Muscle Shoals in Colbert County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

First Southern Baptist Church

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, July 10, 2022

1. First Southern Baptist Church Marker

Inscription. Near the turn of the twentieth century, residents of Houston Crossroads became concerned that their community had no church or school. In 1895, John Schluttenhofer deeded an acre of land in the southwest corner of the crossroads for the purpose of building a one-room schoolhouse and place of worship. Local farmers cut timber from their own land to help construct the building, named Okolona School. Various denominations held services in the building. This practice continued until August 29, 1899, when worshipers established Okolona Baptist Church along Southern Baptist guidelines. A larger. two-story church was constructed in the 1910s.

A Sunday afternoon tornado destroyed the new church soon after its completion. It was quickly rebuilt and in use until 1938 when the congregation built a new sandstone church. In January 1944, the church caught fire during Sunday School and burned to the ground. It was replaced by a new brick facility built upon the old foundation. Subsequent alterations include a north-side addition and a Sunday. School annex. At a business meeting on November 8, 1978, a resolution was passed to rename the church. It incorporated under the present name with the State of Alabama on April 8, 2003.

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Erected 2019 by Alabama Historical Association.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Association series list. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1944.

Location. 34° 43.757′ N, 87° 38.116′ W. Marker is in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, in Colbert County. It is on South Wilson Dam Road, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3806 S Wilson Dam Rd, Muscle Shoals AL 35661, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Alabama

and in the Shoals.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

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

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Howell & Graves School (approx. 0.3 miles away); History of Muscle Shoals, Alabama (approx. 1.1 miles away); The Singing River Sculpture (approx. 1.2 miles away); The Birth of VFW Post #8640 (approx. 3.1 miles away); Tuscumbia's Oakwood Cemetery (approx. 3.2 miles away); Shady Dell (approx. 3.4 miles away); Trenholm High School (approx. 3½ miles away); “William Mansel Long, Sr. Memorial Drive” (approx. 3.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Muscle Shoals.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, July 10, 2022

2. First Southern Baptist Church Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 1, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 29, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 519 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 29, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.