The following is a direct transcription of a newspaper article that appeared in the Adair Progress in 1973. It was written by K.I. Bomar (a noted African American in the county who did a number of articles on African Americans for this paper). The only change made to the article is the capitalization of surnames for the aid of researchers (and a few graphics!).
For a number of years the writer has written about the history of blacks in the United States. Having done research on the Adair County African American. We found it to be quite interesting, and therefore decided to share.
The majority of the African Americans settled in Adair County coming from Virginia, for the most part. In the late 1700s and early 1800s, they were brought to KY by their slave owners. Many of the slaves were given freedom in the early 1800s. There were more than 5000 free Afro Americans living in the state of KY before the Emancipation Proclamation.
There were no organized Afro American churches in Columbia until after the Emancipation. However Afro Americans were permitted to attend and become members of white churches, worshipping in the balcony.
A former slave by the name of Ruben FRAZIER was a member of the white Presbyterian church, his funeral was held in the Sanctuary in the year 1905.
Shortly after the Emancipation 16 African American churches were organized in the county--seven Baptist, four Methodist and five Christian. First Baptist Church was organized sometime prior to 1870. For a short time the Baptist and Methodist worshiped in a building that was used for a school, the Baptist worshiped on the second and fourth Sundays. The building was called Old Donie. This track of land was given to Afro Americans for a cemetery and school. This building was located across the road facing the present Baptist church on Burkesville Street. First Baptist now stands on a site purchased by its members who were led by the Holy Spirit and the Rev. G.N. STONE, the Pastor. |
Rooming and boarding houses were owned and run by two Afro American families, Lucian and Rose BURBRIDGE and Press and Alice WILLIAMS. |
Created on ... October 04, 2001