Jasper in Walker County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

First United Methodist Church Jasper / President Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Attends Funeral of William Brockman Bankhead

— Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives —

First United Methodist Church Jasper / President Franklin Delano Roosevelt Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Darren Jefferson Clay, July 6, 2022

1. First United Methodist Church Jasper / President Franklin Delano Roosevelt Marker

Inscription.

First United Methodist Church Jasper, also, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Attends Funeral of William Brockman Bankhead. First United Methodist Church Jasper. Methodism came to Jasper with the city's founder, Dr. Edward Gordon Musgrove, who donated land for the courthouse and for most of downtown Jasper. In 1826, he and others constructed a building of large hewn logs that was used as both a Methodist church and a school. Around 1858, a two-story frame church building was constructed. Unsubstantiated local accounts state the church was burned to the ground in March of 1865 by General James H. Wilson's cavalry corps. Another frame building, shared with the Masons, was erected here in 1869. In 1888, it was replaced by a brick church with a steeple., In 1915, when a new church was planned, Lycurgus B. Musgrove, grandson of Dr. Edward Musgrove, provided the funds for the white marble exterior and donated the stained glass dome in memory of his mother, Elizabeth Cain Musgrove. First United Methodist Church Jasper was dedicated, debt-free, in 1927., With distinguishing features such as white marble from Georgia, mahogany wood interior, stained glass windows and an art glass interior dome, the church is among Alabama's most outstanding examples of beaux arts neoclassical architecture. The church was listed to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 1983 and to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. , President Franklin Delano Roosevelt Attends Funeral of William Brockman Bankhead Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. On Tuesday, September 17, 1940, the funeral of William Brockman Bankhead, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, was held at the First United Methodist Church, Jasper. Bankhead (1874-1940) was elected to the House in 1917 and served as its Speaker from 1936 until his death. He was a political ally of President Roosevelt and his New Deal policies., Of the estimated 40,000 people who attended Bankhead's funeral were many Alabama notables, U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and member of his Cabinet, and State and Congressional Representatives and Senators, including Harry S. Truman, who later served as U.S. President. They arrived in Jasper by special train from Washington D.C. A wooden ramp was built at the church so that the official car transporting the President could drive up to the main door. Today, a brass plaque marks the pew occupied by President Roosevelt during the funeral service.

First United Methodist Church
Jasper Methodism came to Jasper with the city's founder, Dr. Edward Gordon Musgrove, who donated land for the courthouse and for most of downtown Jasper. In 1826, he and others constructed a building of large hewn logs that was used as both a Methodist church and a school. Around 1858, a two-story frame church building was constructed. Unsubstantiated local accounts state the church was burned to the ground in March of 1865 by General James H. Wilson's cavalry corps. Another frame building, shared with the Masons, was erected here in 1869. In 1888, it was replaced by a brick church with a steeple.

In 1915, when a new church was planned, Lycurgus B. Musgrove, grandson of Dr. Edward Musgrove, provided the funds for the white marble exterior and donated the stained glass dome in memory of his mother, Elizabeth Cain Musgrove. First United Methodist Church Jasper was dedicated, debt-free, in 1927.

With distinguishing features such as white marble from Georgia, mahogany wood interior, stained glass windows and an art glass interior dome, the church is among Alabama's most outstanding examples of beaux arts neoclassical architecture. The church was listed to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 1983 and to the National Register of Historic Places

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in 1985.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Attends Funeral of William Brockman Bankhead
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
On Tuesday, September 17, 1940, the funeral of William Brockman Bankhead, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, was held at the First United Methodist Church, Jasper. Bankhead (1874-1940) was elected to the House in 1917 and served as its Speaker from 1936 until his death. He was a political ally of President Roosevelt and his New Deal policies.

Of the estimated 40,000 people who attended Bankhead's funeral were many Alabama notables, U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and member of his Cabinet, and State and Congressional Representatives and Senators, including Harry S. Truman, who later served as U.S. President. They arrived in Jasper by special train from Washington D.C. A wooden ramp was built at the church so that the official car transporting the President could drive up to the main door. Today, a brass plaque marks the pew occupied by President Roosevelt during the funeral service.

Erected by Alabama Historical Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Patriots & Patriotism

Photographed By Darren Jefferson Clay, July 6, 2022

2. First United Methodist Church Jasper / President Franklin Delano Roosevelt Marker

. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Commission, the Former U.S. Presidents: #32 Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the Former U.S. Presidents: #33 Harry S. Truman series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1865.

Location. 33° 50.007′ N, 87° 16.669′ W. Marker is in Jasper, Alabama, in Walker County. Marker is on Third Avenue. Located on side of First United Methodist Church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1800 Third Ave, Jasper AL 35501, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Walker County (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Walker County War Memorial (about 400 feet away); Confederate Monument (about 500 feet away); Revolutionary War Hero Sergeant William Jasper (about 500 feet away); Carl Atwood Elliott (approx. ¼ mile away); William Brockman Bankhead Home (approx. 0.7 miles away); Memorial Park (approx. one mile away); Tubbs Cemetery (approx. 6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jasper.

First United Methodist Church Jasper image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Sandra Hughes, April 20, 2010

3. First United Methodist Church Jasper

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Sandra Hughes, April 20, 2010

4. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 8, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 22, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 2,443 times since then and 73 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 6, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. 3, 4. submitted on April 22, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.