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Morristown College (approx. ¼ mile away); Phillips House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Hannah J. Price (approx. 0.4 miles away); Hamblen County Jail (approx. 0.4 miles away); Hamblen County Courthouse (approx. half a mile away); Caught in the Crossfire (approx. half a mile away); Hamblen County World War I Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Hamblen County Mideast Wars Memorial

Photographed by Tom Bosse, April 1, 2021

2. Bethel United Methodist Church Marker

(approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Morristown.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Morristown College (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Credits. This page was last revised on April 16, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 15, 2021, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 771 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 15, 2021, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.