Fremont Recreation Center
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Second Baptist Church

Fremont Recreation Center, also, Second Baptist Church. . The Fremont Recreation Center and Second Baptist Church were the two social, educational, and spiritual hubs for Elgin's first African American community. , , Fremont Center , An average of 50-60 youth of all races participated in activities at the Center, located in the basement of the Second Baptist Church. The Center moved to the home of Drusa Pryde at 442 Hickory and then to 486 Fremont in 1940. Louis P. Andrews, a former Elgin High School athletic star, and Elgin's first black letter carrier, served as the Center's founder and president. , , The purpose of the center was to "study, promote, supplement and coordinate social, recreational and educational activities for all youth and to utilize the talents, abilities and resources of all Elgin citizens." Members and local philanthropies like the Elgin Community Chest, helped pay for the free activities: youth meetings, bus trips, dances, crafts, cooking, team sports, picnics, woodshop, game nights and "Jump Nights." Although the center closed in 1964 and programming was absorbed into the Elgin YMCA and YWCA, the Fremont Activities Association reorganized and continued to promote programs for several more years. A $36,000 fundraising drive to build a new facility on Fremont in 1970 failed. , , Second Baptist Church , The origins of Elgin's Second Baptist Church are tied directly to the arrival of the "contrabands" in 1862. With help from the Rev. Benjamin Johnson, of the First Baptist Church, the slave refugees found homes and work in Elgin. Groups also began meeting for worship. Informal prayers and songs rose from the home of Arthur Newsome on Ann. Street, with the help of Rev. Adoniram J. Joslyn and Harriet Cheney of First Baptist Church. , , The Rev. R. M. Smith pastored at the first church building, a frame structure on Center Street facing Barclay Park. The church also served as a segregated "colored" school. A new brick structure was erected in 1876 on Duridee and Kimball, now Newsome Park. For decades, the building served as a hub for the African American community. , , Second Baptist Church at Dundee and Kimball Streets, 1953 , By 1959, church membership had grown, but the building and its contents were decaying. In 1961 the church moved to 280 Franklin Boulevard. Pastor Theodore E. Bedford started later that year and led the church for $5 years. He opened the new Second Baptist Church at 1280 Summit Street in 1989. Pastor Bedford retired in 1991. The Rev. Nathaniel L. Edmond became pastor of Second Baptist Church in 2000. , , [Caption for photo in the top left:] , Scooter driven by Eugene Wheeler: Bunky Smith, Leonard Smith, Ernest Broadnax, Johnny White. Arthur Green Jr., Joseph Wheeler Albert Johnson, Thermon Stephens, and Jackie Steele , , [Caption for photo in the bottom left:] , From left Mrs. Arthur Green, President of the Fremont Recreation Center in 1958, Mrs. Rene Cheler, program director, and Arlène Broadnax watch a hoop demonstration by Sandra Smith. , , [Caption for photo in the bottom middle:] , From left to right: Terry Green, Ernie Broadnax, recreation leader, Mrs. Evelyn Hopkins, Debbie Lathen, Denise Kennedy, and isa Broadnax , , [Caption for photo in the top right:] , Emancipation Day, 1937 Second Baptist Church on Dundee and Kimball Left to Right: Carver J. Leach, L.P. Andrews, Agnes Brooks, Dorothy Smith, Minnie Mason, Earl Steele, Mammie Steele, Steele, Mammie Steele, Perkins Long, Mary Wheeler, Arthur (Pete) Hall holding Donald Smith, Jannie Gonzalez, John Bell and Jeff Ford. , , [Caption for photo in bottom right:] , Second Baptist Church at Dundee and Kimball Streets, 1953.