Tanner in Limestone County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Oakland United Methodist Church

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 3, 2009

1. Oakland United Methodist Church Marker

Inscription. Generations of African~American families have worshiped here, beginning with services held under a brush arbor prior to the Civil War. In August of 1879, the land for the Oakland Methodist church was deeded to parishioners. In a wooden one-room building, they worshiped and operated their own private school, serving the surrounding communities and producing a number of ministers and educators. The Limestone County Board of Education took charge of the school in 1929 until it closed at the end of the 1952 school year. After the original structure was destroyed by a tornado, the Oakland Methodist Episcopal church - which became the Oakland United Methodist Church in 1972~was rebuilt. Renovations to the structure were completed in 1990.

Erected by Alabama Historical Association.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Association series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1879.

Location. 34° 39.478′ N, 86° 57.007′ W. Marker is in Tanner, Alabama, in Limestone County. It is at the intersection of Bee Line Highway (U.S. 31) and Thomas L Hammonds Road, on the right when traveling north on Bee

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Line Highway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Tanner AL 35671, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Alabama

and in the Huntsville Metropolitan Area.

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 original Cherokee Nation,

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: Southeast Air Forces Training Center (approx. 0.6 miles away); Gen. N.B. Forrest, C.S.A. (approx. 1.1 miles away); Harris-Pryor House (approx. 1½ miles away); Gen. Jos. Wheeler (approx. 3 miles away); Burleson House (circa 1836) (approx. 3½ miles away); “a place of importance” - Union Leadership at Decatur (approx. 3½ miles away); Packed with People (approx. 3½ miles away); Fight For Survival (approx. 3½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tanner.

Photographed by Ken Smith, April 7, 2012

2. Oakland United Methodist Church Marker

Oakland United Methodist Church Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 3, 2009

3. Oakland United Methodist Church Sign

Oakland United Methodist Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 3, 2009

4. Oakland United Methodist Church

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 1,978 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 25, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 2. submitted on April 22, 2012, by Ken Smith of Milan, Tennessee. 3, 4. submitted on March 25, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.