| Marker Number |
10535 |
| Atlas Number |
5245010535 |
| Marker Title |
Israel Chapel A. M. E. Church |
| Index Entry |
Israel Chapel A. M. E. Church |
| Address |
949 Texas Ave. at 10th St. |
| City |
Port Arthur |
| County |
Jefferson |
| UTM Zone |
15 |
| UTM Easting |
408834 |
| UTM Northing |
3304734 |
| Subject Codes |
African American topics; African Methodist or Colored/Christian Methodist Episcopal; churches |
| Marker Year |
1993 |
| Recorded Texas Historic Landmark |
No |
| Marker Location |
|
| Private Property |
No |
| Marker Condition |
In Situ |
| Marker Size |
18" x 28" |
| Marker Text |
Frederick Shepherd, who helped the Rev. Napoleon Harris establish an African Methodist Episcopal (A. M. E.) mission in nearby Sabine in 1902, founded this church at his Port Arthur home in 1903 with the Rev. Harris serving as pastor. The first sanctuary, built here in 1904 on property donated by the Port Arthur Townsite and Land Company, also housed the area's first public school for African Americans. As membership expanded successively larger sanctuaries were built. the name Israel Chapel A. M. E. Church was officially recorded in 1959. The church continues to serve the community. |
