NewAhoskie Baptist Church
New Ahoskie Baptist Church sits grandly on Catherine Creek
Road after getting its start in 1866. It is the oldest black church
Oldest black church in Ahoskie has
new name — New Ahoskie Baptist
By Clarence S. Newsome
New Ahoskie Baptist Church.
Ahoskie Centennial Committee
The oldest black church in
Ahoskie has a new name — the
New Ahoskie Baptist Church.
The church was organized in
1866 under the leadership of the
Rev. Emanuel Reynolds in a one-
room cabin on John Jemigan's road
at a spot referred to as Snow Hill.
Two years later, the Rev.
AME church
takes over,
renovates
old building
By Virginia A. Watson,
James Duggins
and Bruce Garner
Wactor Temple AME Church
AHOSKIE — Wactor Temple
African Methodist Episcopal Zion
Church is derived from the old St.
Paul A.M.E. Zion Church on
Catherine Creek Road.
The origin of the old St. Paul
A.M.E. Zion Church is unknown
to present members of Wactor
Temple.
James Duggins, Ida Duggins and
Virginia Watson discussed the pos
sibility of re-opening St. Paul
A.M.E. Church to re-establish a
black Methodist Church in
Ahoskie.
The old church building, how
ever, needed excessive and costly
remodeling. In the meantime, the
Jehovah's Witness Hall was put up
for sale, and James Duggins, Ida
Duggins and Ms. Watson made ar
rangements with Planters Bank to
purchase the building.
Bishop Wactor offered financial
assistance, and in his honor and
memory, the church name was
changed to Wactor Temple A.M.E.
Zion Church.
Several Methodists who lived in
surrounding areas and others who
moved in town joined the new
church.
Specific renovations were made
to the hall so that it would take on
the appearance of a Methodist
church.
AHS girls on streak
The Ahoskie High School girls'
basketball team continues a streak
with 16 consecutive wins. The
starters were center Minnie Louise
Parker, forwards Nancy Jemigan and
Marguerite Vinson, and guards Katy
Cherry, team captain Louise
Boyette and Helen Mitchell.
New bookkeeper
Miss Nona Cowan began her new
job as bookkeeper for Parker Bros.
Publishing Co.
Rev. Smith is pastor
The Rev. J.L. Smith is pastor of
the Ahoskie charge, which includes
the Methodist Episcopal churches
in Harrellsville, Powellsville,
Colerain and Ahoskie.
Editor's note: These news
nuggets were supplied by Mrs.
Martha Hope Basnight Smith and
appeared in the Feb. 21.1935 issue
o/The News-Herald.
Reynolds and his congregation de
cided to relocate.
Jenkins family involved
A documented deed found at the
State Archives in Raleigh and dated
1868 indicated that the sons of
Stephen Jenkins Sr. — Charles,
Perry, Wright, James, Stephen Jr.
and Lawrence — were directly in
volved in the negotiation and pur
chase of a plot of land from
William C. and Nancy Jenkins, his
wife, for a house of worship "to be
built for the coloreds in the south
ern part of the county."
Mrs. Jenkins, being much in
sympathy with their idea of acquir
ing a new place of worship, deeded
to them, for a nominal fee, a plot
of land, the present site, on which
to erect their church building.
The first church structure, on this
site at Catherine Creek Road and
Hayes Street, was built in 1869. It
r
IlliiSi**'
%:■
Congratulations to Ahoskie
During the
Centennial
Celeberation
We are proud to have served
the Ahoskie and the
Roanoke-Chowan for the
past 24 years.
Qm lity Home Furnishings Since 1969.
•Free Delivery
•Special Orders
•Budget Terms
Quality Furniture •Layaway Plan
Main Street Ahoskie
arters
The News-Herald, Friday, July 2,1993
News nugget from 1935
The Fashion Shop has new
spring dresses for $3.95 and suits
for S5.95.
Editor's note: This news
nugget were supplied by Mrs.
Martha Hope Basnight Smith and
appeared in the Feb. 21,1935 issue
t?/The News-Herald.
in the town. The structure was remodeled twice before the present
building was constructed. (Photo by Jay Jenkins)
Congratulations, Ahoskie, On Your
Centennial Celebration!
Ahoskie
CITGO
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AHOSKIE
332-2522
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consisted of a frame building with
weather boards straight up and
down, with one door and four win
dows but without a steeple. It had a
seating capacity of 200 people.
The church building was remod
eled two times before construction
of the present sanctuary which oc
curred during the pastorate of the
Rev. Dr. William D. Tyree Jr.
(Sec NEW AHOSKIE, 12B)
Happy 100th Birthday
Own A Bit of Ahoskie's History
In this recently renovated 4 bedroom, 11/2 bath, two story brick
home. Freshly painted inside & out. Features living room with fire
place, dining room, den, breakfast room, utility room, 11/2 car
garage. Owner Says Make Offer! $89,500. L-485.
Action Realty Company
220 S. Academy Street r*|^
Ahoskie. N.C. 27910 I l"^
I 332-4663 or 332-HOME
t=r
Congratulations,
AHOSKIE
on your 100*'’Birthday!
Wactor Tempie AME Zion Church
Wactor Temple African Methodist Episcopal to the former Jehovah's Witnesses Hall to make it
Church is located at First Street and Catherine take on the appearance of a Methodist Church.
Creek Road in Ahoskie. Renovations were made (Photo courtesy Ahoskie Centennial Committee)
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