City of Santa Barbara Planning Division
Memorandum
MEETING DATE: July 8, 2020
TO: Historic Landmarks Commission
FROM: Nicole Hernandez, City Urban Historian
SUBJECT: St. Paul’s AME Church, HLC Landmark Recommendation to City Council
Purpose: The purpose of this Memorandum is to provide a brief overview of the information to be presented in the attached City Landmark designation nomination:
Background: In its meeting on July 11, 2018, the HLC Designation Sub-Committee directed staff to pursue the Landmark Designation of the architecturally and historically significant, African American, St. Paul’s AME Church at 502 Olive Street, that the Historic Landmarks Commission added to the Potential Historic Resource List in 1990. Nicole Hernandez, Staff Urban Historian, sent a letter to St. Paul’s AME Church on March 15, 2019, notifying the Church that the building is both architecturally and historically significant to the City of Santa Barbara and qualifies for City Landmark designation. In May of 2019, Nicole Hernandez met with the Church leadership to discuss the details of a Landmark designation. The church took the information to the larger AME District for support of the designation. Attached to this memo and nomination is the letter of support of the Landmark designation by Presiding Bishop of the Fifth District AME Church. The nomination prepared on the California State Department of Parks and Recreation Form by Robert Ooley with the assistance of Architectural Historians: Mary Louise Days, Hattie Beresford, and Mike Imwalle, with additional Support by Nicole Hernandez, Urban Historian, Anne Petersen SBTHP, and St. Paul AME Church Representatives, outlines in detail, how the church meets five of the criteria outlined in the Santa Barbara Municipal Code to qualify for Landmark designation.
City of Santa Barbara Landmark Nomination St. Paul’s AME Church 502 Olive Street, Santa Barbara, CA
June 19, 2020i
Contents
Abstract, 2 Primary Record, 2 Pages Location Map, 1 Page Building, Structure, and Objects Record, 14 Pages Continuation Sheet – History/Founding of AME, 1 Page Continuation Sheet – Timeline of AME Church, 7 Pages Continuation Sheet – Deceased Members of St. Paul 1902-2003, 2 Pages Continuation Sheet – Oil on Masonite Mural, 2 Pages Sketch Map-Site Plan, 1 Page Sketch Map – Ground Floor Plan, 1 Page Sketch Map – Church Exterior Elevations, 3 Pages Sketch Map – Parsonage Exterior Elevations, 2 Pages Sketch Map – Composite Site Plan, 1 Page Sketch Map – 1930 Sanborn Map, 1 Page Photographic Record, 9 Pages
Abstract
No single institution was of greater importance to the social history of African Americans than the church. Founding churches gave black people some of their first experiences in organizing their own institutions after emancipation. Among the first of the community’s African American churches organized in Santa Barbara was St. Paul’s AME, founded in 1903. Methodist and Baptist continued to be the most prevalent denominations among African Americans. After meeting in houses and temporary locations, the St. Paul’s AME congregation constructed the 1916 one-story Carpenter’s Gothic style church at 502 Olive Street. The Saint Paul AME Church located in Santa Barbara California is eligible for listing at the local level as a City Landmark under Criterion lc.A, lc.C, lc.D, lc.I, and lc.K as it is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of the community’s heritage. It meets the registration requirements for churches outlined in the Multiple Property Documentation (MPD)ii Form for Historic Resources Associated with African Americans in the United Statesiii. It is significant at the local level in the context of community development. Constructed in 1916, the St. Paul’s AME Church is significant as the home of one of the oldest and most prominent African American congregations in Santa Barbara. It satisfies Criteria Consideration A for religious properties as it derives its primary significance from its historical importance to the African American community. The St. Paul’s AME Church is the oldest of the six predominantly African American churches scattered throughout the city that contribute to a unique architectural and spiritual heritage. There is a rich uncelebrated tapestry of African American culture interwoven into the fabric of the American Riviera. St. Paul’s AME was well connected to the black church in Los Angeles and nationally, taking a leadership role locally in the Western AME Conference and evincing an ability to draw nationally known ministers. A good example was the arrival of Dr. H.B. Parks, Presiding Bishop who had charge over the AME work in California. A dynamic preacher, Parks was on hand to help dedicate the newly completed church on September 1, 1916. By the time St. Paul’s had enough funds to build a new edifice, they decided it should be located on the same site as the little wood framed building constructed in 1906 by the father of a member, N. F. Hill. The original building cost the church’s congregation $700 and it could seat a modest 50 people for public and private meetings – less than .01% of Santa Barbara’s population at the time. In 1916, though the congregation had grown, funds were limited, as they could not afford to hire an architect and renowned local architects did not offer to provide services for free. This helped to lead the congregation to choose Carpenter’s Gothic as a style from which to build as it could be done easily at a modest cost of $3,500. Still a great sum of money for a small poor church, which was raised by the efforts of the congregation from offering chicken dinners, bake sales and direct appeals to the community at large. The church’s legacy has left a moral imprint on the surrounding neighborhood of the lower east side. As Santa Barbara has a history of being the first, the first to start Earth Day as an example, there were many “firsts” in the black community. The story of Jerry Forney is folklore and told often. He was said to have participated in the Centennial Parade celebrating 100 Years of Nations founding that took place in Santa Barbara in 1876. Apparently, he rode a mule draped in an American Flag and waring unlocked shackles indicating that black people were now free of slavery. Members of the congregation fought restrictive housing covenants and racial discrimination in many forms from public beaches, swimming pools, and restaurants. Members of the congregation were active in the NAACP and helped to raise Legal Defense Funds to pay for the printing of the briefs used in the arguments before the United States Supreme Court in the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas case that desegregated public schools. There were also first in most white dominated professions: police, banking, medicine, education, legal defense and social work. All make the fabric of the Santa Barbara Community and its heritage a much more compelling experience. Although the building is not the work of an architect, famous or otherwise, it is eligible under Criterion lc.C. There are few Carpenter’s Gothic structures standing in the Santa Barbara. These types of buildings are simply framed structures, clad in simply available materials, and adored with light gothic detailing. Notwithstanding that the building has experienced minor alterations on the exterior, primarily the cross members of the minor gables; these modifications are reversable under a restoration project. These modifications were more likely the result of deteriorating materials rather than a determined effort to change the aesthetic of the church. This grossly overdue and well-deserved nomination is the combined work of those listed in Section B14 (below). Over the course of 10 days, this nomination was written, researched, fact checked, and review for copy editing. We have tried our very best to: a) learn the story, struggles and challenges of the congregation that created this church; b) to under its importance within the family of architectural heritage of our community; c) to understand its importance to the African American Community and how this church has been a stalwart symbol of hope, joy and community to them for over 117 years; and d) to tell their story to our broader community of whom may not know the importance of this humble Carpenter Gothic Church on our lower east side. We humbly submit this nomination for consideration of being designated a City of Santa Barbara Historic Landmark and will continue on in efforts to get it listed on the National Register of Historic Places of the United States. As we firmly believe this site and the African American Community of Santa Barbara have made significant contributions to the development of our history and heritage here in Santa Barbara and in the Nation.
i This date was purposely selected as it represents the Independence Day of the African American Community. ii Page 3, National Parks Service, National Register of Historic Places Eligibility Requirements. iii Page 3, A standard used to evaluate church nominations not associated to their religious nature.
State of California Natural Resources Agency Primary # _
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI # PRIMARY RECORD Trinomial NRHP Status Code Other Listings Review Code Reviewer Date
Page of *Resource Name or #: (Assigned by recorder) P1. Other Identifier: *P2. Location: Not for Publication Unrestricted *a. County and (P2c, P2e, and P2b or P2d. Attach a Location Map as necessary.) *b. USGS 7.5' Quad Date T ; R ; of of Sec ; B.M. c. Address City Zip d. UTM: (Give more than one for large and/or linear resources) Zone , mE/ mN e. Other Locational Data: (e.g., parcel #, directions to resource, elevation, decimal degrees, etc., as appropriate) *P3a. Description: (Describe resource and its major elements. Include design, materials, condition, alterations, size, setting, and boundaries) *P3b. Resource Attributes: (List attributes and codes) *P4. Resources Present: Building Structure Object Site District Element of District Other (Isolates, etc.) P5b. Description of Photo: (view, date, accession #)
P5a. Photograph or Drawing (Photograph required for buildings, structures, and objects.)
*P6. Date Constructed/Age and Source: Historic Prehistoric Both
DPR 523A (1/1995)(Word 9/2013) *Required information
State of California Natural Resources Agency Primary # _
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI # PRIMARY RECORD Trinomial NRHP Status Code Other Listings Review Code Reviewer Date
Page of *Resource Name or #: (Assigned by recorder)
*P7. Owner and Address:
*P8. Recorded by: (Name, affiliation, and address)
*P9. Date Recorded:
*P10. Survey Type: (Describe)
*P11. Report Citation: (Cite survey report and other sources, or enter "none.")
*Attachments: NONE Location Map Continuation Sheet Building, Structure, and Object Record Archaeological Record District Record Linear Feature Record Milling Station Record Rock Art Record Artifact Record Photograph Record Other (List):
DPR 523A (1/1995)(Word 9/2013) *Required information
State of California Natural Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI#
LOCATION MAP Trinomial
Page of *Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) ______
*Map Name: *Scale: *Date of map: ______
DPR 523J (Rev. 1/1995)(Word 9/2013) * Required information State of California Natural Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# BUILDING, STRUCTURE, AND OBJECT RECORD
*Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) St. Paul AME Church *NRHP Status Code: 3S, 3CS, 5S2 Page 1 of 14
B1. Historic Name: Saint Paul African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church B2. Common Name: Saint Paul African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church B3. Original Use: Church of African American Community B4. Present Use: Church of African American Community *B5. Architectural Style: Church Building Carpenter’s Gothic, Late 19th-Early 20th Century Carpenter Gothici, also sometimes called Carpenter's Gothic or Rural Gothic, is a North American architectural style-designation for an application of Gothic Revival architectural detailing and picturesque massing applied to wooden structures built by house-carpenters. The abundance of North American timber and the carpenter-built vernacular architectures based upon it made a picturesque improvisation upon Gothic a natural evolution. Carpenter Gothic improvises upon features that were carved in stone in authentic Gothic architecture, whether original or in more scholarly revival styles; however, in the absence of the restraining influence of genuine Gothic structures, the style was freed to improvise and emphasize charm and quaintness rather than fidelity to received models. The genre received its impetus from the publication by Alexander Jackson Davis of Rural Residences and from detailed plans and elevations in publications by Andrew Jackson Downing. Carpenter Gothic is largely confined to small domestic buildings and outbuildings and small churches. It is characterized by its profusion of jig-sawn details, whose craftsmen-designers were freed to experiment with elaborate forms by the invention of the steam-powered scroll saw. A common but not necessary feature is board and batten siding, shiplap or horizontal butt siding. A less common feature is buttressing, especially on churches and larger houses. Fellowship Hall/Classroom Addition, American Craftsman Early 20th Century American Craftsmanii is an American domestic architectural style, inspired by the American Arts and Crafts movement, which included interior design, landscape design, applied arts, and decorative arts, beginning in the last years of the 19th century. The architectural style was most widely used in small-to-medium sized Southern California single-family homes from about 1905, so that the Craftsman style became known alternatively as "California bungalow.” The style remained popular into the 1930s and has continued with revival and restoration projects through present times. The American Craftsman style was a 20th century American offshoot of the British Arts and Crafts movement, which began as early as the 1860s. Parsonage, Mission Revival The Mission Revivaliii style was an architectural movement that began in the late 19th century for a colonial style's revivalism and reinterpretation, which drew inspiration from the late 18th and early 19th century Spanish missions in California. It is sometimes termed California Mission Revival, particularly when used elsewhere, such as in New Mexico where historically there were other Spanish missions that were not the same architecturally. The Mission Revival movement enjoyed its greatest popularity between 1890 and 1915, in numerous residential, commercial, and institutional structures – particularly schools and railroad depots – which used this easily recognizable architectural style. *B6. Construction Historyiv: (Construction date, alterations, and date of alterations) Original Building 4/3/1906 (permit date) Single story, one room wood framed building. 6/1915 Demolished to make way for current building. Current Church Building 6/1915 (assumed permit datev) Main Church constructed. 7/30/1918 minor repairs to Church. 1/3/1942 foundation was replaced on main church building.
DPR 523B (Rev. 1/1995) (Word 9/2013) *Required information State of California Natural Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# BUILDING, STRUCTURE, AND OBJECT RECORD
*Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) St. Paul AME Church *NRHP Status Code: 3S, 3CS, 5S2 Page 2 of 14 Current Fellowship Hall/Classrooms and Parsonage Buildings 2/5/1924 (permit date) Construction of Fellowship Hall including second floor classroom space and Stand-a-lone single-story parsonage building. 12/28/1925 Minor repairs to building as a result of June 1925 Earthquake. 9/23/1947 (permit date) concrete foundation replaced stone footing system under parsonage building. 2/16/1977 exterior access stair added to Fellowship Hall. *B7. Moved? x No Yes Unknown Date: Original Location: Current Site, structure has not been moved. *B8. Related Features: The entire site contains contributing resources to the nomination, including the primary structure containing the sanctuary, fellowship hall and supporting areas to the main spaces. A parsonage was added to the property in 1924 in partnership with the Masonic Lodge. There are interior features that also contribute to the historic importance to the nomination, including an Oil on Masonite mural depicting black angels’ singers in an art-deco style. Number of Resources within Property (Do not include previously listed resources in the count.) Contributing Noncontributing Resource Type 2 0 buildings 1 0 sites 0 1 structures
1 0 objects (mural) 4 1 Total B9: Architect/Builder: a. Architect: 1942 Church Foundation Replacement: Lockard & Cheeseman Architects 1977 Exterior Stairs to (e) Fellowship Hall/Classrooms: Henry Hastings Architect b. Builder: 1906 One Story Framed Building, presumed for Church Mission: N. L. Hill 1915 Current Church Building: J.J. Rodriguez 1918 Repairs Church Building: J.J. Rodriguez 1924 Single Story Parsonage and Two-Story Fellowship/Classroom Addition: C.A. Harris 1925 Post Earthquake Repairs to Church and Parsonage: R. H. Livingston 1947 Single Story Parsonage-Foundation: F.C. Villalba c. Other Contributors: 1938 Interior Painted Mural: Lilia Tuckerman, painter. Oil on Masonite *B10. Significance: (Discuss importance in terms of historical or architectural context as defined by theme, period, and geographic scope. Also address integrity) Theme: No Area: Santa Barbara County Period of Significance: 1916-1924 Property Type: Religious Applicable Criteria: Local, SBMC 22.22.040: A, C, D, I, and K State/National: A, B and C DPR 523B (Rev. 1/1995) (Word 9/2013) *Required information State of California Natural Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# BUILDING, STRUCTURE, AND OBJECT RECORD
*Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) St. Paul AME Church *NRHP Status Code: 3S, 3CS, 5S2 Page 3 of 14
1. Local Criteria (lc): lc.A. Significant value to the heritage of the city, state or nation lc.C. Identification with person or persons who have significantly contributed to the culture and development of the city, state or nation. lc.D. Exemplar of an architectural style or way of life important to the city, state or nation. lc.I. Its unique location or singular physical characterization represents an established and familiar visual feature in the neighborhood. lc.K. Its integrity strongly contributes to the wellbeing of the people of the city, state or nation. 2. State/National Criteria (sn): sn.A. Site is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history. sn.B. Site is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past. Statement of Significance No single institution was of greater importance to the social history of African Americans than the church. Founding churches gave black people some of their first experiences in organizing their own institutions after emancipation. Among the first of the community’s African American churches organized in Santa Barbara was St. Paul’s AME, founded in 1903. Methodist and Baptist continued to be the most prevalent denominations among African Americans. After meeting in houses and temporary locations, the St. Paul’s AME congregation constructed the 1916 one-story Carpenter’s Gothic style church at 502 Olive Street.
The Saint Paul AME Church located in Santa Barbara California is eligible for listing at the local level as a City Landmark under Criterion lc.A, lc.C, lc.D, lc.I, and lc.K as it is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of the community’s heritage. It meets the registration requirements for churches outlined in the Multiple Property Documentation (MPD)vi Form for Historic Resources Associated with African Americans in the United Statesvii. It is significant at the local level in the context of community development. Constructed in 1916, the St. Paul’s AME Church is significant as the home of one of the oldest and most prominent African American congregations in Santa Barbara. It satisfies Criteria Consideration A for religious properties as it derives its primary significance from its historical importance to the African American community. The St. Paul’s AME Church is the oldest of the six predominantly African American churches scattered throughout the city that contribute to a unique architectural and spiritual heritage. There is a rich uncelebrated tapestry of African American culture interwoven into the fabric of the American Riviera. St. Paul’s AME was well connected to the black church in Los Angeles and nationally, taking a leadership role locally in the Western AME Conference and evincing an ability to draw nationally known ministers. A good example was the arrival of Dr. H.B. Parks, Presiding Bishop who had charge over the AME work in California. A dynamic preacher, Parks was on hand to help dedicate the newly completed church on September 1, 1916. By the time St. Paul’s had enough funds to build a new edifice, they decided it should be located on the same site as the little wood framed building constructed in 1906 by the father of a member, N. F. Hill. The original building cost the church’s congregation $700 and it could seat a modest 50 people for public and private meetings – less than .01% of Santa Barbara’s population at the time. In 1916, though the congregation had grown, funds were limited, as they could not afford to hire an architect and renowned local architects did not offer to provide services for free. This helped to lead the congregation to choose Carpenter’s Gothic as a style from which to build as it could be done easily at a modest cost of $3,500. Still a great sum of money for a small poor church, which was raised by the efforts of the congregation from offering chicken dinners, bake sales and direct appeals to the community at large. The church’s legacy has left a moral imprint on the surrounding neighborhood of the lower east side. As Santa Barbara has a history of being the first, the first to start Earth Day as an example, there were many “firsts” in the black community. The story of Jerry Forney is folklore and told often. He was said to have participated in the Centennial Parade celebrating 100 Years of Nations founding that took place in Santa Barbara in 1876. Apparently, he rode a mule draped in an American Flag and waring unlocked shackles indicating that black people were now free of slavery. Members of the congregation fought restrictive housing covenants and racial discrimination in many forms from public beaches, swimming pools, and restaurants. Members of the congregation were active in the NAACP and helped to raise Legal Defense Funds to pay for the printing of the briefs used in the arguments before the United States Supreme Court in the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas case that desegregated public schools. There were also first in most white dominated professions: police, banking, medicine, education, legal defense and social work. All make the fabric of the Santa Barbara Community and its heritage a much more compelling experience. DPR 523B (Rev. 1/1995) (Word 9/2013) *Required information State of California Natural Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# BUILDING, STRUCTURE, AND OBJECT RECORD
*Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) St. Paul AME Church *NRHP Status Code: 3S, 3CS, 5S2 Page 4 of 14
Although the building is not the work of an architect, famous or otherwise, it is eligible under Criterion lc.C. There are few Carpenter’s Gothic structures standing in Santa Barbara. These types of buildings are simply framed structures, clad in readily available materials, and adorned with light gothic detailing. Notwithstanding that the building has experienced minor alterations on the exterior, primarily the cross members of the minor gables; these modifications are reversable under a restoration project. These modifications were more likely the result of deteriorating materials rather than a determined effort to change the aesthetic of the church. Justification of Criteria Each of the local and national criteria have been organized into general sections so as to address them in groups as follows, (lc = local criteria, and sn = state/national): Architecture/Design lc.D. Exemplar of an architectural style or way of life important to the city, state or nation. Carpenter’s Gothic The St. Paul’s AME Church was constructed by a local builder and likely with help from members of the congregation as that was the way buildings were constructed during the Period of Significance. Many residential and small farm buildings were constructed with the neighborhood pitching in to help, and while the “men” labored to erect the building, the women tended to the kids and made sure that food and drink were available. Making this an entire day, or several days of effort. This was the culture at the time and a central element of community life. Architecture patterned after Carpenter’s Gothic was one that could be executed with simple tools and modest means. There are not many buildings in Santa Barbara identified as Carpenter Gothic and even fewer Nationally by population. The simple detailing and use of common materials of the day is what makes this building unique within the family of architectural styles in Santa Barbara, and even more so with the city’s global identify in Spanish Colonial Revival. This style of architecture is often confused with American Craftsman or Victorian. American Craftsman buildings contain a palate of materials that include stone, shingles, exposed eaves, open porches, and simple details. Victorian buildings tend to be overly detailed with elaborate or intricate trim work and multiple color layers. Carpenter Gothic exhibits a few key elements that distinguish it from other similar styles. Most notably, gothic shaped elements that might take the form of windows, doors or trim work, and steep roof slopes. A gothic shape is more accurately called a “bishop’s hat” shape—taken from the shape of the hat worn by the church bishops of medieval days. In St Paul’s AME Church the bishop’s hat manifests in the transom windows and grilled openings of the belfry. In traditional Gothic Architecture these elements would be constructed of stone. American Craftsman The Fellowship Hall and Classroom addition of 1924 were constructed in the Craftsman Style. This style was a very popular design expression of the time, and while there was no architect involved in its design, the building design exhibits the typical details found in such structures. Such as horizontal siding, shingle siding, wood trim around door and window openings, and low-rise sloped roof forms with extended eaves and angled rafter tails. There are many such building examples in the neighborhood and greater Santa Barbara Community. Mission Revival/Spanish Colonial Revival The Parsonage building is constructed in a variation of Mission Revival. Spanish Colonial Revival and Mission Revival are often confused as they look similar in design; however, each have their own distinctive detailing. Mission Revival tends to be similar in its detailing, while Spanish Colonial Revival buildings tends to have more mass, bulk or wide expanses of plaster walls with no openings or detail. The St Paul Parsonage has hints of Mission Revival, while not adhering strictly to every element of the style. The flat roof crenellated parapet wall with a thicken cap is not purely Mission Revival. The rounded flat arch of the front porch echoes arches of Spanish Colonial Revival. lc.I. Its unique location or singular physical characterization represents an established and familiar visual feature in the neighborhood. The first AME Church, a wood frame building constructed by N. L. Hill, was the first of the family of buildings in this neighborhood and the first on this entire block in 1906viii. The a single-story building was demolished in 1915 to make way for the current edifice we see today. Since its construction the church has been a landmark to the African American Community. It acts as an anchor or gateway to the neighborhood. It serves and has served as a base or central gathering place for over a century. A place where babies were celebrated, where the death of a loved one was honored, a place witness to marriage vows, a place to celebrate and praise and fellowship together. DPR 523B (Rev. 1/1995) (Word 9/2013) *Required information State of California Natural Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# BUILDING, STRUCTURE, AND OBJECT RECORD
*Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) St. Paul AME Church *NRHP Status Code: 3S, 3CS, 5S2 Page 5 of 14
Community lc.K. Its integrity strongly contributes to the wellbeing of the people of the city, state or nation. It is difficult to talk about the importance of this nomination outside the context of discrimination. The blatant and forceful segregation of black parishioners in the 1780s and 1790s is what led to the creation of the African Methodist Episcopal Churchix by Richard Allen, Absalom Jones, Daniel Coker and others. Here in Santa Barbara for almost 117 years the site has been associated to the tight-knit African American Community. This was not the only house of worship for this community, but it was the first to be established. Because of wide-spread discrimination and segregation nationally at the time, black people were not allowed in white houses of worship or if they were, they were limited to a section in the back of the sanctuary. Further limitations kept black people from taking part in the sacraments in step with white members of the same congregation. Forming their own church organization provided an opportunity to be truly expressive in worship, allowed the pastors to speak to the specific struggles of his congregation, and provided the supportive environment missing for them in the white church. This site is a strong link to not only the heritage of black people in the community, and by extension the world, but also is part of an uncelebrated cultural history of Santa Barbara. Heritage and Important Persons lc.A. Significant value to the heritage of the city, state or nation St. Paul’s AME Church is significant to the architectural heritage of Santa Barbara because it is among few buildings constructed in the city in the Carpenter Gothic Style that still remains standing. While the “branded” style of the city is Spanish Colonial Revival, the lessor celebrated styles have their place in the family of architectural styles that make up the broad fabric of heritage found here. Further, the richness of culture and strength of community among African Americans in Santa Barbara and particularly this site provides depth and brings life to what draws tens of thousands of tourists to the area every year. lc.C. Identification with person or persons who have significantly contributed to the culture and development of the city, state or nation. sn.B. Site is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past. Typically, these criteria are meant to identify individuals associated and important to the development of the subject of the nomination, in this case St. Paul’s AME Church. Because this is a local nomination for designation as a City Landmark, the nomination has taken the liberty to use this section to document a few key individuals important to and have contributed to the cultural development of the African American Community AND may have been associated with St. Paul’s AME Church. For more detail, see the section below [Person(s) of Importance in the Community]. Jerry Forney was born into slavery on a plantation in North Carolina. He is said to be the first blackx person to call Santa Barbara home, taking up residence in a small wood framed house at Yanonali and Anacapa Streets. He was a slave when he was brought to California in the early 1850s to forcibly work in the gold mines of northern California. North Carolina, being a slave state and California not, the moment Jerry crossed the California state line he was in free territory. When the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was signed, Jerry became a free man, along with about 3 million other black people in American. He was an advocate for free black people and worked hard to find a way for those in North Carolina to come to California. In 1876 during the Centennial Celebration Parade down State Street, Jerry rode a mule draped in an American Flag, he wore metal shackles unlocked to show he was a free man. Nathaniel Hill was instrumental in helping to acquire the site where St. Paul’s AME Church stands today. The Simms family has a long history of community involvement, Bill Simms mother was the first black women to work for the Santa Barbara City Police Department, her sister Julia was the first black banker. It is impossible to list and describe every person who has made significant contributions to the heritage of Santa Barbara and the particular contributions to the African American Community in Santa Barbara, and this nomination.
DPR 523B (Rev. 1/1995) (Word 9/2013) *Required information State of California Natural Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# BUILDING, STRUCTURE, AND OBJECT RECORD
*Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) St. Paul AME Church *NRHP Status Code: 3S, 3CS, 5S2 Page 6 of 14
Heritage-Founding of AME: See Continuation Sheet. Person(s) of Importance in the Community There are countless African American individuals who have contributed, and are currently contributing to the heritage of Santa Barbara, and while each of their stories are important to the history of the community, here are a few key stories: Jerry Forney (1820-1904)xi: He arrived in Santa Barbara County, specifically Lompoc in 1881-2, and is regarded as Santa Barbara’s first black resident (see endnote x.) While he did not start in Santa Barbara upon his arrival in California, he did eventually settle here occupying a house at the corner of Yanonali and Anacapa Streets. He died in early February 1904 at the age of 84-85, there are no records of his birth which was on a North Carolina Plantation. Forney came to California as a slave in 1852 to be worked in the gold mines of California. He refused to leave when his master returned to North Carolina. He was working as a laborer in Amador County in 1870 and then joined Montgomery Queen’s Circus in which he rode an old white mule. The circus came to Santa Barbara in 1875. He deserted the circus but kept the mule and appeared in the Centennial celebration of 1876 on his mule draped in an American flag and symbolically wearing opened shackles. He opened and conducted the first bootblack stand in the city and kept at it until rheumatism caused him to retire. He married late in life to Martha (1885.) In 1881, he proposed to create a colony of African American workers in Santa Barbara by recruiting them from South Carolina, and nearly 500 people signed a petition approving of the plan. In 1884, he announced his candidacy for mayor. It is not clear if he followed through on a campaign or was placed on the ballot of the next election. He was not a member of the St. Paul AME Church because he passed before the church was established. He is a key figure in the early development of the black community. Nathaniel F. Hill (1856- 1936): an African American, was born in Georgia circa 1853. He was married to Belle Hill. The 1880 Census has him (24) living in Walton, Georgia with Belle, (22) Anna (6), Charlie (2) and Francis (1) No occupation is listed. The 1900 Census has him (48), Belle (46), daughters Anna (23) and Bertha (11) and son Willie (15) and grandson Johnnie Cooper (7 months) living in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a drayman (drove a flat bed wagon that delivered goods), and Anna is a dressmaker. At some point, they moved to Santa Barbara. For a short time they lived at 401 East Haley but during most of his life here, they lived at 608 Santa Barbara Street. The 1910 Census shows him and Belle living with daughter Bertha (19) and son Willie (22) and grandson Johnny Cooper (10). He always registered to vote, usually as Republican, but at least once as Socialist. He died on June 23, 1936 and is interred at SB Cemetery. He was born about 1848. Nathaniel Hill was instrumental in the early development of the AME Church in Santa Barbara, being involved in the construction of the very first building (1906) in Santa Barbara for use as a place of worship of the black community under the AME Conference framework. Willie Rowan: civil rights proponent who fought for racial equality with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in the 1920, 30 and 40s. Rev. Silas L. Wright (S. L. Wright): was among the first minister of St. Paul’s AME Church. He lived at 225 E. Cota and was 54 years old and born in 1846. His importance to the development of the church includes the initial purchase of the Olive Street site and vision of the church for the early congregation. Unfortunately, he passed before he could see his vision fully realized. Rev. Robert E. Arrington: served at various towns in California. In 1896 he served in Chico and Red Bluff. In 1897 he served in Bakersfield and attended the 13th annual conference of the AME in Los Angeles. He was reproved for reports stating he was in the habit of quarreling and being too severe on his flock. In 1901, he is at Red Bluff. In 1925, the AME church at Pismo was dedicated. Arrington was the pastor but and was recuperating from an illness in Santa Monica. Ministers in attendance were Rev. Grand Evans of Montecito, Rev. McMillan of Los Angeles, Rev. E.W. Haney of Pismo, and Rev. F.C. King. He came to SB as new pastor of AME. First sermon “The Saving Powers of the Church of Christ.” Arrington was a native of Meriden, Mississippi. He received his religious training at AME school at Wilberforce, Ohio. Has served in various towns in California for 10 years. He was “sent by the bishop to replace Mr. Wright who built the colored mission on Haley street,” but Wright became too ill to continue. Arrington said there are now about 80 African Americans in SB. Rev. Jonas N. Cherry: was born in 1870 in Texas, identified himself as mulatto, and his occupation as preaching. He roomed at the home of Maria C. Trujillo at 218 Santa Barbara Street in 1910. In 1912, he was a pastor in Pomona. (1910 Census, City Directories, and ancestry.com) Rev. J. Arthur Duncan: was in Santa Barbara in 1917 with his wife Annie L. Duncan. They lived and owner a home at 435 Haley Street. His was DPR 523B (Rev. 1/1995) (Word 9/2013) *Required information State of California Natural Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# BUILDING, STRUCTURE, AND OBJECT RECORD
*Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) St. Paul AME Church *NRHP Status Code: 3S, 3CS, 5S2 Page 7 of 14 the pastor of St. Paul A.M.E. Church the after the construction of the church. The church’s address at this time is 501 E. Haley. Rev. Charles A. Harris: He is pastor of St. Paul African M E Church. He is living at the church at 502 Canal (Olive) Street and wife Ella.
Anita Johnson Mackey Shirley Graves Kennedy, PhD. Herman and Valencia Nelson Dr. Horace McMillan, MD Grover Barnes Christine and Bill Simms
Bill and Christine Simms: who live on lower Santa Barbara Street, the same block where they both grew up. Following a typical journey for many African American families of the World War II era, Bill Simms’s father, Bodie, left Oklahoma and came to the Central Coast to work for the military at Port Hueneme Naval Base. After settling into the house at 329 Santa Barbara Street, they founded the Lewis Chapel Christian (back then “Colored”) Methodist Episcopal Church in 1945 and built the bright white church on the same site a few years later. As a 10-year- old, Simms remembers plenty of businesses that wouldn’t serve African Americans, and even saw “with my own eyes” Ku Klux Klan cross burnings at the corner of Voluntario and Gutierrez streets, a sign that African Americans should stay on the Eastside. “You didn’t see any black people on State Street,” he recalled. In the early 1970s, Bill — whose mother was the first African American hired by the Santa Barbara Police Department and whose sister Julia was the first African-American banker in town — was named the human relations director for the City of Santa Barbara, making him the city’s first-ever African-American department head. Because he pushed so hard for affirmative action in employment and housing, his appointment — which also included work to get the Franklin Neighborhood Center built — didn’t last long, as the forces that be ended funding for the job. Anita Johnson Mackey: Anita Johnson Mackey is a Santa Barbara community leader and nationally recognized social service worker. As a licensed clinical social worker, she worked for the Veteran's Administration for thirty years in three cities: Chicago, as the first African American supervisor in social service; Los Angeles as the first African American supervisor there; and Santa Barbara as administrator of the Social Work Service Office. Mrs. Mackey was born in Riverside, California as one of eight children. At the age of ten she lost her mother and was raised by her father and an older sister. She received her early education in California. She earned a B.A. in speech from the University of Redlands in 1937. She earned her M.A. degree in medical social service administration from the University of Chicago in 1941. Mrs. Mackey has also taught at various colleges and universities, including teaching as a field instructor in the School of Social Welfare at UCLA, and for Atlanta University and the University of Chicago. At Santa Barbara City College, Mrs. Mackey was the first instructor of the overwhelmingly popular course "Afro- American Culture," in response to the great need at the time and due to the realization that there were few African Americans available to teach such courses. Dr. Shirley Graves Kennedy, PhD (1927-2003): Integral to the establishment of the Black Studies Department at UCSB, where she was the outreach coordinator for years, Kennedy was an activist extraordinaire for both racial and gender issues in Santa Barbara for three decades. Honored with an Independent Local Hero Award in 1991, Kennedy’s life inspired both the 2009 documentary It Was All of Us and an annual memorial lecture at UCSB. Herman and Valencia Nelson began delivering surplus government food to hungry Eastside residents; their efforts helped in the early formation of the Foodbank of Santa Barbara with other community leaders. Dr. Horace McMillan, MD (1919-2001): was the first black pharmacist-mate in the United States Coast Guard. He arrived to Santa Barbara in 1952. He was one of the four founding members of the Family Medical Center on Arrellaga Street, helped start the Franklin Neighborhood Center, and fought for equality in housing. As a physician on staff at both Cottage and St. Francis Hospitals, he managed to stop St. Francis’s practice of segregating black patients. Along with several other general practitioners, McMillan was one of the founding members of Goleta Valley Community Hospital (now owned by Cottage).
DPR 523B (Rev. 1/1995) (Word 9/2013) *Required information State of California Natural Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# BUILDING, STRUCTURE, AND OBJECT RECORD
*Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) St. Paul AME Church *NRHP Status Code: 3S, 3CS, 5S2 Page 8 of 14
Grover Barnes (1906-2010): a Texas native, he came to Santa Barbara in the 1940s. In 1942 he was hired by the Miramar Hotel as a porter and one year later was the first African American promoted to Bell Captain a title he held for thirty-five years. It has been said that Grover Barnes is an inimitable part of history of Montecito. His level of service is remembered by generations of guests. He was known for his warm hospitality and gentle spirit. In 2001, Grover Barnes was voted as a Local Hero in Santa Barbara and was affectionately called "The Ambassador of Hospitality." He was intensely involved in many community organizations including: the NAACP Santa Barbara Chapter, the Brotherhood of Santa Barbara, the Masonic Lodge, the East side Study Group and the George Washington Carver Scholarship Society. He was a member of the St. Paul AME Church for more than 60 years. Deceased Church Members (1903-2003), See Continuation Sheet Previous Pastors Rev. A. J. Errington Rev. A.J. Lewis Rev. F. Morton Rev. C.C. Carter Rev. T.J. Burwell Rev. J.E. Fletcher Rev. T.A. Patterson Anna Prior (Leader for 6 months) Rev. James. W. Webb Rev. A. Fields Rev. J. Thomas Rev. X.C. Runyan Rev. Lee Norris May Rev. F.A. Harris Rev. J.C. Nixon Rev. A. Stoval Rev. Harry Davis Rev. LC. Owens Rev. Julius Brooks Rev. Jerome Smith
DPR 523B (Rev. 1/1995) (Word 9/2013) *Required information State of California Natural Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# BUILDING, STRUCTURE, AND OBJECT RECORD
*Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) St. Paul AME Church *NRHP Status Code: 3S, 3CS, 5S2 Page 9 of 14
Detailed Description of Resource Neighborhood Area: 1162 acres Existing Dwelling Units: 278 Location: The Lower East Neighborhood is bounded on the north by Cota Street; on the south by Highway 101; on the east by a line mid-block behind commercial properties along Milpas Street; and on the west by Santa Barbara Street. The Lower East is generally developed with a mix of industrial, manufacturing, commercial, office and automotive type service uses. There is a scattering of both single family and multi- family particularly in the area of Nopal and Jennings streets and along Cota Street towards Milpas Street. The commercial area near Milpas and Cota Streets has a General Plan designation of Commercial/High Density that allows a range of 12-18 du/acre or 28-36 du/acre if using the Average Unit-Size Density Incentive Program. The area is currently zoned C-G, General Commercial and C-M, Commercial Manufacturing. Lower East Neighborhood Map Site This 7,645 square foot parcel is situated at the corner of Olive and Haley Streets. At the time the church was constructed, 1916, Olive Street was named Canal Street. The street name was changed in the 1920s when the City undertook the formalizing of the street grid and naming conventions. The general vicinity of this area of Santa Barbara was lower in elevation than surrounding land, and as such was mostly wet as the alluvial plane of Santa Barbara slopes toward the Pacific Ocean. The dimensions of the site are 51 feet 6 inches (east-west) by 150 feet (north- south) with a 1 foot 6-inch westerly jog narrowing the toward the north for one-third of the length of the site. While the site is generally flat, it does slope toward the south. From the time of construction in 1916 until 1975 the church stood with no buildings on adjacent parcels. In 1975 a small commercial building was constructed inches from the eastern property line which effectively blocked any openings on the east elevation of the church and fellowship hall. The 1975 placement of the adjacent building is offensive and insensitive to the St. Paul’s AME Church facility. The site was originally owned by the Santa Barbara Development Company and sold to S.L. Wrightxii who was involved in the construction of the church and the first pastor. He unfortunately passed before the 1916 Church could be finished. He constructed the first structure (dashed line rectangle on the plan on page 8) used as a church for a tidy sum of $700. The Santa Barbara AME Church has been on this site since 1906. The Current Carpenter’s Gothic Church was constructed for $3,500; costs of the 1924 Fellowship/Classroom addition and Parsonage are unknown. Original 1906 Framed Building (demolished in 1915) It is believed that shortly after the forming of the church in 1903, a simple framed building was constructed on the site, presumedly as a place to hold church services for the fledgling new church. This is prior to the church owning the property. The construction of this one-story framed building is supported both by recorded building permits and the 1907 Sanborn Map of the area. This structure was constructed through the efforts of N.L. Hill for the sum of $700. No images of it could be found in public records. Current Church Facility It is estimated that the current church building was constructed in 1916xiii. The general footprint of the church building is a rectangular of approximately 48 feet by 82 feet. The main sanctuary and immediate support spaces are a single story in height. The Fellowship Hall is a two- story high structure with classrooms on the second floor with an internal stair and an exterior stair added in 1977. The church was constructed in 1916 for the sum of $3,500 paid to J.J. Rodriguez contractor. South Elevation (facing Haley Street) Primary Gable The South facing building elevation is comprised of a primary gable end of the sanctuary and bell tower that also encompasses the main entry to the building. The primary gable end of the façade is generally symmetrical at the ridge point. The 2x8 rake board is supported away from the
DPR 523B (Rev. 1/1995) (Word 9/2013) *Required information State of California Natural Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# BUILDING, STRUCTURE, AND OBJECT RECORD
*Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) St. Paul AME Church *NRHP Status Code: 3S, 3CS, 5S2 Page 10 of 14 wall plane with flat 1x3 outriggers. A 1x3 trim piece is situated at the rake board edge at the roof plane and extends the full length of the rake board. The rake board is further supported by wooden brackets of 6x6 projecting elements and 4x4 diagonal elements positioned on a 4x4 stop. Centered on this elevation is a Palladian style window configuration modified with the top elements arranged in the shape of a bishop’s hat. Palladian style windows place a larger or giant order in between each window, and doubles the small columns supporting the side lintels, placing the second column behind rather than beside the first. In this church building the openings are strictly windows, as they enclose the sanctuary. Pilasters are replaced with simple wood trim. The window arrangement consists of four equal openings, centered on the elevation. The bishop’s hat transom window is further divided into smaller bishop’s hat segments. Missing from this section of the elevation are 2x6 cross ties spanning between the upper rake boards configured with vertical and 45-degree diagonals. This detail only remains on the smaller gable over the front door on the West Elevation. Steeple Tower At the west end (Site Plan, Point B) of this elevation is the steeple tower. The north face of the tower truncates the rake board of the gable roof. Towers were not a part of Christian churches until about AD 600, when they were adapted from military watchtowers. At first, they were fairly modest and entirely separate structures from churches. Over time, they were incorporated into the church building and capped with ever-more- elaborate roofs until the steeple resulted. Towers are a common element of religious architecture worldwide and are generally viewed as attempts to reach skyward toward heavens and the divine. Some wooden steeples are built with large wooden structural members arranged like tent poles and braced diagonally inside both with wood and steel. The steeple is then clad with wooden boards and finished with slate tiles nailed to the boards using copper over gaps on corners where the slate would not cover. The steeple tower on this structure has a lower gabled section of roof on the south and west elevation, primarily to provide cover to the front entry doors. The composition of towers is divided into four parts: tower, belfry, lantern, and spire; this tower is absent the lantern section. Just above the smaller gable projecting roof is the wood-grille of the belfry, which is expressed in the shape of a bishop’s hat with abutting vertical trim pieces capped with a wooden element. The entire tower is clad in horizontal 1 x 4 siding with 1x4 corner trim. The cornice of the belfry is configured with engaged crenellations at regular intervals. The spire of the tower is comprised of four steep roof planes clad in asphalt shingles. Finally, the spire is capped with a modest finial. The entire elevation is sitting on a raised concrete foundation (replaced in 1942) with a wood trim and metal flashing element at the floor line above the finish ground. A continuance metal vent is part of the assembly. West Elevations (facing Olive Street) General Composition This view represents the longest visible elevation, beginning at the south-west corner (Point B) and moving north; the first element is the steeple tower; continuing north, supporting spaces of the sanctuary; continuing north, two-story structure containing the Fellowship Hall and original Parsonage on the second floor. The fascia board is a modest 2x4 running the length of the exposed eave. There is a modest connecting segment of building between the church and parsonage/fellowship hall with a lower pitched (sloping) roof of 4 in 12. A single door is located within an alcove with a shallow sloped concrete walk with a steel pole handrail. A small double hung window is located in the wall to the north of the door. A modest fascia board terminated the eave line. The north-west section of the property is where the single story 1924 residence is located. This building will be described in its own section below. Steeple Tower Composition of the steeple tower is the same as described on the South Elevation (above): lower projecting gable roof over front double door, bishop’s hat belfry, engaged crenellations cornice, and steep asphalt shingled roof planes. Five red tiled steps lead up to a small porch at the front doors. The red tile is not original. The small projecting gable roof has an upper horizontal tie board with vertical and diagonal elements. A small cap is mounted on the lower mid-point of the cross members. Minor Gable The minor gable is configured similarly to the larger gable on the South Elevation and centered on the overall wall span. The rake board is detailed with the same elements of 1x3 trim over an 2x8 fascia supported by flat 2x4 outriggers. At each opposing corner, level with the primary plate line are knee brackets projected to support of the rake board. Center on the wall plane at the ridge line are three large double hung windows DPR 523B (Rev. 1/1995) (Word 9/2013) *Required information State of California Natural Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# BUILDING, STRUCTURE, AND OBJECT RECORD
*Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) St. Paul AME Church *NRHP Status Code: 3S, 3CS, 5S2 Page 11 of 14 trimmed with a transom window in the shape of a bishop’s hat. Layered wood trim forms the drip cap and sill completes the compilation. The bishop’s transom window is further divided into small bishop’s hat shapes. The roof form is placed at a 12 in 12 pitch and solid framed into the primary church roof. East Elevations (adjacent to neighboring building) Because of the construction of an adjacent building in 1975 within inches of the property line, the east elevation is completely obscured from view. Church Interior/Mural Sanctuary/Nave The sanctuary is generally square in shape with a sloping floor toward the alter and Nave. Wooden pews are organized along a central aisle centered on the Pulpit. The ceiling is mostly flat, rounding to a wood trim piece at the head line of windows and doors. The Nave ceiling is slightly sloped for better acoustic projection. There are steel tension ties across the space at two locations. Angels Mural Church Sanctuary The mural located on the back wall of the Nave, was painted by Lilia Tuckerman, circa 1938. The 36 inches by 72-inch piece is entitled “Angels Singing Spirituals,” executed Oil on Masonite. The shape of this piece is flat bottom and sides rising to a shallow arched top with a sharper arc at the vertical transition of the top corners. The scene depicts a central angel with arms outstretched facing forward. There is a set of three angels left and right of the central figure. The left side set has a center angel facing forward, with the angle between the key central angel, facing left. The third angel is kneeling facing right. The group of angels on the right side are just the opposite. The background has three gold crosses, one for each of the members of the Trinity. A tri-cluster of grapes are located in four locations above in the background. The Angels Mural (see continuation sheet for more detail) colors are purple background, gold crosses and gowns of the angels, and green angels’ wings. 1924 Fellowship/Classroom Addition and Parsonage Building Fellowship Hall and Classrooms Addition The Fellowship Hall and Classroom Addition were the result of a partnership between the St. Paul’s AME Church and the Freemasons in 1923- 24. The Freemasons were looking for a meeting space and the church also need a place for the congregation to gather outside of the sanctuary. This portion of the structure is two-stories with a low pitch (4 in 12) sloped roof. The entire structure is sitting on a raised floor with continuance foundation venting located just below the trim board at the finish floor level. Horizontal shiplap siding is applied to the lower portions of this section of the building with cedar shingles from the ground floor plate line to the roof soffit. The shiplap siding is contained at the building corners with a 1x4 trim piece. West Elevation (facing Olive Street) On the West Elevation, there are a pair of doors located in the center of the wall at the ground floor, trimmed in 1x4 wood elements. There is a single double hung window the right of these doors, also trimmed in 1x4 wood elements. There are two concrete steps up to the door pair at the ground floor. There are simpler wood knee brackets at the rake/eave points. A ridge board projects beyond the wall plane to the rake board. Situated high on the rake wall is an ornamental attic window with a multiple layer drip cap and extended sill element. At the second floor are two-pair of double hung windows trimmed in 1x4 wood elements and projecting wood sill. South Elevation (facing Haley Street) This elevation is only partially visible as it is obscured by the single-story element of the main church building intersecting this wall plane. There are two single double hung windows, one at the ground floor and the other at the second floor. The rafter tails are exposed with a 1x2 fascia trim from which to fasten the roof flashing. North Elevations (facing the Parsonage) The North facing elevation is primarily that of the Fellowship Hall. The ground floor shiplap siding continues around this elevation. At the DPR 523B (Rev. 1/1995) (Word 9/2013) *Required information State of California Natural Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# BUILDING, STRUCTURE, AND OBJECT RECORD
*Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) St. Paul AME Church *NRHP Status Code: 3S, 3CS, 5S2 Page 12 of 14 north-east corner is a double hung windows with 1x4 trim and projecting wood sill, there is another window at the second floor in the same location. There is a stair (added in 1977) to the second floor where a door has been installed to enhance the emergency exiting of this floor. To the right of this door is a single double hung window with 1x4 wood trim and projecting wood sill. Rafter tails are exposed with a 1x2 flashing support at the edge of the roof. Parsonage Building This little house is a-typical of those constructed in Santa Barbara in the early 20th Century. The building is basically a stucco clad box with a flat roof surrounded by a low parapet wall. The parapet wall is articulated with a crenellations cornice with an exaggerated stucco cap. The entire structure is placed upon a raised floor whose foundation was replaced in 1947. Openings on the remaining elevations are sliding configurations with stucco trim surrounds and small is size. The attic is vented with horizontal clay tile vents set at a slope and engaged in the stucco wall assemble. South Elevation (facing Haley Street) There few openings on the elevation: a) a three-foot by four-foot sliding window surrounded in a modest plaster trim; b) a two-foot by three- foot horizontal sliding windows surrounded with a modest plaster trim, c) a small two-foot eight door with a lite on the top half to the door. A small metal eyebrow provides cover to the door. There is a concrete step and stoop providing access up to the door. Embedded perforated clay tile vents situated within the line of roof framing members. West Elevation (facing Olive Street) A projecting roof section provides for a covered porch, centered in the elevation, a wood guardrail encloses the porch. The porch roof is supported by plastered columns. There are two window openings, one each side of the porch element with an asphalt shingle roof eyebrow. The windows are adorned with a slightly broader plaster surround than those of windows on other elevations. The concrete steps leading up to the porch has been replaced with a shallow ramp. North Elevation (facing adjacent parking lot) This elevation is similar to the south elevation, there are two window openings trimmed with a narrow plaster element. There are embedded tile vents at the roof framing line. East Elevation (facing rear yard and adjacent parking lot) This elevation is similar to the other elevations, simple clean walls with few openings. There are three window openings: a) two-foot by four- foot sliding window with modest plaster trim, b) two-foot by three-foot sliding window with modest plaster trim, and c) three-foot by four-foot sliding window with modest plaster trim. There are embedded clay tile vents at the roof framing line.
B11. Additional Resource Attributes: (List attributes and codes)
*B12. References: Wikipedia, Carpenter Gothic Architecture, 2020, www.wikipedia.com Wikipedia, American Craftsman Architecture, 2020, www.wikipedia.com Wikipedia, Mission Revival Architecture, 2020, www.wikipedia.com Kathi Brewster, Architectural and History Survey-St Paul’s AME Church, City of Santa Barbara, September 18, 1990 Kathi Brewster, Architectural and History Survey-St Paul’s AME Parsonage, City of Santa Barbara, September 19, 1990 Mary Louise Days, Inventory Worksheet St. Paul’s Church, City of Santa Barbara, June 13, 1995 Mike Imwalle, Sanborn Mapping Research, Trust for Historic Preservation, 2020 County Recorder, Grant Deed – St Paul’s AME Church, County of Santa Barbara, June 10, 2020 DPR 523B (Rev. 1/1995) (Word 9/2013) *Required information State of California Natural Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# BUILDING, STRUCTURE, AND OBJECT RECORD
*Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) St. Paul AME Church *NRHP Status Code: 3S, 3CS, 5S2 Page 13 of 14
Staff Writer, Death Claims “Uncle Jerry”, Morning Press, February 2, 1904 Staff Writer, Shirley Kennedy, 76, Los Angeles Times, January 23, 2003 Staff, Environmental Conditions Report – St Paul’s AME Church, City of Santa Barbara Community Development, June 10, 2020 Archive, Keith Lockard Papers, Online Archives of California www.oac.cdlib.org, June 10, 2020 Archive, Henry Hastings Papers, Online Archives of California www.oac.cdlib.org, June 10, 2020 Public Records, Secure Property Database – St Paul’s AME Church, County of Santa Barbara, June 10, 2020 Staff, California State Plane Coordinate System, California Department of Conservation, June 10, 2020 Archive, Photographs of St Paul’s AME Church, Black Gold Library System, June 10, 2020 Staff, Completing National Parks Service – National Register of Historic Places, National Parks Service, 1995 Dennis C. Dickerson-General Officer AME “Mother” Church, History of the AME & Formation of Church Organization, AME www.ame- churhc.com, 2020 Hattie Beresford, Timeline of St Paul’s AME Church Santa Barbara, June 10, 2020 Right Reverend Reuben Ford, St. Paul’s AME Church 100 Year Celebration, St Paul’s AME Church, 2003 Shirley Wright, 100 Year History of St. Paul’s AME Church, Church Historian, 2003 Right Reverend Jeff Clark, History of St. Paul’s AME Church – Santa Barbara, May 18, 2010 Staff, African M.E. Gives Real Chicken Dinner, Morning Press, August 17, 1922 Staff, Services Held for Mamie Ophelia, Morning Press, October 9, 1921 Staff, African Bishop Comes to Preach, Morning Press, August 27, 1916 Staff, Fine Reception Given for Bishop, Morning Press, September 9, 1916 Staff, New Pastor for Colored Church, Morning Press, September 16, 1906 Mary Louise Days, City Permit Records, June 10, 2020 Staff, Technical Assistance Services #13, State Office of Historic Preservation, 2020 Carol Kenyon and Patty West, Assessment of Angels Mural, South Coast Fine Arts Conservation Center, 1993 B13. Remarks: This grossly overdue and well-deserved nomination is the combined work of those listed in Section B14 (below). Over the course of 10 days, this nomination was written, researched, fact checked, and review for copy editing. We have tried our very best to: a) learn the story, struggles and challenges of the congregation that created this church; b) to under its importance within the family of architectural heritage of our community; c) to understand its importance to the African American Community and how this church has been a stalwart symbol of hope, joy and community to them for over 117 years; and d) to tell their story to our broader community of whom may not know the importance of this humble Carpenter Gothic Church on our lower east side. We humbly submit this nomination for consideration of being designated a City of Santa Barbara Historic Landmark and will continue on in efforts to get it listed on the National Register of Historic Places of the United States. As we firmly believe this site and the African American Community of Santa Barbara have made significant contributions to the development of our history and heritage here in Santa Barbara and in the Nation.
*B14. Evaluator:
DPR 523B (Rev. 1/1995) (Word 9/2013) *Required information State of California Natural Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# BUILDING, STRUCTURE, AND OBJECT RECORD
*Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) St. Paul AME Church *NRHP Status Code: 3S, 3CS, 5S2 Page 14 of 14
Primary Documentation, Research, and Drawings: Robert L. Ooley, FAIA, Preservation Architect 201 Oliver Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 Additional Research Conducted by: Architectural Historians: Mary Louise Days, Hattie Beresford, Mike Imwalle Nicole Hernandez, Urban Historian, City of Santa Barbara Additional Support: Anne Petersen SBTHP, and St. Paul AME Church Representatives. *Date of Evaluation: June 2020
Endnotes i Page 1, Wikipedia. Carpenter Gothic Definition ii Page 1, Wikipedia. American Craftsman Definition iii Page 1, Wikipedia. Mission Revival Definition iv Page 1, See Continuation Sheet – St. Paul AME Church Timeline v Page 1, News clip date August 27, 1906 stating completing of church over a years effort. vi Page 3, National Parks Service, National Register of Historic Places Eligibility Requirements. vii Page 3, A standard used to evaluate church nominations not associated to their religious nature. viii Page 5, Sanborn Map Book 1907 Santa Barbara, page 8, 1907 ix Page 5, Nomination Continuation Sheet – Founding of the AME Church x Page 5, Jerry Forney’s status as the first black man to live in Santa Barbara is folklore. There were hundreds of individuals of Spanish or Mexican decent with African American Ancestry. xi Page 6, Morning Press, February 2, 1904, Obituary xii Page 9, S. L. Wright purchased the site initially. xiii Page 10, Newspaper clipping August 27, 1916
DPR 523B (Rev. 1/1995) (Word 9/2013) *Required information
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
CONTINUATION SHEET – Founding of the AME Church
St. Paul AME Church
2 Formation of the AME Church
The AMEC grew out of the Free African Society (FAS) which Richard Allen, Absalom Jones, and others established in Philadelphia in 1787. When officials at St. George’s MEC pulled blacks off their knees while praying, FAS members discovered just how far American Methodists would go to enforce racial discrimination against African Americans. Hence, these members of St. George’s made plans to transform their mutual aid society into an African congregation. Although most wanted to affiliate with the Protestant Episcopal Church, Allen led a small group who resolved to remain Methodists. In 1794 Bethel AME was dedicated with Allen as pastor. To establish Bethel’s independence from interfering white Methodists, Allen, a former Delaware slave, successfully sued in the Pennsylvania courts in 1807 and 1815 for the right of his congregation to exist as an independent institution. Because black Methodists in other middle Atlantic communities Figure 3: Bishop Richard Allen encountered racism and desired religious autonomy, Allen called them to meet in Philadelphia to form a new Wesleyan denomination, the AME.
The geographical spread of the AMEC prior to the Civil War was mainly restricted to the Northeast and Midwest. Major congregations were established in Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Washington, DC, Cincinnati, Chicago, Detroit, and other large Blacksmith’s Shop cities. Numerous northern communities also gained a substantial AME presence. Remarkably, the slave states of Maryland, Kentucky, Missouri, Louisiana, and, for a few years, South Carolina, became additional locations for AME congregations. The denomination reached the Pacific Coast in the early 1850’s with churches in Stockton, Sacramento, San Francisco, and other places in California. Moreover, Bishop Morris Brown established the Canada Annual Conference. Figure 2: Bishop Absalom Jones
The most significant era of denominational development occurred during the Civil War and Reconstruction. Oftentimes, with the permission of Union army officials AME clergy moved into the states of the collapsing Confederacy to pull newly freed slaves into their denomination. “I Seek My Brethren,” the title of an often repeated sermon that Theophilus G. Steward preached in South Carolina, became a clarion call to evangelize fellow blacks in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Texas, and many other parts of the south. Hence, in 1880 AME membership reached 400,000 because of its rapid spread below the Mason-Dixon line. When Bishop Henry M. Turner pushed African Methodism across the Atlantic into Liberia and Sierra Leone in 1891 and into South Africa in 1896, the AME now laid claim to adherents on two continents.
While the AME is doctrinally Methodist, clergy, scholars, and lay persons have written important Figure 1: Bishop Daniel Alexander Payne works which demonstrate the distinctive theology and praxis which have defined this Wesleyan body. Bishop Benjamin W. Arnett, in an address to the 1893 World’s Parliament of Religions, reminded the audience of the presence of blacks in the formation of Christianity. Bishop Benjamin T. Tanner wrote in 1895 in The Color of Solomon – What? that biblical scholars wrongly portrayed the son of David as a white man. In the post civil rights era theologians James H. Cone, Cecil W. Cone, and Jacqueline Grant who came out of the AME tradition critiqued Euro-centric Christianity and African American churches for their shortcomings in fully impacting the plight of those oppressed by racism, sexism, and economic disadvantage.
Today, the African Methodist Episcopal Church has membership in twenty Episcopal Districts in thirty-nine countries on five continents. The work of the Church is administered by twenty-one active bishops, and nine General Officers who manage the departments of the Church.
Source: Dennis C. Dickerson, Retired General Officer, AME https://www.ame-church.com/our-church/our-history/
DPR 523L (Rev. 1/1995)(Word 9/2013) Page 1
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
CONTINUATION SHEET – Timeline of St. Paul AME Church St. Paul AME Church *NRHP Status Code: 3S, 3CS, 5S2 Page 1 of 7
Timeline St. Paul’s AME Church—During Period of Significance (Unless otherwise noted, the information comes from the Santa Barbara Morning Press and was compiled by Hattie Beresford on June 9, 2020; update June 10, 11, 14, & 21)
Date Topic
1889 June 15: County School Census: Number of children between ages of 5-17: white—4,462 of which 3,154 attended public school; negros—12, of whom 8 attended school; Indian – 1 and he attended school; Chinese – 5, none of whom attended public school. There were 276 white children who attended private school.
1902 May 13: Number of children between ages 5 and 17: white—1,795; negro – 3; Indian (Native American) –8; native born Mongolians (Chinese) --9
1903 July 8: Report of Booker T. Washington’s speech in Louisville, Kentucky.
July 26: “Reverend George W. Woodbey, the negro orator, will lecture at Co-op. hall this afternoon at 2:30. His subject will be Was Jesus Christ a Socialist? There will be no charge for admission.”
Reverend George Washington Woodbey (1854-1937) was an influential African American minister, author, and socialist. Woodbey was born a slave in Tennessee but learned to read at a young age. (Wikipedia)
August 5: Conference of L.A. district of A.M.E. church ended session at Monrovia A.M.E. Zion church. According to the article, the presiding elder of the district, Rev. M. W. Bynum, “has been untiring in his efforts to build up the district and make it what it should be. This connection to the church was organized in NYC in 1796 and embraces a wide territory taking in Africa and Bahama Islands as well as U.S. It has over 500,000 members, churches valued at millions of dollars, and is controlled by eight bishops.” (Los Angeles Herald)
1905 November 5: The African Methodist Episcopal church of Zion was organized that past week by Rev. M.W. Bynum of Los Angeles. Services were to be held in Channel City Hall every Sunday at 11 am and 7:30 pm. Bynum said he expected to remain permanently in Santa Barbara. The article stated, “The growing colored population of the better class has felt the need now filled by the organization of this church; and it is the intention of Rev. Bynum and his flock to maintain a close watch on the social welfare of the negroes of this city, and co-operate heartily in all worthy efforts for the betterment of their condition.”
Rev. W. Martin or Martin W. Bynum was born in 1844 in North Carolina, therefore, he was probably born into slavery, and he died in Los Angeles in 1907 at age 63. He was buried at Angelus Rosedale Cemetery. His voter registration record for Los Angeles says he was a minister of the Gospel.)
December 21: Subscription was taken up by members of AME for purchase of the old east side Methodist church, which had been unoccupied for several years.
DPR 523L (Rev. 1/1995)(Word 9/2013)
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
CONTINUATION SHEET – Timeline of St. Paul AME Church St. Paul AME Church *NRHP Status Code: 3S, 3CS, 5S2 Page 2 of 7
Date Topic
1906 February 11: African M.E. Church: Services Sunday afternoon were to be held at 3 o’clock in the little East Side M.E. church by Silas L. Wright, pastor. A cordial welcome was offered to all. [Mary Louise Day found that 1895-96 directory lists site of the Methodist Episcopal church as the corner of Alisos and Yanonali Streets.]
March 15: Rev. S. L. Wright, pastor of new AME church, announced that his church had purchased and paid for a lot and for the building stone to be used on the structure. The contract was let to N.F. Hill and work was to commence the following week.
Nathaniel F. Hill, an African American, was born in Georgia circa 1853. He was married to Belle Hill. The 1880 Census showed him at age 24 living in Walton, Georgia, with Belle, (22) Anna (6), Charlie (2) and Francis (1) No occupation was listed. (The 1900 Census showed him (48), Belle (46), daughters Anna (23) and Bertha (11), and son Willie (15) and grandson Johnnie Cooper (7 months) living in Atlanta, Georgia. He was a drayman (drove a flat bed wagon that delivered goods), and Anna was a dressmaker. At some point, they moved to Santa Barbara. For a short time they lived at 401 East Haley but during most of their life here, they lived at 608 Santa Barbara Street. The 1910 Census showed him and Belle living with daughter Bertha (19) and son Willie (22) and grandson Johnny Cooper (10). He always registered to vote, usually as Republican, but at least once as Socialist. [Perhaps after Reverend Woodbey’s visit in 1903] He died on June 23, 1936 and is interred at SB Cemetery. He was born about 1848.
Silas L. Wright, a minister, lived at 225 E. Cota and was 54 years old and born in 1846 according to Voter Registration information from 1900-1918. [This has to be him though birth date or age is off. I thought he must have come up from L.A. but there are so many different Silas L. Wrights living and dying about the right time in L.A. that it’s impossible to trace him from there. [Ancestry.com: voter registration, city directories, Find a Grave].
March 16: Deed: Santa Barbara Development company to The California Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal church, 50 x 250 feet on Haley street, commencing at the south corner of block 224, Santa Barbara; $10.
May 16: School Census reports: In Santa Barbara, there were 2,403 children between the ages of 5 to 17. Only three were black.
August 5: Announcement for chicken dinner and entertainment of music and recitations at the church on the following Thursday. Proceeds wee to be used for purchase of seats for the church.
September 16: Reverend R.E. Arrington had come to SB as the new pastor of AME. First sermon was “The Saving Powers of the Church of Christ.” Arrington was a native of Meriden, Mississippi. His religious training was at the AME school at Wilberforce, Ohio. He had served in various towns in California for 10 years. He was, according to the newspaper, “… sent by the bishop to replace Mr. Wright who built the colored mission on Haley street,” but Wright became too ill to continue. Arrington said there were about 80 African Americans in SB.
Robert E. Arrington served at various towns in California. In 1896 he served in Chico and Red Bluff. In 1897 he served in Bakersfield and attended the 13th annual conference of the AME in Los Angeles. He was reproved for reports stating he was in the habit of quarreling and being too severe on his flock. In 1901, he was at Red Bluff. In 1925, the AME church at Pismo was dedicated. DPR 523L (Rev. 1/1995)(Word 9/2013)
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
CONTINUATION SHEET – Timeline of St. Paul AME Church St. Paul AME Church *NRHP Status Code: 3S, 3CS, 5S2 Page 3 of 7
Date Topic Arrington was the pastor but was recuperating from an illness in Santa Monica. Ministers in attendance at the Pismo dedication were Rev. Grand Evans of Montecito, Rev. McMillan of Los Angeles, Rev. E.W. Haney of Pismo, and Rev. F.C. King. [There was a Reverend Ralph R. King who became pastor of St. Paul’s and was there for the installation of the Lilia Tuckerman mural of the angels in 1938. Connection?]
October 7: Old fashioned southern dinner was given by women of AME in vacant store at 430 State Streets to raise funds for completion of the little church on Haley Street. Church was established locally by Rev. Wright, but it was not finished because of lack of funds and health breakdown. There are plans for many entertainments and events to raise the money. [Menu is extensive! – see article!]
October 14: Arrington thanked people of Santa Barbara for generous patronage of benefit dinner the previous Thursday.
December 10: Sunny Lucas discusses race relations in the Morning Press.
The City Directory lists the address of the African Methodist Episcopal Church as being on Haley and the northeast corner Canal [today’s Olive Street]. No S.L. or J.P Wright is listed, nor were they in 1905, but there was a Silas Wright who was a black minister.
1907 February 14: A southern dinner was offered by ladies of the church at 428 State Street on February 22nd. The press reported, “We hope the good people will not eat at home, and come and eat some of our southern dinner, cooked like mamma used to cook it.” Mrs. De Boise was chairman of the committee. Bill of fare: Chicken gumbo soup a la New Orleans; salad, potato a la Mississippi; New England dinner a la Boston; old fashioned chicken pie a la Alabama; spare ribs of pork, sweet potatoes; corn bread a la Georgia; hot biscuits; dessert, lemon pie (ice cream and cake 10 cents extra); coffee and creme a la Texas.”
May 9: School Census showed a total of 1427 children between the ages of 5 and 17 years. Number of native-born Mongolian children (Chinese) – 3; Number of negro children – 7; number of white children – 2427 (Latino children listed as white in these days). Number of children under the age of 5: white—788; negro—2; Mongolian—7. Native born, 3131; Foreign born, 102. Number not vaccinated – 105.
June 2: Ad: “African M.E. Mission. East Haley street. Rev. R.E. Arrington, pastor. Sunday school at 3:30 p.m.; mid-week services, Wednesday evening; literary society, every Thursday evening.”
1908 January 19: Two church services with Reverend T. B. Bynum preaching plus a Sunday school.
[This was Thomas Benjamin Bynum and he was only here for a little over a year before returning to Los Angeles where he had a long career as a minister. He died at age 74 on June 9, 1924 in Los Angeles. The 1909 S.B. city directory had him living at 227 E. Cota Street– ancestry.com: voter registration, city directories, and death records.]
January 12: Article about threat to remove the color line on Upper Castillo Street to spite neighbor who refuses to take down a noisy windmill. What it reveals is that there definitely was a “color line” for where African Americans could live. Title of article “Removes Color Line on Upper Castillo.”
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DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
CONTINUATION SHEET – Timeline of St. Paul AME Church St. Paul AME Church *NRHP Status Code: 3S, 3CS, 5S2 Page 4 of 7
Date Topic
1909 May 6: “TIDY SUM RAISED FOR AFRICAN CHURCH” read the headline for an article about a fundraiser, to defray expenses of recent repairs to church, at home of Mrs. Martha Thomas. “Music floated in the air above the chatter of the voices of the throng which filled the house. Gaily colored lanterns burned on the lawn in front of the house lighting up the prettily decorated booths on the front porch.” Mrs. B. Conway and Mrs. James Payne were in charge of fancy work, “where many things dear to the feminine heart were displayed. Mrs. McNorton dispensed ice cream and cake. Mrs. Hill and Mrs. Bray assisted Mrs. Thomas in preparing and serving the dinner. Mrs. James M. Johnson and Miss Bertha Hill presided at the tea and chocolate urns.”
[City directory of 1909 shows William J. Thomas, a laundryman employed by Keran Laundry living at 125 Crandall. 1910 Census has him, age 43, mulatto, born Virginia; wife Martha N. Thomas, mulatto, age 36, housekeeper born Tennessee; stepson age 10 and his grandmother, Sally Pean age 93, living on Crandall.]
August 8: Rev. J.N. Cherry, pastor – services announced. (Same ad is in paper on May 16, Sept. 5, August 15, Aug. 29Nov. 7, Nov 14)
Jonas N. Cherry was born in 1870 in Texas, identified himself as mulatto, and his occupation as preaching in a church. He roomed at the home of Maria C. Trujillo at 218 Santa Barbara Street in 1910. In 1912, he was a pastor in Pomona. (1910 Census, City Directories, and ancestry.com)
1910 No mention of the local AME church in the newspaper for this year. ??? why??
1911 May 14: Series of revival meetings wee held that past week at AME by Sister Pryor, a well-known evangelist preacher, and would continue the coming week.
May 21: “Rev. Mr. E Byer, pastor for Sunday services; Tuesday, literary society meets.”
June 1: A neck-tie and clothes pin entertainment by AME to benefit church. Ice cream, ham sandwiches and coffee served. B. Conway, young law student, and O.G. Colemen, student of ministry was to speak. Pastors were Reverend and Mrs. Priar.
June 20: General mass meeting of African-American citizens was to be held at AME church the coming Friday. G. Coleman, chairman of the Men’s Forum club, called the meeting. “We are looking for every colored man and women in Santa Barbara to attend and give us their views.”
1912 Lots of news articles for Mount Olive Baptist Church; none for AME.
1913 July 20: Public was invited to big dinner on July 24th at corner State and Anapamu streets in Hawley building. Dinner was provided by Mrs. A.H. Brown and a few ladies of the First M.E. church assisted by Mrs. W.M. Graham. [This is where the connection to First ME and AME is evidenced.]
1914 March 19: Booker T. Washington was to speak at the State Normal School (today’s Riviera Park.) This school became U.C.S.B.
DPR 523L (Rev. 1/1995)(Word 9/2013)
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
CONTINUATION SHEET – Timeline of St. Paul AME Church St. Paul AME Church *NRHP Status Code: 3S, 3CS, 5S2 Page 5 of 7
Date Topic July 16: Rev. R. H. Harbert, presiding elder for the African Methodist church for district covering California and Nevada, came to SB for quarterly Concert held at church on East Haley Street. Pastor of SB’s AME was Rev. Silas E. Newell, then completing his third year in SB with the possibility of continuing for a longer term. [1911-1912 City Directory has Reverend S. E. Newell residing at 623 Canal (Olive) Street. The 1914 directory shows him as living at, and owner of, 106 E. Yanonali Street.
November 25: “A concert will be given at the African M.E. church Thanksgiving evening at 8:15 o’clock. The program will we as follows: Song, ‘America,’ audience; recitation, C. Green; essay, Miss L. Taylor; scripture reading, Rev. A.J. Lewis; vocal duet, Mrs. J. Payne and Miss A. B. Porter; ‘Thanksgiving Proclamation,’ S.H. Hopkins; reading, Mrs. G.E. Forney; instrumental duet, Mrs. B. Stokes and J.E. Cooper; closing address, L.C. Smith. Refreshments will be served.” [Reverend A.J. Lewis lived at 427 Rose Avenue in the 1915 CD.]
December 5: “A sacred concert will be given Sunday evening at the A.M.E. church. The program as been arranged and will be given under the direction of G.W. Reed. The program, which begins promptly at 8:15 will be as follows: “All Hail the Power,” sung by the choir; scripture reading and prayer by the pastor; “Loyalty to Christ” choir; address, Al Graves; solo, Mr. Wells; paper, Mrs. Forney; silver offering.”
1915 December 7: Building campaign was started and had raised already 805 dollars in pledges. Congregation was not satisfied with the current building and wanted to erect one that would be a greater credit to itself. Subscribers were listed.
1916 March 3: Women of the AME gave a 3-day bazaar to benefit church building fund at a storeroom at 617 State Street. Fancy articles, and homemade candies, jellies, jams, pies, and more were for sale. The membership of the church had grown from 12, at the time of the coming of the current pastor, the Rev. J.A. Duncan, five months ago, to 44. There were good prospects for further increase. They urgently needed larger and better accommodations, and members were appreciative of any outside help to further their “worthy plan of building a new house of worship.”
City directory of 1917 lists Rev. J. Arthur Duncan and wife Annie L. Duncan as living at, and owners of, 435 Haley Street. He is pastor of St. Paul A.M.E. Church. [This is the first time I’ve seen “St Paul” as part of the name and I believe it may not have been called this until then. The church’s address at this time was 501 E. Haley.]
March 4: AME women continue bazaar.
March 14: Negro Jubilee Singers were to perform at Normal School to raise funds for Booker T. Washington’s Tuskegee Institute.
August 8: Deed: California Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal church, to the African Methodist Episcopal church of Santa Barbara, $1; same as last.
August 8: An order was made in the application to mortgage property of African Methodist Episcopal church property to the sum of $1,200, setting the date for hearing August 21, 1916.
August 9: PASTOR OF AFRICAN M.E. CHURCH CALLS FOR HELP. He said they’d managed to have a new church building erected on their lot on corner of East Haley and Canal (Olive) streets at cost of about $3000. The building would be turned over to them on or before August 17, but they needed to raise $500 more to pay for it before they could get the keys. They were asking “the kind and generous-hearted” public to assist by sending a donation. The notice was signed: Reverend J.A. Duncan. DPR 523L (Rev. 1/1995)(Word 9/2013)
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
CONTINUATION SHEET – Timeline of St. Paul AME Church St. Paul AME Church *NRHP Status Code: 3S, 3CS, 5S2 Page 6 of 7
Date Topic
August 27: New AME church completed. On Sept 1, Right Reverend H.B. Parks, presiding bishop of the California annual conference was to come to Santa Barbara to deliver a sermon. “This will be the first colored bishop in the history of Santa Barbara to preach here.” All were invited to come out and hear him and make his visit a success.
September 2: Large number “of the white population” turned out to hear Parks deliver an uplifting address.
October 29: Young AME people planned to give a Halloween party the next day at church.
1917 January 11: Fish supper was to be served at residence of Mrs. B.G. Goodwin, 927 Santa Barbara Street.
March 27: AME was used as polling place for voters in the second precinct. Church offered the site when Supervisor Sam Stanwood went to Rev. A.J. Duncan, the pastor, to make the request. Duncan is quoted as saying, “The white people of this city have been very kind to our people. They, by their contributions, made it possible to build this church and I am glad to have some little chance to show our appreciation.”
August 11: Deeds: N.F. and Belle Hill to Bertha Hill Stokes for $1 a lot in Block 268; to Sarah Payne, wife of James, for $1, a lot in block 225; and to Anna Hill Cooper, widow, for $1, a different lot in block 225. (See MP article for details)
1918 July 31: “The Galilean” a sacred Cantata to play at AME by its choir augmented by other talent. Public invited. No door fees.
August 11: Members of St. Paul AME church were campaigning for funds to fill their lot by building a parsonage and a social hall. Article says the church was established as a mission 12 years ago. [This may be inaccurate – more like 14-15 years ago.] The article mentions that now that a new church has been built, they feel they now need to complete the improvements so the church can be all that it should be to the community. Asking for friends of the church to subscribe to raising the $1000 needed to complete the facility. They plan for a rally September 1. Pastor was listed in the paper as Rev. C.C. Carter.
1919 March 23: Prince Kaba Rega, a native of Unyore tribe of British East Africa came to speak in Santa Barbara churches. He was a missionary of the AME and wanted to bring Christianity to his people, whose king he would be someday, he claimed. He was to speak in morning at St. Paul AME church, address the Women’s Mite society in afternoon and on Monday to give an illustrated lecture. Later in week he was to address the First M.E. Church.
March 25: An article of promotional and biographical information about Kaba Rega was published in the newspaper. [Other evidence I’m gathered refers to questions of his authenticity and his ideas about Liberia. He was investigated by the FBI as well as Marcus Garvey who, along with other black leaders, thought he was a fraud and con artist hoping to score big with donations for his causes which would never see a dime of the money. Other people think he’s the honest.]
May 1: Buds of Promise, a children’s organization of the AME was to hold a May Queen contest under direction of Mrs. C. Chapman for benefit of Sunday school and children of the community. “The contest for the queenship will be between three girls known as Faith, Hope, and Charity. Their solicitation among friends will begin May 1.”
DPR 523L (Rev. 1/1995)(Word 9/2013)
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
CONTINUATION SHEET – Timeline of St. Paul AME Church St. Paul AME Church *NRHP Status Code: 3S, 3CS, 5S2 Page 7 of 7
Date Topic
August 5: Funeral for James Bond, a 62 year old African American, held at funeral chapel with Rev. James H. Thomas of Mount Olive Baptist church and Rev. G. W. Carter, pastor of the AME officiating. (These initials are probably a mistake as C.C. is most common in the articles.
August 9: Rev. C.C. Carter to speak in Salvation Army Hall.
July 29: The only two African American Presbyterian ministers on Pacific Coast were guests of Mrs. M.J. Ferguson and both occupied the pulpit for Rev. Dr. Fletcher at the AME that Sunday and were his dinner guests.
October 12: An ad for St. Paul A.M.E. Church announced that the pastor was C.C. Carter and services were as follows: Sunday school at 9:30 am, morning service at 11 am; services at 6;45 and 8 pm; and Missionary Society to conduct Bible study at 3 pm.
1921 October 9: Funeral service for Mamie Ophelia Smith at AME Church with Reverend Charles A. Harris conducting assisted by Rev. H. B. Thomas of Mount Olive Baptist church. Pall bearers were Eugene Shands, James Fletcher, J.B. Davis, William Fagan, Peter B. O’Garro, and Andrew Ferguson.
It was well attended and there were many beautiful floral offerings.
[1922 City Directory: Reverend Charles A. Harris and wife Ella resided at 502 Canal (Olive) Street. He was pastor of St. Paul African M E Church. NOTE: There is another Charles A. Harris living in town at 1216 Santa Barbara Street. Different man.)
1922 April 2: An article entitled “Where Happy Homes Abound” gives a list of churches in Santa Barbara and tells something about each. In the section it says, “For Colored People: The number of colored people in this city has materially increased during the past twenty years, and they have church facilities to meet all demands in Mount Olive Baptist church, of which the Rev. H. B. Thomas is pastor at 23 East Gutierrez street, with 50 members and a large Sunday school. The African M.E. church has 40 members and a good-sized Sunday school. Its pastor is the Reverend C.A. Harris.”
June 17: Negro societies to join in Fourth of July plans by arranging to enter floats.
August 17: Chicken dinner to benefit AME church. Cost 75 cents. Menu: fried spring chicken with golden brown gravy, fluffy mashed potatoes and stewed sweet corn, tempting combination salad and hot biscuits with home made lemon pie for dessert and coffee and iced tea. [Sign me up!]
October 17: On a tour of inspection, the Right Reverend William Alfred Fountain, bishop of the 18th Episcopal district of the AME church was to visit SB that day and preach at the church that night. All were invited. [Fountain was born in Georgia, was Bishop in California starting in 1920, and then became Bishop of 9th district in Georgia for the rest of his career/calling. Various websites]
At this point, further newspaper searches will require going through the actual newspapers page by page!
DPR 523L (Rev. 1/1995)(Word 9/2013)
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
CONTINUATION SHEET – Decease Members 1903-2003 St. Paul AME Church *NRHP Status Code: 3S, 3CS, 5S2 Page 1 of 2
Names of those of who have Curtis Hill Frank Garby built and sustained the church Curtis Smith Frank Huff during its first 100 years. In no D. Ruth Williams Frank Seymour particular order. Daisy Harris Fred Seymour Daisy Merritt Gene Williams Complied by Shirley Wright, Deaconess Laura Simmons George Moore Church Historian, 2003 Dessa Conway George Reid Don Hinton Geraldine Kelly DECEASED MEMBERS OF ST. PAUL Doris Brands Geraldine Ogarro (1903-2003) Dorkas Tyus Gladys Moten Dr. Horace McMillan Glynn Johnson Agatha Reid Earl Johnson Guy Workcuff Agnes Moore Earlie Deloney Harold Reid Albert Seymour Eddie Williams Harry Smith Helen Ford Angus Smith Edna Frazier Helen Ford Woodard Ann Denton-Primous Edna Kolheim Helen Hart Anna Cooper Edward Seymour Helen Smith Stein Anna Davis Edward Smith Henry Jones Anna White Effie Payne Speed Frances Polley Love Stevenson Anna White Eli Williams Henry Walker Annie Ogarro Ella Aldridge Herman Williams Arthur Glover Ella Harris Irene Spencer Azalea Carr Ella R. Smith J.K. Payne Barbara Williams Elodie Jones Jack Halson Beatrice Green Emma Davis James F. Smith Beatrice Taylor Emory King James Norman, Jr. Bell Hill Ernest Bellis James Norman, Sr. Ben Ogarro Ernest Stewart James Stewart Bernice Franklin Ernestine Lawson James Wilson Janie Jones Bertha Hill Essie Dawkins Jean Walls Bessie V. Hill Estelle Varner Jeanne Jefferson Betty Jean Williams Esther Dubois Jennifer Mathews-Robinson Beulah Benjamin Eugene Harris Jesse Morgan Bill Tolliver Eugenia Chapman Jettie Walker Birdie Plummer Eugenia Forney Jimmy Williams Blanche Kennedy Thomas Eula Patton Joe Ann Jackson Blanche Seymour Eva Buckner John Davis, Jr. Carrie Franklin Evelyn Mose John Davis, Sr. Charity Willlams Evelyn Williams John Stewart, Jr. Charles Frazier Evelyn Young John Stewart, Sr. Charles Harris Fannie Majors Johnnie Deloney Charlotte Smith Fannie Taylor Johnnie Homer Ciscero Henderson Florence Payne Green Josh Mosby Cornell Young Frances Lang Bynum Joyce Johnson-Allen Corrine Stephens Frances Polly Julia Spencer DPR 523L (Rev. 1/1995)(Word 9/2013)
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
CONTINUATION SHEET – Decease Members 1903-2003 St. Paul AME Church *NRHP Status Code: 3S, 3CS, 5S2 Page 2 of 2
Kenneth Spencer Martha Bennett Violet Williams LE. Cooper Sue Morgan Olive Eichelberger LS. Spencer Martha Forney Walter Williams, Jr. Laura Webb Susan Carr Smith Pam Stewart Leeta Walls Marvin Seymour Walter Williams, Sr. Lena Sears Susie Hawkins Paul Benjamin R .M. Lawson Mary Bush Will Price Leora Talbert Susie Mccraney Smith Pearl Bess R.J. E. Cooper Mary Coles Willa Mae Walker Lois Williams Susie Williams Pearl Lang Raymond Williams Mary King William A. Hill Lorene Jefferson Suzanne Redd Peggy Boykin Rev. B.G. Goodwin Mattie Moten William Boykin Lorrainenton Tai Price Peter Ogarro, Sr. Robert Powell Mattie Ruth Palmore William D. Varner Louversa Harris Thelma Spencer Peter Villalba Romania Wright . Mattie Smith William Redd Love Stevenson Theodore Shands Phillip .Nunn Rose Stone Max King William Thomas Lucy Seymour Theonia Harris Pierce Moten Roxie Nunn Mildred King Yvonne Jones Lynelle Hunt Thomas Andrews Roy Forney Minnie Scott Mabel Cunningham Tommy Miller Ruby Cruse Mother Hodge Mabel Price Truman Moore Ruby Edwards Mother Julia Duggar Mabel Sims Ulysses Mose Ruth Payne Whitfield Mother Mary Saul Mae Williams Vera Moten Sally Garby Nat Tyus Mamie Ofelin Smith Vera Smith Sally Smith Walton Nathan Williams Mamie Wilson Vernice Rance Sam Williams Nathaniel Hill Margaret Burton Vertis Young Samuel Coles Nelson Lang, Jr. Margaret Forney Viola Fagan Sarah Monroe Nelson Lang, Sr. Margaret Smith Viola Mosby Sarah Payne Norma Hinton Margie Andrews Viola Price Senora Moore Obie Palmore Marsalee Dennis Violet Prowell Stephen Crenshaw Oda Edwards DPR 523L (Rev. 1/1995)(Word 9/2013)
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
CONTINUATION SHEET – Oil on Masonite Mural St. Paul AME Church *NRHP Status Code: 3S, 3CS, 5S2 Page 1 of 2
Artist: LILIA TUCKERMAN (1882-1969) Inspired during a church service at St. Paul’s AME Church in 1936, Lilia Tuckerman painted these angels singing spirituals. She was not a church member. She enjoyed the energy that the St. Paul’s Church Choir exhibited the day she attended, remembering her childhood Nanny. Tuckerman was well known for her oil painted landscapes taken from inspiration of the Central Coast. This is Tuckerman’s only piece with black angels as the subject matter.
The models for the mural were parishioners at St. Paul’s AME, including the minister’s wife, Mrs. Ralph King (Mary P. King), who modeled for the central angel. The others are listed in a clipping as: Dorothy Wright, Sally Smith, Eva Buckner, Dorothy Chapman, and Lillian Telfair. When I attended St. Paul’s AME with my mother in the 1990s, one of the former models was there, and greeted us warmly. I believe it was Mrs. King. She was quoted in a 1992 News-Press article as saying, “My husband used to tease me, and said when I was on the warpath he would go over to the mural and see me as an angel.”
DPR 523L (Rev. 1/1995)(Word 9/2013)
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
CONTINUATION SHEET – Oil on Masonite Mural St. Paul AME Church *NRHP Status Code: 3S, 3CS, 5S2 Page 2 of 2
The mural was dedicated Jan. 20, 1938, with representatives of the First Methodist Church and All Saints-by-the- Sea participating. Lilia Tuckerman also painted panels for Trinity Church and All Saints by the Sea, which are still in place (except, for the moment, All Saints, which currently is undergoing huge renovations.)
Tuckerman Background Born Lilia McCauley in 1882, she grew up in Washington, D.C. Before her marriage, she took classes at the Corcoran Art School. In 1903 she married Wolcott Tuckerman. During the summers Lilia studied with Charles H. Woodbury in Ogunquit, Maine, and with George Noyes of Boston. After the Tuckermans and their 4 daughters moved to Montecito in 1915, Lilia continued to study art with Dewitt Parshall. In 1920, the Tuckermans moved into their ranch house in the foothills above Carpinteria. A fifth daughter had been born in 1916, but Lilia Tuckerman managed to continue painting, teach Braille, and organize a group of women to transcribe books into Braille. Lilia Tuckerman was a very devout woman, who believed that her artistic talent was a God-given gift. Whenever she sold a painting, she would give the proceeds to charity. Some time in the late 1930s, she and her husband attended a service at St. Paul’s AME. During the service, Lilia studied the space behind the choir, and envisioned the mural that she ultimately completed in 1938. As a young child in Washington, she had had a black “mammy,” Barbara Williams. When Lilia had daughters of her own in Washington, they in turn had a “Mammy” named Mary Jane Robinson. According to clippings from 1938, Lilia wanted to honor these 2 women by painting a mural with “colored” angels. Lilia Tuckerman belonged to numerous artists’ organizations, and exhibited widely on both the east and west coasts.
DPR 523L (Rev. 1/1995)(Word 9/2013)
State of California Natural Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI#
SKETCH MAP Trinomial
Page of *Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder)
*Drawn by: *Date of map: ______
DPR 523K (Rev. 1/1995)(Word 9/2013) NOTE: Include bar scale and north arrow.
State of California- Natural Resources Agency Primary# DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# SKETCH MAP Trinomial
Page _1_ of 1 *Resource Name or# (Assigned by recorder) St. Paul AME Church
*Drawn by: Robert L. Ooley, FAIA *Date of map: 06/19/2020
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Site Development Description The site was developed over the period of eighteen-years from the first building erected in 1906 until the construction of the Fellowship Hall and Parsonage in 1924.
1906: Construction of one-story wood framed building 1916: Carpenter Gothic Church building 1924: Craftsman Fellowship Hall and Classroom addition 1924: Bungalow Parsonage with Spanish Revival Detailing
DPR 523K (Rev. 1/1995)(Word 9/2013) NOTE: Include bar scale and north arrow.
State of California Natural Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI # PHOTOGRAPH RECORD Trinomial
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DPR 523i (Rev. 1/1995)(Word 9/2013) State of California Natural Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI # Trinomial PHOTOGRAPH RECORD
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