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Reviving the West Baden Colored Church: A Labor of Love Premiere
Hosted by West Baden Church Renewal ProjectWatch the premiere of a new documentary that tells the story of the First Baptist (Colored) Church in West Baden Springs, Indiana, and stay for a post-screening conversation with the directors.
Event Details
Reviving the West Baden Colored Church: A Labor of Love tells the story of the First Baptist (Colored) Church in West Baden Springs, Indiana, from its founding and years of growth, to its decline and rebirth.
Beginning in the early 1900s, a large thriving community of African Americans worked at the resorts in West Baden Springs and nearby French Lick. The community established the First Baptist (Colored) Church under Jim Crow laws and persevered under those conditions with courage, strength and the persistence of hope over hate. Over decades the church remained as the cornerstone of the African American community until its decline.
Reviving the West Baden Colored Church tells the history of the church and the people who worshiped there, and it chronicles the challenges of the extensive restoration that took place over five years leading to its revival. After this premiere screening, directors Elizabeth Michell and David Gudaitis and volunteers who helped restore the church will share insights and answer questions.
For more information, contact emitch1441@sbcglobal.net.
An additional public screening takes place on August 27 at 3 p.m. EDT at the Monroe County Public LIbrary in Bloomington.
This program received support from a Historic Preservation Education Grant offered by Indiana Humanities and Indiana Landmarks.