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.
First Southern Baptist Church. . 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., Sponsored by the First Southern Baptist Church and the Colbert County Historical Landmarks Foundation, Inc.
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.
Sponsored by the First Southern Baptist Church and the Colbert County Historical Landmarks
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Foundation, Inc.
Erected 2019 by Alabama Historical Association.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Churches & Religion. 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. Marker 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.
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 144 times since then and 25 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.