McGehee in Desha County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)

First Church and School in McGehee

(1903-1905)

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 19, 2023

1. First Church and School in McGehee Marker

Inscription.
The first school in McGehee was started about 1903 in a one room frame building at this location, with Miss Puntney as teacher. In 1905, in this building Reverend J. L. Cannon organized the McGehee First Methodist Episcopal Church. There were ten charter members. In 1906 a permanent school building was erected on the northwest corner at Second and Pine Street. Church services were held in the new school building until a white frame church building was erected on this site. All denominations used the church building for services. The Abner McGehee residence was next door to the church.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Education • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the The Spirit of ’76, America’s Bicentennial Celebration series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1903.

Location. 33° 37.745′ N, 91° 23.841′ W. Marker is in McGehee, Arkansas, in Desha County. Marker is on North 2nd Street just north of Oak Street, on the left when traveling north. Marker is located near the sidewalk, in front of the former McGehee post office building. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mc Gehee AR 71654, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Crepe Myrtles on Seamans Drive

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(about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Early Railroads in Chicot County (approx. 7.3 miles away); A Look Back In Time (approx. 11.6 miles away); Trying To Make A Home (approx. 11.6 miles away); Making A Living (approx. 11.6 miles away); Rohwer Internment Camp Veterans Memorial (approx. 11.7 miles away); Rohwer Relocation Center Memorial Cemetery (approx. 11.7 miles away); We Lived & Died Here (approx. 11.7 miles away).

Also see . . . McGehee, Arkansas: The Early Twentieth Century. Excerpt:

The combination of agriculture and the railroad provided steady growth. Small groups of black and white students met in church buildings for school. One of the first churches was the African Methodist Episcopal Church, followed by the McGehee Methodist Episcopal Church, which was organized in 1905 by the Reverend John Lewis Cannon. On March 5, 1906, McGehee was incorporated into a city and named for Abner McGehee. A permanent school building was also erected that year.

(Submitted on July 30, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 19, 2023

2. First Church and School in McGehee Marker

(looking north • North 2nd Street is to the right)

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 19, 2023

3. First Church and School in McGehee Marker

(looking south • former post office is on the right • North 2nd Street is on the left)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 29, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 61 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 30, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.