Greenville in Pitt County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Sycamore Hill Missionary Baptist Church
Photographed By Ray Gurganus, November 10, 2021
1. Sycamore Hill Missionary Baptist Church Marker
Inscription.
Sycamore Hill Missionary Baptist Church. . "The church was certainly prominent in the neighborhood, it was a masterpiece. It was a warm neighborhood, people were friendly, everyone seemed to know each other, most of us were poor. Maybe at the time we didn't know we were poor, but we were happy. It was just a happy existence." Ronald Kimber
"The church was certainly prominent in the neighborhood, it was a masterpiece. It was a warm neighborhood, people were friendly, everyone seemed to know each other, most of us were poor. Maybe at the time we didn't know we were poor, but we were happy. It was just a happy existence." Ronald Kimber
Location. 35° 36.948′ N, 77° 22.423′ W. Marker is in Greenville, North Carolina, in Pitt County. Marker is at the intersection of West First Street and North Greene Street (County Highway 1531), on the right when traveling west on West First Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 201 W 1st St, Greenville NC 27858, United States of America. Touch for directions.
3. Ronand Kimber and a neighborhood friend stand in front onf his next door neighbor's house, circ 1953
Photographed By Ray Gurganus, November 10, 2021
4. Remembering a Church and a Congregation
The original church remained a downtown landmark for over a century. It became much more than a house of worship -- a center of social, political, recreational, and economic activity, refuge to nurture souls and to help those in need, and a place to guide younger congregants in faith. Sycamore Hill Missionary Baptist Church was the last building standing in downtown. It was demolished in 1969, following a fire. The church is now located on Hooker Road in Greenville.
Photographed By Ray Gurganus, November 10, 2021
5. Sycamore Hill Missionary Baptist Church Marker
"...It was an awesome place to be, because though we were ecomomically poor, spiritually, we were rich." -- Gwendolyn Holman
Sycamore Hill Missionary Baptist Church, April 1961. Congregants assemble outside, protesting plans for the redevelopment of downtown and the demolition of their church.
Photographed By Ray Gurganus, November 10, 2021
6. Sycamore Hill Missionary Baptist Church Marker
"My mother and my father made sure that we had everything that we needed to survive. My father was a provider and I try to pattern my way right after him, even to this day." -- Robert Little
Photographed By Ray Gurganus, November 10, 2021
7. Sycamore Hill Gateway Plaza
Credits. This page was last revised on November 15, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 12, 2021, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 104 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on November 12, 2021, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 13, 2021, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. 7. submitted on November 12, 2021, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.