The Milton City Council is expected to take action on whether to proceed in a grant application process which would benefit Mt. Pilgrim African Baptist Church for needed renovations as one of the city’s historical structures.
Discussion on whether to pursue a Special Category Grant − which is appropriated by the Florida Legislature through recommendations of the Florida Historical Commission – took place during last month’s Growth, Development and Annexation Committee meeting. During the meeting, City Planning Director Randy Jorgenson suggested the committee bring the grant proposal request, which would require a funding commitment on the city’s behalf, before the council at Monday’s Executive Committee Meeting. Mayor Wesley Meiss voiced his support for preserving the Mt. Pilgrim site.
“The Mt. Pilgrim African Baptist Church is an icon in our community and it’s historically significant and relevant and definitely worth saving,” Meiss said.
Jorgenson said the church only adds to the property’s historic appeal.
“In fact that site has a history that goes back to the 1860’s when the people of this community congregated at this site to worship,” Jorgenson said at the meeting.
Council member Mary Ellen Johnson knows all too well about the church’s history. In addition to being a lifelong member of the church, she currently sits as a trustee at Mt. Pilgrim.
Over the years, Johnson has conducted research which helped the church be placed on the National Register of Historic Places and Florida Black Heritage Trail. Like Jorgenson, Johnson is in favor about preserving a part of Milton’s history.
“There need is a need to save and restore those historical structures downtown that are operational and functional and (Mt. Pilgrim) is, we are in there all of the time,” Johnson said. “It has a great history and it ties into our skyline with downtown.”
Johnson, who estimates the church has 125 members as part of their congregation, said the church also offers community-blended events, including a commemoration service for Dr. Martin Luther King Day and other special occasions for children, men and women.
Since being a church trustee and serving as an elected official for the City of Milton, Johnson plans to abstain from voting on the Mt. Pilgrim item at the upcoming council meeting.
The sought after grant would fund the repair of critical needs for the building, Jorgenson said. The building’s pier and timber foundation has been compromised over the years with water intrusion and termite damage, which can threaten the overall structure itself, he said. Jorgenson added the historical building is also in need of ceiling and door repairs as well as work around the structure’s windows.
“There is $90,000 eligible grant program costs that are critical to protect the structure,” Jorgenson said. “The minimum project of this grant program is $100,000; fifty percent of the $100,000 must be matched.”
Jorgenson suggests the city work with the church’s leadership in providing the matching funds.
During the committee meeting, Council member Jimmy Messick voiced his support in helping the church. Messick, who also serves on the committee, had concerns on whether the city was allowed to use city funding towards the benefit of a religious organization.
City Attorney Heather Lindsay answered by stating the city would not be providing for one religion over another, but would be working to preserve a historical landmark. Jorgenson said state’s involvement would also advocate the city’s action.
“Fifty percent of the this project would be funded by legislatively appropriated proceeds from the State of Florida,” Jorgenson said. “If Florida can pay for 50 percent of the total project costs, I would believe that you can pay for a portion.”
Jorgenson believes this grant application process shows the city’s commitment in working towards preserving the historical sites within Milton.
Mayor Meiss made the motion to pass this item for council discussion at next week’s meeting. The motion included submitting an letter to the Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners seeking funding for the grant application process.
“It is implied by some that we don’t adequately protect the community’s history,” Jorgenson said. “The truth of the matter is we have been working on this for over a year and we don’t talk about the work we are doing, we are just doing the work.”
The city will have 18 months to decide on how to budget the grant’s match, should it be passed at next month’s council meeting.
Mt. Pilgrim’s Historical Info:
· According to the National Register of Historic Places database found on the National Park Service website, Mt. Pilgrim African Baptist Church is the only identified architectural work in Florida of Wallace A. Rayfield, one of the most important black architects in the south from the early twentieth century.
· The same source listed the structure as “an excellent local example of Late Gothic Revival architecture."
· The church was officially placed on the Florida Black Heritage Trail in 1992.
· The church was erected by the church members, many of the whom were first and second generation descendants of freed slaves who were the founding members of the church.
· The Mt. Pilgrim church was originally located on Canal Street when the property was purchased in March of 1880. In the same year a frame church was constructed. In 1916, the first church location was destroyed by fire, eventually leading to the construction at its present location on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Council to discuss grant application for Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church building