National Register of Historic Places

Salem Baptist Church

Alton, Madison County, Illinois
Listed
December 31, 2013
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
13001004

About this property

The Salem Baptist Church is a historic African-American Baptist church located at 2001 Seiler Road in Foster Township, Madison County, Illinois. Built in 1912, the church was the third built for the Salem congregation, which formed in 1819. African-American stonemason Madison Banks and white contractor Samuel Marshall, both from Alton, built the church; they were assisted by two members of the congregation, John Walker and William Emery. The church served as a civic and social center for the local black community during the early 20th century, as African-Americans faced rampant segregation and discrimination in public spaces. The church hosted events such as picnics and dinners, hay rides, and fashion shows for its congregation. In addition, the congregation organized a Ladies Aid Society for its female members, which sponsored a college scholarship program, and a Progressive Club for its youth. The church's membership declined after the 1960s, a consequence of both integration and rural flight. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 31, 2013.

Location

2001 Seiler Rd.
Alton, Madison County, Illinois
38.96879, -90.12251

Categories

BLACKSOCIAL HISTORY
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Godfrey, Benjamin, Memorial Chapel
Industrial
3.8 mi
Upper Alton Historic District
Listed
4.5 mi
Mount Lookout
Industrial
5.4 mi
Haskell Playhouse
Industrial
5.6 mi
Middletown Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Listed
5.7 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of the Sink Hole
1815Early Republic
7.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Salem Baptist Church listed on the National Register?

Salem Baptist Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 31, 2013.

What type of historic resource is Salem Baptist Church?

Salem Baptist Church is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Salem Baptist Church?

The period of significance for Salem Baptist Church is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Salem Baptist Church?

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