Fruitdale in Washington County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

South Oak Grove Baptist Church

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, 2022

1. South Oak Grove Baptist Church Marker

Inscription. Founded in 1880 as Oak Grove Baptist Church, the congregation added "South" to its name in ca. 1912. The church began under the Macedonia Baptist Association and in 1919 joined with the Washington County Baptist Association. Among its many pastors was one, Brother J. W. Singley, who served over fifty years. Until Fruitdale High School opened in 1924, the church also served as a community school.

The community and the state jointly owned the property until October 1950, when Governor James E. Folsom and Washington County Schools Superintendent A. R. Meadows, for a promissory note of $50.00, sold the school board's interest to members of the South Oak Grove Baptist Church and their successors. It stands on the foundation of Christ's love and meeting the spiritual needs of the surrounding area.

Erected 2010 by Alabama Historical Association.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1912.

Location. 31° 23.841′ N, 88° 22.813′ W. Marker is in Fruitdale, Alabama, in Washington County. It is on Firetower Road north of Ray Coaker Highway (County Road 1), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 824 Firetower Road, Fruitdale AL 36539, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Alabama’s Mobile Bay.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

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 New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Fruitdale Brethren Church (approx. 3.9 miles away); Fruitdale Union Chapel (approx. 4.1 miles away); Washington County Confederate Memorial (approx. 8.7 miles away); Washington County Courthouse (approx. 8.7 miles away); Washington County (approx. 8.7 miles away); Washington County Veterans Memorial (approx. 8.7 miles away); German P.O.W. Camps from WW II (approx. 9.4 miles away); Yarbo (approx. 11.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fruitdale.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 12, 2025, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. This page has been viewed 55 times since then and 15 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on October 12, 2025, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide view photo of the marker and the surrounding area together in context. • Can you help?