Nokomis in Sarasota County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Johnson Chapel / Albee Quarters
The original Johnson Chapel building, located on Church Street in Laurel, was moved in 1947 from the Missionary Baptist Church in Osprey to become the sanctuary for the Johnson Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Laurel. Naming the church for their first pastor, the congregation had previously met in homes and a school. Located in the Albee Quarters, the church served residents in the four Laurel “quarters” for African-American laborers of the Laurel Turpentine Company, the Arnold Lumber Company, the Albee farm and dairy and the Blackburn groves.
Before its move, the one-room church building had been part of a land and building exchange between the Osprey church and Mrs. Potter (Bertha) Palmer. Palmer had the building constructed in 1915 for the Osprey congregation and it was used as a school as well as worship center. When the Osprey congregation built a larger sanctuary, the smaller building was moved to Laurel. There, during the week, it was a community center for groups such as the Lily White Lodge #22, Colanthes, Knights of Pythias, Masons and Eastern Star. The building continued as a church worship center until late 1973. In 1997 it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places as the only structure remaining in Sarasota County from the early 1900s that, during its lifetime, has served as a meeting place for an African-American community.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Churches & Religion • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations.
Location. 27° 7.865′ N, 82° 26.85′ W. Marker is in Nokomis, Florida, in Sarasota County. Marker can be reached from Spencer Avenue, 0.3 miles east of South Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) when traveling east. Marker is located on the Sarasota-to-Venice Legacy Rail Trail, on the east side of the Johnson Chapel Missionary Baptist Church property. There is a gate on the east side of the Johnson Chapel property which provides access to the marker and the rail trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 506 Church Street, Nokomis FL 34275, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Shakett Creek / Estuary "the cradle of the ocean" (approx. ¼ mile away); Laurel Turpentine Company / Blackburn Sawmill Quarters (approx. 0.6 miles away); Venice Post Office (approx. 0.6 miles away); Turpentine / Venice Ice House (approx. ¾ mile away); Knight Memorial/Area First Cemetery (approx. 0.8 miles away); History of Nokomis / Fred Albee (approx. 0.9 miles away); Nokomis School (approx. 0.9 miles away); Curry Family / Wading Birds (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nokomis.
More about this marker. Marker is a large laser-printed metal plaque, mounted horizontally on a waist-high post.
Regarding Johnson Chapel / Albee Quarters. National Register of Historic Places (1997)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 27, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 14, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 278 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 15, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2. submitted on April 27, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 15, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.