SCHOOLS
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Ahoskie
55Reunion
ACADEMIES
Union
Reynoldson
Institute
- history
COLLEGES
Chowan FI
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CHURCHES
Bethlehem
Baptist Church, Hertford Co, NC
organized 1835 this is third building
built 1902 by Willis Hofler of Gates Co. (as it looked ca 1955 )
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This picture was taken after lightning struck its steeple knocking off the top which was another little house and a cone which had been topped for fifty years with an ungrounded metal rod about six feet long with an arrow to show the wind direction. We were unable to find a workman who would replace the steeple as it was. I would very much like a picture of the church before it was hit by lightning.
When I was small the church was in a field with Center Grove of Hertford County and Powellville and Holly Grove of Bertie County. (That meant that one preacher preached at all four churches twice a month. (Sunday School was every Sunday.) Each church had one morning preaching service and one afternoon service during the month. Our turns were frist Sunday afternoons and third Sunday mornings. I recall once on a very hot August afternoon when the windows were all raised to give some relief from the heat; just as Rev. Teague, who was noted for his very long sermons, began his discourse a sudden breeze came into the church and took all his notes right out the window --T''was indeed a very short service that day.)
"In this distinctive gable-fronted church the boldly sculpted tower features three gables, one atop the other, amplifying the geometry of the triangular-headed doors and windows and lozenge decorations. The congregation was formed in 1835 from Ahoskie Baptist Church. The builder's contract specified a 'nice, handsome, workmanlike building' to cost $375." from A Guide to the Historic Architecture of Eastern North Carolina by Bishir & Southern 1996
Dinner on the Grounds 1960
The Atkins Home at Bethlehem
now demolished
picture clipped from 1939 Historical Ed Hertford Co Herald