Grayson County TXGenWeb
 

531 W Bond St
Denison, Texas
Hopewell was organized in 1874, two years after the founding of Denison, by members of the St. John Baptist Church of Preston Bend, who needed a place of worship that was convenient for them to attend. Pioneer preachers who participated in this historic event were Revs. Billy Box of the Harmony Baptist Church, Sherman; Henry Adams and Simon Miller of Iron Ore Baptist Church; John Slaughter of the St. John Baptist Church of Preston Bend; and T. C. Cleveland of the White Rock Baptist Churchof White Rock, Texas. Also in this number were Rev. David Burton and Malinda Jones, who lived to see the fruits of their effort.

After organizing the church, the first pastor, Rev. W.M. Jackson, and Rev. James Crittenden were authorized to seek a permanent place of worship. Because of their Christian character, the Denison Townsite Company donated a lot at the southwest corner of Bond Street and Rusk Avenue as a place of worship. In a short time, a building was erected but was later destroyed by fire.
With a determination that could not be destroyed by fire, they held services in a private home on West Gandy Street, where they worshiped for about three years. Here again, another reverse awaited them. This place was wrecked by a storm.
Once again the determined congregation sought another place of worship, which was 700 W. Walker Street, where the Antioch Baptist Church now stands.
In 1881, as the church continued to seek a permanent place of worship, the lot at the southwest corner of Bond Street and Rusk Avenue was traded to the Denison Townsite Company, in exchange for the lot at the northeast corner of Bond Street and Mirick Avenue. A frame building was erected there before the turn of the century. The land currently is the site for Legacy Park.


Legacy Park

Pleasant Grove Baptist Church was established as a mission of Hopewell Baptist in 1883. That church was first located at Shepherd Street and Perry Avenue, but soon moved to 1108 West Day Street, where it continues today.
In 1915, under the leadership of Rev. B. B. Wicks, plans were begun for the basement of a brick structure. In 1922, Rev. A.R. Griggs was called as pastor; under his leadership, the beautiful red brick structure in the 500 block of Bond Street was completed. This brick structure, which in 1999 stands empty and deteriorating, is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark and bears an interpretive plaque. In the 1990s, tin ceilings original to this building were sold to Mike Pruitt of 831 W. Sears for $100.

Historical Marker

Sources:

“Hopewell Baptist to Celebrate 125 Years,” Herald Democrat, November 5, 1999.
McQueen, Clyde. Historic Black Churches of Texas: A Catalogue and Guide. College Station: Texas A&M University Press, forthcoming.
Pruitt, Mike. Interview by Mavis Bryant, Denison, Texas, September 21, 1998.


Hopewell Baptist Church History

Churches
Susan Hawkins
© 2024

If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message.