Everglades in Collier County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Everglades Community Church
Established 1926
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, October 3, 2015
1. Everglades Community Church Marker
Inscription.
Everglades Community Church. Established 1926. This building was completed by April 1940 on land donated in May 1939 by the estate of Barron Gift Collier, founder of the county which bears his name and its largest landholder. The congregation at that time was Presbyterian, officially established in 1926, and had met in various places in the city. Before then, various visiting pastors served the area, the first being the Reverend George W. Gatewood in 1888. One condition of the gift of land was that the structure be erected before October 1, 1940 and that the church be non-denominational. Both conditions were met when the dedication ceremony took place on May 5th 1940. The town was a Collier company town with buildings constructed of ship lap siding, a tin roof and flooring made of Dade Country pine. A fellowship hall and breezeway to the southwest was added in the late 1950s. The digital carillon was installed in 1990 and chimes hourly. On September 4, 2007, Everglades City proclaimed the church to be historically preserved because it “provides links with the aspirations and attainments of the City’s pioneers and their descendants.” The bell tower and narthex were repaired in June 2008, as the first step in a complete restoration of the building.
This building was completed by April 1940 on land donated in May 1939 by the estate of Barron Gift Collier, founder of the county which bears his name and its largest landholder. The congregation at that time was Presbyterian, officially established in 1926, and had met in various places in the city. Before then, various visiting pastors served the area, the first being the Reverend George W. Gatewood in 1888. One condition of the gift of land was that the structure be erected before October 1, 1940 and that the church be non-denominational. Both conditions were met when the dedication ceremony took place on May 5th 1940. The town was a Collier company town with buildings constructed of ship lap siding, a tin roof and flooring made of Dade Country pine. A fellowship hall and breezeway to the southwest was added in the late 1950s. The digital carillon was installed in 1990 and chimes hourly. On September 4, 2007, Everglades City proclaimed the church to be historically preserved because it “provides links with the aspirations and attainments of the City’s pioneers and their descendants.” The bell tower and narthex were repaired in June 2008, as the first step in a complete restoration of the building.
Erected 2008 by A Florida Heritage Landmark Sponsored by Everglades City and the
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Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-649.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Churches & Religion. A significant historical date for this entry is October 1, 1940.
Location. 25° 51.435′ N, 81° 23.081′ W. Marker is in Everglades, Florida, in Collier County. Marker is at the intersection of Copeland Avenue South and Broadway Street East, on the right when traveling north on Copeland Avenue South. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 101 Copeland Avenue South, Everglades City FL 34139, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 5, 2015, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 461 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on November 5, 2015, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
