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2014 Community Service—Bethel AME

a group of people standing in a yard with a wheelbarrow and shovels

Freshmen found themselves part of an important historic restoration Wednesday when they lent their muscle to repairs, landscaping, and moving at the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church building. Crawfordsville Mayor Todd Barton ’00 stopped by to thank the Wabash men for their work. 'You will get out of the community what you put into it,' Barton says. 'Working in this community can teach you how to be leaders.'

a man standing in front of a sign

The repairs at Bethel AME are part of a partnership between Bethel and First Christian Church in Crawfordsville. Pastor Keith Strain welcomed the freshmen and assigned them the various tasks of the morning.

a group of people digging in dirt

Adam Kashin ’18 shovels dirt into a wheelbarrow while his classmates and members of First Christian Church work to replace gutters on the back of the building.

a sign with a sign on it and a man in the background

Bethel AME is on the National Register of Historic Places and was an important stop on the Underground Railroad. African Americans seeking their freedom from slavery in the South were harbored in the church and the nearby cabin of dedicated abolitionist John Speed. A tunnel connected the two buildings. A remnant of the Speed cabin has since been moved to Lane Place, but a plaque marks its original location. In the background, Wabash students continue their work.

a log cabin in the woods

A portion of the Speed Cabin (the kitchen area) in its new location. Freshmen learned the history of the Bethel building, the cabin, and more about the Bethel/First Christian partnership, during a break from their work.

a group of men standing on ladders holding up a chair

Brandon Shipp ’18, a classmate, and member of the First Christian Church take down the old guttering.

a man shoveling dirt in a wheelbarrow

Tony Lin ’18 works alongside his advisor, Professor of Economics Frank Howland.

a group of men standing in front of a house

Professor Emeritus Raymond Williams H’68 has coordinated the renovation project and welcomed first the freshmen, and then Mayor Barton, to the site. 'The Bethel congregation has maintained the sanctuary as a beautiful worship space,' Williams said. 'Phase One of our work together are repairs to preserve and protect the outside of the building, and we hope to accomplish that before winter sets in.'

a man in gloves holding a door

The Wabash freshmen were a huge help and they lifted heavy items out of the wet basement. Here Ben Geier ’18 helps carry an unused door up the basement stairs.

a man holding a wooden board

In pre-Civil War Days, the Bethel basement had a door that opened to a tunnel that led to the Speed cabin. Here Joe Hapak ’18 carries the old sign for the church.

a man holding a hammer

Brandon Shipp ’18 takes apart the old gutters.

a man carrying a piece of wood

Brient Hicks ’18 helps out.

a group of people digging in the dirt

Digging in!

a man smiling at camera

Professor Frank Howland manages a smile as he carries items out of the basement on a warm, humid day.

a man pushing a wheelbarrow with dirt

Omar Chavez ’18

a group of men standing in a room

Orientation Leader Seton Goddard ’15 and Joe Hapak get to work in the basement beside the church's old sign.

a man in a white shirt and tie

Mayor Barton talks with students and members of the Bethel congregation.

a group of men shaking hands

Mayor Barton greets Brient Hicks ’18.

a woman and man talking

Bethel Church member Marva Davis talks with Mayor Barton.

a man and woman looking at a piece of paper

Church historian Victoria Hudson-Swisher shows the mayor some historical documents, including notes her grandmother made as a member of the church in 1925.

a group of men digging in the dirt

Omar Chavez ’18 and Jake Roehm ’18 put their backs into it.

a boy climbing up a large plywood

Hank Horner ’18 helps lift waferboard out of the basement.

a group of people working in a yard

Tony Lin takes another load to the site to protect the basement and foundation.

a colorful stained glass window

The beautiful stained glass window at Bethel is also being repaired and protected.


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