January 2, 2005

County's Oldest Church Building Leveled by Charley

Part 2 Of Series “Gone But Not Forgotten”

Hurricane Charley devastated many historic structures in Punta Gorda – the greatest loss being the First Baptist Church built in 1891. It was the oldest church building in Charlotte County.

The Peace River Baptist Association reported in 1888 that a new church had been organized at Punta Gorda. Prior to that time, Baptists participated in ecumenical services at a community meeting hall on the southwest corner of Martion and Gill streets.

Col. Isaac Trabue, the town’s founder, contributed the building in late l886 or early 1887. From the beginning, it was used also for a combined school and inter-denominational church.

Prayer services were held there for white families on Sunday mornings. Local men -- recognized for character -- led simple services consisting of singing favorite hymns without musical accompaniment, perhaps a homily, and a prayer.

Weddings and baptisms were postponed until an ordained minister came to town.

Within a year or so, the Baptists were of sufficient number to support a congregation. They met in a roller skating rink over a livery stable. Baptisms were conducted in the harbor near Sullivan St.

First Baptist records state the original congregation consisted of nine members. Among them were M/M James L. and Mary L (nee Seward) Sandlin, M/M James M. and Martha (nee Sandlin) Morgan, and Mrs. Nancy Linquish. Others are not known.

Sandlin and Morgan were close friends, business partners, and perhaps relatives. They had purchased land for adjoining citrus groves along Alligator Creek in 1884 – when the south shore area of Charlotte Bay was open to homesteading before Trabue arrived.

The Florida Southern Railway in 1886 arrived at the newly-platted town of Trabue – soon to be renamed Punta Gorda. Sandlin and Morgan moved their families into the new town and engaged in real estate, mercantile and shipping enterprises.

PHOTO: PEAK BEAUTY - This 1914 photograph by newly wedded Cleve and Jean (nee Whiteaker) Cleveland shows the original Baptist Church with its graceful bell tower intact.

First Sanctuary

Contemporary public records about the first Baptist church sanctuary are scarce. Being exempt from taxes, there is no listing on the tax rolls. In addition, there is no record of a deed transfer. This was not unusual in those days when a person’s word was his bond – particularly for church transactions.

We know that Block 31 on the original survey of Trabue was bounded by Olympia, Harvey, Marion and Cross (Tamiami Trail South, U.S. 41) streets.

Albert W. Gilchrist -- a former surveyor for Florida Southern Railway, real estate speculator and later governor of Florida – bought block 31 on Jan. 1, 1890.

He divided the block into forty town lots with a new Goldstein Street down the middle.

Descendants state that Sandlin and Morgan at this time bought, and donated to the Baptist congregation, lots 9 and 10 for a church on the northwest corner of Cross and Olympia streets.

It is remembered that lumber for the new church was supplied by Morgan who operated a sawmill on Taylor Road near Alligator Creek.

Undoubtedly, Morgan also supplied the lumber for the Sandlin’s gorgeous home built in 1893 and still occupied at the corner of Retta Esplanade and Harvey St.

When Mrs. Sandlin died Nov. 23, 1934, the Punta Gorda Herald reported:

“FIRST CHARTER MEMBER

“Mrs. Sandlin was perhaps the first charter member of the local Baptist church organized here 45 years ago. She and her husband (who died in 1903) gave the property on which the church is built.

“It may be stated as a fact that through the years, her first thought was always of her church, in which she was very active to the end of her life.

“Funeral services were conducted by the Rev. Sutley, pastor, on Sunday afternoon. Not all who came were able to get into the church.”

Official Record

The first official record discovered discloses that “James L. Sandlin, trustee for the Punta Gorda Baptist Church,” on Nov. 13, 1892, transferred 10 feet off the north side of Lot 9 to Bart K. Watts for $45.”

Watts was president of city council. He did not obtain title to the adjoining Lot 8, from L.T. Blocksom, until four months later.

It was customary for churches to have at least three trustees, but no record of others have been found. Certainly the church was constructed prior to selling part of the site.

The first issue of the Punta Gorda Herald on Feb. 17, 1893, noted:

“Two handsome structures, a Methodist and a Baptist church, white, together with a parsonage for the Methodist minister, two colored churches, and a large school house are among the public buildings erected by the citizens for the benefit of this community.”

First pastor of the Baptist Church was Rev. Thomas J. Sparkman who at the same time also pastored the Baptist Church at Fort Myers for seven years.

The Herald reported in its Church Directory of Oct. 20, 1893, that “Rev. T.J. Sparkman, pastor, conducts regular services every first and third Sundays, at 11 a.m. Sunday School is conducted every Sunday by T.J. Wellhouse, superintendent.

Over the years, Baptists added Sunday School rooms, kitchen and dining room to the rear of the sanctuary. Finally even this was inadequate.

The congregation in 1962 built a larger sanctuary and attendant facilities at its present site on Gill St. The venerable Cross Street sanctuary was sold to the Golden Rule Rebekah Lodge 60.

Final Days

The Baptist Church originally had a graceful bell tower and belfry. The spire roof was taken off in the early 1930s when the wood shingles needed replacing and no one could be found to undertake the dangerous job.

The belfry was removed by the Rebekahs in the mid 1960’s when the flat cap replacing the spire began to leak. The bell was given to the Palmdale Methodist church in Glades County.

The Lodge sold the building a few years ago a wedding dress shop which retained part of the building for a wedding chapel.

Hurricane Charley on Friday Aug. 13 leveled the historic structure in seconds with wind gusts of 160 miles per hour.

Author: Lindsey Williams

Oooooooo

Cutlines -- art already in computer.

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2 – 3 col., wreckage

Sun photo by Lindsey Williams

GONE IN A SECOND – Oldest church in the county reduced to rubble by Hurricane Charley.

Williams – Baptist church

Sunday – Jan. 2, 2005

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