Near Mount Clare in Harrison County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Center Branch Church

circa December 2008

1. Center Branch Church Marker

Inscription. Organized in 1818 by 19 members of Simpson Creek Baptist Church wanting a house of worship nearer to their homes. Original log building stood below road. Present structure was erected in 1854.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1818.

Location. 39° 14.822′ N, 80° 18.874′ W. Marker is near Mount Clare, West Virginia, in Harrison County. It is on Buckhannon Pike (West Virginia Route 20) 0.4 miles south of Cost Avenue ( Route 58), on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mount Clare WV 26408, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Virginia’s Little Kanawha Valley.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern 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 territory of the Mississippian Culture.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers

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are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Veteran Honor Roll (approx. half a mile away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.8 miles away); Nutter's Fort (approx. 0.8 miles away); World War II Memorial (approx. 1.4 miles away); a different marker also named Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.4 miles away); Quiet Dell School and Museum (approx. 1.9 miles away); Jackson Cemetery (approx. 2.2 miles away); John George Jackson (approx. 2.3 miles away).

Center Branch Church Marker Pole image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, April 11, 2021

2. Center Branch Church Marker Pole

This pole is what remains of this historical marker.

Center Branch Oldest Baptism image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, April 11, 2021

3. Center Branch Oldest Baptism

The wooden sign just north of the marker’s location reads, “Center Branch, Oldest Baptism In Harrison County Since September 24, 1818. Quiet Dell United Methodist Church.”

Center Branch Baptism Location on Elk Creek image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, April 11, 2021

4. Center Branch Baptism Location on Elk Creek

This view is from where the marker used to be.

Center Branch Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 30, 2021

5. Center Branch Church

The church is on Turkey Run Road, across the road from the marker’s location.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 23, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 545 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 21, 2025, by Tara Carder of Nutter Fort, West Virginia. 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 23, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 5. submitted on June 2, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.