Whitely, IndianaWhitely Community Council Frank Scott Rebecca Parker Whitely Community Members Mary Dollison Cornelius Dollison Rev. Robert Scaife Jacket Copy Creative Sarah Debs Kirsten

Whitely, Indiana

Our Churches Are Our Community

Acknowledgements

Whitely Community CouncilFrank Scott

Rebecca Parker

Whitely Community MembersMary DollisonCornelius DollisonRev. Robert Scaife

Jacket Copy CreativeSarah Debs

Kirsten DollarEllie FawcettBethany GordonEva Grouling-SniderMelissa JonesHannah Partridge

Ball State Digital Media Repository

Ball State Archives Department

Introduction

History of Whitely Churches

Whitely Methodist Church

Antioch Baptist Church

Shaffer African MethodistEpiscopal Church

Union Missionary Baptist Church

Whitely Churches Today

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IntroductionWhitely, Indiana’s history does not revolve around its factual accounts of a wealthy businessman buying the land for economic aspirations. Its essence does not stem from the physical community that rose up in order to meet the demands of William Whitely’s corporate endeavors. Whitely’s true identity lies within its members and their stories. The various churches in Whitely have presented to be an pivotal aspect of the community’s identity due to the way that they have continuously supported Whitely’s success. These churches that have thrived in Whitely were instrumental in its development in the beginning stages and all are in the present day. Whitely would not be where it is today without the support of its churches and their congregations, especially the big three of Antioch Baptist, Shaffer African Methodist Episcopal, and Union Missionary Baptist Church. This community contains multiple generations who have possessed a deep love for each other, their neighborhood, and their church congregations.

Their active pride and involvement in their community has brought Whitely to where it is today through projects such as the community clean-up, a multi-church Vacation Bible School, and the Paint the Park project. No matter the weather or the task at hand, Whitley’s churches have always been one of the first volunteers. They were an active part of sprucing up Whitely, painting McCulloch Park, and working together to create a communal vacation bible school for all ages.

Without Whitely’s people, their stories, and their compassion, the neighborhood would not be the loving and close-knit community that we are all able to be a part of now. For that reason this document aims to share Whitely’s history; not a history illustrating which businessman built what corporation when, but the soul of this community and its people so that it will never be forgotten.

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Without the volunteers, without community members who love one another, without a strong church presence, Whitely never would have accomplished the many great things that it has and would never imagine any future success. This community has raised itself so that a culture is promoted—a culture that motivates Whitely’s members to help the neighborhood succeed and encourages the youth to learn about their rich history. For many Whitely community members, the youth’s knowledge of Whitely’s true past and pride of their current success is at the forefront of their communal objectives. Whether it be longtime Whitely residents like Cornelius Dollison and Reverend Robert Scaife or strong community advocates like Mary Dollison and Frank Scott, Whitely’s youth is a demographic that must be reached in order for Whitley to succeed in the future. And there is only one way that these children are going to be influenced to possess an unimaginable pride in what Whitely has stood for, and that is for the churches to become an integral part of their lives—for Whitely owes its success to its churches, therefore, these churches should be one of the main teachers of Whitely’s youth.

Before now, this history has only been shared orally within the community’s perseverance as one tremendous family. Whitely deserves to have its true history told in a way that exceeds simply recounting how the neighborhood initially came to be. Whitely is a community of unique individuals who have their own memories of Whitley and what the community means to them personally. A neighborhood’s founding is an important part of its history, but it is not what makes the community into what it is today. Whitely’s churches and its parishioners have transformed this neighborhood with their loving drive to help one another and the community continue to succeed, and that it is the true history of Whitely—the history that deserves to be told and the history that should be shared with the world.

Introduction

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“The church should have a dominant role, and our churches are very effective in helping the community.”1

—Mary Dollison—

Whitely possesses a rich history filled with individuals who have gone above and beyond to help their neighbors, groups that have banded together to assist those that are in need, and organizations that are always there to lend a hand whenever they are needed. However, throughout Whitely’s history, there has always been one group that has consistently helped everyone in the community through the numerous trying times that the neighborhood has faced in its lifetime—the churches. As time has come and gone, small businesses have opened and closed, organizations have started and ended, but Whitley’s churches have always been at the sides of every community member. No matter what the community faces as a whole, Whitely’s ten churches, especially the big three in Antioch Baptist, Shaffer Chapel, and Union Missionary Baptist, has never failed to extend a hand to those that need it most.

Whitely map from 1892

It is difficult to discuss Whitely without hearing the names of Reverends John E. Johnson, A.J. Oliver, and W.J. Jackson as well as numerous other church pastors and parishioners. Behind the leadership of individuals such as those listed above, Whitely has stood against any opposition that they have ever faced—whether that be with the fight for equality, perseverance through natural disasters, or the food insecurity that has gripped Whitely for many years. Because of the neighborhood churches, Whitely has never faced an opponent that it could not overcome, that it could not conquer.

Through its churches, Whitely residents have started to instill a culture within the community—a culture that promotes an inherent love and pride in the neighborhood and its residents. Once this pride has flooded every individual in Whitely, a better, stronger community can start to form. In order to promote such a sense of pride, Whitely’s churches take part in projects such as a multi-church vacation bible school and food pantry as well as community-wide projects like the Paint the Park and clean-up adventures.


Whitely bus at corner of Walnut and Adams,March, 12, 1938

When Whitely’s churches participate in activities such as these, they promote a positive and proactive mentality in the youth. By seeing the differences that church members make in the community, Whitely’s youth are able to see what it takes to maintain a successful community—one where every resident cares for their neighbors as if they were family because in Whitely, neighbors are family. Without the church involvement through the years, the youth would not have such a strong presence leading them on the path of morality and universal love for one another.

Whitely’s churches, especially the big three that have persevered throughout the years, have touched the lives of many youth in the community, like the lives of Cornelius Dollison and Reverend Robert Scaife. Churches such as Antioch Baptist, Shaffer Chapel, and Union Missionary Baptist have remained strong pillars in the community because they do just that—positively influence the neighborhood through their interaction with Whitely’s future.


Whitely Christian Pilgrim Church

The church community within Whitely has been the consistent force that has always helped their neighbors, assisted those that are in need, and lent a hand whenever they were needed. Community members today insist that because of this love and pure care for the neighborhood, Whitley would not be where it is today without its churches and their parishioners. Whitely’s churches are such an integral aspect of the neighborhood’s history that it is impossible to think of Whitely without also thinking of the church community. For community residents, the neighborhood churches are Whitley and Whitely is its neighborhood churches.


Historic marker,dedicated on June 27, 1995

Rev. Walter Walters &Rev. Thelma Steward, 1989

Shaffer ChapelUshers, 1989

Charlie Dollison, Arnet Campbell,John Miller, & Rev. Abbott, 1989



The Beginning

In the late 1800s, the only Methodist church in the greater Muncie area was the High Street Methodist Episcopal Church, located in downtown Muncie2. Travel to this church was rather difficult for families that did not own a horse and carriage. They had the option to hire a set from the Whitely Stables, but that would cost many families money that they did not have or needed for other everyday expenses. Even if a family was fortunate enough to have a horse and carriage, their access to the High Street church was eliminated when flooding washed away the White River bridge in the spring of 1893.

Because of this demand for a local meeting place for Methodists in Whitely, the community rallied together to establish the Union Sunday School in 1893. Fred H. Hubbard was elected as the school’s leader and would go on to become their first Superintendent as school was held in his boarding house. Whitely Methodist Church

commencement program, 1902

Union Sunday School’s Contribution

Demands for a Methodist church in Whitely continued to grow following the smallpox epidemic in 1893 and the Whitely Harvesting Machinery Works fire in 1894. During these trying times, the Union Sunday School assisted the families of those diagnosed with smallpox, as well as the families of those who were laid off due to the fire. Union Sunday School’s response to the tragedies inspired many to create a Methodist Sunday School in Whitely. So, in January 1895, Whitely community members collaborated with the High Street Methodist Episcopal Church and Henry Marsh, a local grocer, to begin the plans of creating a Methodist Sunday School in Whitely.

Whitely has encountered its fair share of difficult times in its history, especially in the beginning years as smallpox, droughts, a factory fire, and the Great Depression of 1893 struck the neighborhood. Whitely Methodist Episcopal Church members were often the main volunteers during these moments, with its parishioners helping those directly affected by the worst of events.




Foundation Laid

The plans that created the Methodist Sunday School in Whitely in 1895 soon led to the High Street Episcopal Church Mission Project Committee starting a Methodist church in the neighborhood. After receiving the approval from Bishop Warren from the High Street church, Reverend Wilson (also from the High Street church) worked with the presiding Elder Herrick to purchase the land for the church.

On August 4, 1895, Whitely’s new formal Methodist congregation laid the cornerstone for their first official church structure under the supervision of Reverend Horace Nelson Herrick, the Muncie District’s presiding elder at the time. While construction was taking place on the new building, parishioners used the structure’s basement to hold temporary church services until the project was complete. Finally, after two years of construction, the church’s first floor was finished. Members then moved their services to the first floor, and again waited for the construction to end. The parishioners had to wait another year before their church was completely finished.

Whitely Methodist ChurchChurch Building Complete

Even though the structure’s completion represented a monumental step for the Whitely community, the church problem was not entirely solved. Due to the church’s location atop a hill and the fact that the only way parishioners could reach the building was by using a dirt path, it required quite a bit of time and effort to attend Sunday services in this new church. Despite the neighborhood’s sincere efforts to alleviate the problem of not having an official church in Whitely, it was still difficult for the community members to attend church like they had hoped.

Despite the challenges that faced the community when it came to attending services in the new structure, Whitely Methodist Church functioned as a location where those around Whitley could come together and share their faith. During difficult times, numerous church members volunteered to help those that were most affected by whatever devastation happened at the time. It would not be until the year of 1897 that a change would once again come to Whitely Methodist Church.

1939 Sunday School class


The New Building

Under the leadership of Reverend John K. Cecil, Whitely Methodist Church built an entirely new structure, as well as added a minister’s home. The entire project cost the parishioners a total of $3,000 and its completion was marked by a service held on December 24, 1897. A few months later, on May 29, 1989, the church adopted its new name, the Whitely Methodist Episcopal Church under the leadership of Reverend Cecil.

A few years later, the church experienced a tragedy close to home and relied on others in the community to help them get through the aftermath. On Sunday, January 2, 1921, Whitely Methodist Church was completely engulfed in flames, leaving nothing but the front wall standing. Though the fire presented great turmoil for the congregation, many were thankful for the fire’s timing because had the fire started just an hour later, Sunday services would have been taking place, and all of the congregation would have been in grave danger. That Sunday, instead of holding normal services, the church gathered together in front of the property, and women from around the neighborhood came and served coffee to the brave firemen that were combating the flames. Rev. and Mrs. Sharp

Whitely Methodist ChurchWhitely Methodist Church’s Perseverance

Following the tragedy of the church fire, the congregation stayed together and persevered to eventually build themselves a new church just a year later. Under the guidance of Reverend Mont C. Oliver, the parishioners saw their new $10,000 church building christened on February 5, 1922.

After the new church’s construction, Whitley Methodist Episcopal Church returned to everyday life, helping their church succeed throughout the years in ways that closely resemble if not exceed their past. However, a mystery overtook the congregation in the year of 1928 and affected the congregation for a long period of time.

At this time, the church was ministered by Reverend Saunders. Everything appeared normal to the parishioners, but later that year, Reverend Saunders suddenly transferred to another church located in Wabash, Indiana. No one was for certain why Reverend Saunders moved his family to another church. Confusion was furthered when it was rumored that Reverend Saunders abandoned the Wabash church and gave up his ministry all together. The drama surrounding the pastor continued when an elderly member of Whitely Methodist Episcopal Church stated that Reverend Saunders was murdered after his departure from the church in Wabash.

Helen Fields Bartlett

Whitely Methodist ChurchChanges Come to Whitely Methodist Church

Though confused and wrought with emotion, church members overcame Reverend Saunders mysterious departure and death. Through the years, they hosted a variety of pastors and the church endured fluctuations in attendance.

In the following years, the neighborhood and Whitely Methodist Episcopal Church endured the polio epidemic in 1949, another blizzard in 1950, and numerous church closings throughout the area amongst other obstacles and difficult times. Despite experiencing several decreases in church attendance and monetary funding throughout the years, Whitely Methodist Episcopal Church was one of the lucky ones that was able to keep their doors open to the community.

The church found themselves succeeding so much, they were forced to move locations because the North Indiana Conference said they would not be able to expand their parish at its current location. So, Whitely Methodist Episcopal Church picked up and moved out of Whitely, to a location on McGalliard, and became the Gethsemane Methodist Church.

Gethsemane Methodist Church

Antioch Baptist Church

Antioch Baptist ChurchAntioch is Born

By 1905, there were still no black churches in the Whitely community, so members had to attend either Calvary Baptist Church or Bethel American Episcopal Church in downtown Muncie3. But, due to lack of transportation and the lengthy trip to and from downtown, attending one of these churches was no easy task. So, members of the neighborhood began holding informal church services in Edward Duvall’s house at the 1400 block of E. Hines Street starting in the fall of 1905.

However, the population of African Americans continued to grow in Whitely, and the people found themselves wanting an official church of their very own. Calvary Baptist Church began the Baptist Mission for Whitely in 1905 in order to provide a temporary solution, but Whitely community members still desired a church of their own in the neighborhood. Antioch Baptist Church cornerstone, 1953

Antioch Baptist ChurchAntioch’s Early Transformations

In late 1905, a total of fifteen Whitely residents attended church organization meetings. During these meetings, members focused on selecting the name for this new church building. Nine of the attendees voted for the First Baptist Church, and sixvoted for the Antioch Baptist Church. The two sides could not come to a mutual agreement, so they decided to form their own separate churches. In 1909, with the help of Revered Crothers as the main leader and organizer, the first black church in Whitely was constructed. Thus, Antioch Baptist Church was born. The first pastor of Antioch was the Reverend James M. Ray, who served as a substitute pastor.

In 1915, Reverend W.R. Payne, the acting pastor of both Antioch Baptist Church and First Baptist Church, united the two congregations into the Union Baptist Church. However, the combined congregations encountered disputes about the church, its programs, and its teaching methods that could not be fully resolved in a way that best served all of the those involved. Despite their best efforts to work as one church family, only a short time passed before the two congregations once again separated to become the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church and the Union Baptist Church.

Antioch Missionary Baptist Church then continued to thrive under the leadership of Revered A.D. Devasire, who pastored the church from 1927-1930. Upon his departure, Reverend Jesse L. Leavell became the church’s pastor and would go on to lead its remodel. Reverend Leavell not only changed the outside of the church, but he also transformed the congregation’s atmosphere into a singing and spiritual place of worship.

Antioch Baptist ChurchReverend Broaddus and His Impact on Antioch

Reverend Leavell served Antioch until his death in 1943. Reverend Ivan P. Broaddus then came in as the interim pastor that same year and transitioned into the church’s permanent pastor in 1944.

Reverend Broaddus achieved many great things for Antioch and its congregation during his time as their pastor. In 1953, Reverend Broaddus headed the development of a new building for the church as well as the addition of the Duvall Annex in 1959. He also was the main person in charge when the building was remolded with brick in the year of 1967.

The church’s structure was not the only aspect that underwent a transformation during Reverend Broaddus’ time. In 1972, Antioch Missionary Baptist Church implemented a new form of administration that was known as the “New Testament method of administration.” This change created an Executive Board that consisted of a pastor, deacons, trustees, and a financial secretary with the responsibilities of board members following that order as well.

Rev. Ivan Broaddus, 1975

Antioch Baptist ChurchHoly Ghost Headquarters

Reverend Broaddus also brought with him a kind of ministry that gave the church its nickname of the “Holy Ghost Headquarters.”4 He embodied and taught a spirituality that he had been working on ever since he started to preach at the age of 5-years-old. This teaching method placed grave importance on a Christian’s reliance on faith and inspired Reverend Broaddus’ parishioners to express their faith via song and dance.

Reverend Broaddus also made an impact on the community as he tried to assist Reverend A.J. Oliver from Shaffer AME Church and Reverend Williams from Trinity Church during the Civil Rights Movement in Muncie4. Though Reverend Oliver was the frontrunner of the protests, Reverend Broaddus helped in any way that he could, picketing Muncie businesses alongside Reverends Oliver and Williams. The three of them joined together to protest many of Muncie’s businesses for not hiring young black men. Reverend Broaddus would then use his involvement with the Civil Rights Movement to inspire his parishioners to join the fight and make a difference in their community. Rev. Ivan Broaddus, 5-years-old

Shaffer African MethodistEpiscopal Church

Shaffer African Methodist Episcopal ChurchShaffer Chapel Comes to Whitely

On June 1, 1833, the United States government granted James Howell of Delaware County the property for Shaffer Chapel. In the document rewarding Howell the land, President Jackson and Secretary of Interior H.B. Donelson signed the agreement on May 29, 1843. In official documents, this land is referred to as, “Lot Number Seven (7) in Block Forty Two (42) in the Whitely Land Company’s Howell’s First Addition to the City of Muncie.”

James Howell held the property but nothing came of it until August 22, 1892. On this date, the Center School Township of Delaware County was awarded the 42nd block of the land by the Whitely Land Company.

In August of 1893, the school erected a wood frame building consisting of four rooms that would become the Center Township School #14. As Whitely’s population grew, the school moved across McCulloch Park, leaving the land available for those aiming to establish an American Methodist Episcopal Church in Whitely.

Shaffer African Methodist Episcopal Church, 1970s

Shaffer African Methodist Episcopal Church

Building Plans Formulate

With the former Center School Township building available for purchase, Shaffer Chapel purchased the abandoned building to serve as a home for their church congregation. However, plans for the new church came to a halt and would not be seriously considered again until 26 years later, leaving the property abandoned.

On June 10, 1919, a group of Methodists in Whitely came together to brainstorm ideas for an African Methodist church in the neighborhood. Because there was not a black Methodist church in the community at the time and a large percentage of the population was Methodist, this group felt the strong desire to create a Methodist church of their own.

Parishioners standing outside of 1st attempt tobuild a church structure, 1920s

Shaffer Officially Meets for the First Time

This group, under the supervision of Reverend J.P.Q. Wallace, the presiding elder from the Second District of the Indiana Conference, met to begin the process of establishing a Methodist church in Whitely. The meeting began at 7:45 P.M. with the singing of “Savior More Than Life To Me” and the Psalm 23 prayer. During this meeting, attendees chose the name, Shaffer Chapel African Methodist Church, in honor of the National Church bishop at the time. The members also went on to elect the church’s trustees as well as the steward and stewardesses.

In July of that same year, the 52-member congregation selected Reverend Martin Coleman as the acting pastor of their new church. Shaffer Chapel’s first communion service was held on the second Sunday in July of 1919. The next night, the Quarterly Conference was held, and Reverend C.E. Benson was assigned to be the new church’s pastor for the first year.


Shaffer Chapel church officers, date unknown


Pastors Come and Go at Shaffer

On September 22, 1919, Bishop Levi Coffin presided over the Indiana Annual AME Conference at the Bethel AME Church in Indianapolis. During this conference, the small congregation at Shaffer Chapel officially received Reverend Benson.

In 1920, Reverend Benson led a group of congregation members who went on to purchase some land from William J. and Fannie Burns for a sum of $2,300. The land was located at the corner of Penn and Butler Streets. They hoped that this plot of land would go on to be the location of Shaffer Chapel’s first church building. However, the group came across some difficulties during the construction of the church; the church’s foundation was laid, but no construction was ever started.

Original Structure, 1919

Pastors Come and Go at Shaffer

Reverend Martin Coleman then took over as pastor for the church, but soon died on April 20, 1922. Reverend John E. Johnson succeeded him and was officially approved by the Annual Indiana Conference later that year. Reverend Johnson was also a mortician and ran a mortuary located at 1414 E. Highland Avenue in Muncie. Multiple sources appear to suggest that because of his mortuary business, Reverend Johnson acted as Shaffer’s part-time pastor starting in 1922. In these documents, Reverend Johnson is referred to as Shaffer’s acting pastor, but other pastors such as Reverends F.P. Baker and A.E. Taylor are also referred to as acting pastors at Shaffer during the same time.

Following what appears to be Reverend Johnson’s beginning years as part-time pastor, Reverend F.P. Baker then came to Shaffer Chapel. He was the one in charge of putting the cornerstone in the foundation at the location at the corner of Butler and Penn Streets that was purchased in 1920. Despite his best efforts, the anticipated cost of $19,000 deterred Whitely community members from joining the congregation and construction once again came to a halt.

In 1928, Reverend A.E. Taylor went on to purchase a four-room schoolhouse at 1501 E. Highland Avenue for a sum of $1,000.


Rev. A.E. Taylor


Lynching in Marion, Indiana

Reverend Johnson’s mortuary became famous on August 7, 1930 after two young black men from Marion, Indiana were captured by 30-75 young white men that were part of a white mob consisting of more than 10,000 white men, women, and children. On this date, the two young men, Tom Shipp (19) and Abe Smith (18), were imprisoned in the Grant County Jail for the supposed robbery of Claude Deeter (24) and his girlfriend, Mary Ball (18) on the night of August 6 in the lover’s lane alongside the Mississinewa River. Shipp and Smith’s friend, 16-year-old James Cameron, was also present when the robbery started, but soon left when he recognized Deeter as a patron at his shoeshining shop in downtown Marion. After Cameron’s departure, it is said that Shipp and Smith subsequently fought with Deeter only to eventually shoot him and rape Ms. Ball. Once identified by Ms. Ball, the Marion police arrested Shipp and Smith at 2:00 A.M. and brought them to the Grant County Jail. A mob soon formed outside of the jail, and the people threatened the police and prisoners with crowbars, sledgehammers, guns, knives, and rocks. Eventually, the mob entered the jail and captured both men, savagely beating them and dragging them to the Courthouse Square, where they then lynched both boys and continued to stab their bodies.Rev. Johnson


Reverend Johnson wanted the two young men to have the Christian burial that they deserved, but there were no black mortuaries in Marion at the time. So, Reverend Johnson drove to Marion and brought the young men back to his establishment. He then paid for the embalming out of his own pocket.

When Johnson returned to Muncie, there was a fear that another white mob would be waiting for him and the boys—a mob that wanted to continue the heinous acts in Marion and drag the two young men around Muncie. Some believe that in order to combat this hatred and desire to further insult the boys and their families, the black community in Muncie armed themselves outside of Reverend Johnson’s mortuary, a block away from his church, Shaffer Chapel African Methodist Church. However, many historical documents conflict on whether this blockade outside of Reverend Johnson’s mortuary actually occurred.

Rev. John E. Johnson mortuary hearses, 1930

After preparing the young men for a proper burial, Reverend Johnson returned the boys to Marion with the help of the Delaware County Sheriff, Fred Puckett, the Indiana State Police and the Indiana National Guard. An eyewitness to the events that night in Muncie stated, “We thought sure somebody was going to get killed that night but nobody came to get the bodies.”

No matter the fact that no mob stormed Johnson’s Mortuary, the black community in Whitely rallied together in a way that longtime Whitely resident and influential activist Hurley Goodall stated was an example that “Muncie’s colored community vowed that this [mob] was not going to happen and for the first time, they armed and organized themselves using Shaffer Chapel A.M.E. Church as their headquarters and command post to ward off any mob” (2).

When Reverend Johnson first arrived in Marion with the boys’ bodies properly prepared for burial, the Delaware County Sheriff and the Indiana State Police still feared the mob’s desires to burn the bodies and their families’ homes. However, no such thing occurred, and the boys were given a burial that they and their families deserved. That Monday morning, Tom Shipp was laid to rest in the Marion Cemetery, and Smith was laid to rest later that night at the Weaver Cemetery.


Historic marker,dedicated on June 27, 1995

Shaffer African Methodist Episcopal ChurchParishioner Involvement Divides Shaffer

When Reverend Johnson around 1934, Reverend Benjamin Franklin Adams replaced him. Reverend Adams was known as an eloquent speaker, but the state cited Reverend Adams for his involvement in some troublesome business deals that dealt with illegal securities. When Reverend Adams returned to Shaffer, the congregation temporarily replaced him with Reverend J.E. Reddick.

On Saturday, January 23, 1932, Shaffer’s newsletter, The Echo, addressed the conflicts that were arising in the church. In this newsletter, church goers were asked to consider the “part-time” parishioners and their lack of contribution to the church and its progress. The Echo goes onto say that these part-time parishioners did not possess the “right to throw stones under the wheel of the progress of the Church,” and that full-time church members who consistently contribute to the church and its success should simply remain patient because “trouble, sickness, poverty and death is going to rain upon them [part-time members].” With these words of encouragement to devote as much time to the church as possible, Shaffer created a division between those that were deemed “full-time” parishioners and those that were perceived as “part-time” church members.

Rev. BenjaminFranklin Adams

Rev. J.E. Reddick


The Fight for Equality Comes Alive in Muncie

Reverend Anthony Jones Oliver came to Shaffer in the late 1950s and had quite the impact on the Whitely and Muncie communities during the Civil Rights Movement. He was one of the frontrunners that challenged businesses that refused to employ young black men. These businesses, such as downtown banks, utility companies, and local manufacturing factories like Borg Warner, were scattered throughout Muncie. Reverend Oliver utilized his contacts with President Eisenhower, the President of the United Auto Workers Union, Walter Ruether, and other senators and congressmen to help his fight for equality in Muncie.

When asked about Reverend Oliver’s individual contribution to Whitely and its community members, Whitely resident Cornelius Dollison stated, “It was his own effort that did that and not anyone else. He was the one that we would follow around and demonstrate with at the utility companies.” During this trying time for the country and Whitely, Reverend Oliver took it upon himself to fight for equality in the town of Muncie. He led a revolution that resulted in both physical results as well as a transformed mindset for those of both races.

As another branch of his fight, Reverend Oliver created the Peoples Progress Committee, a political party that challenged those in power in local businesses to employ young black men. In 1963, Reverend Oliver ran for City Council as the democratic candidate for the sixth district, but he did not win.


Shaffer After Oliver

After Reverend Oliver’s honorable time at Shaffer Chapel, Reverend H.T. Johnson came to serve the congregation in Whitely. During his time, Reverend Johnson headed the project that involved a $15,000 remodeling of the church. This remodel installed aluminum siding, wall paneling, dropped ceilings, hardwood floors, and carpet in the church. Shaffer underwent further physical changes when Reverend J.C. Mitchell had the Annex built at the rear of the church in 1972.

These changes were not the end of Shaffer’s physical changes. Reverend Larry Bell from Nova Scotia decided to completely renovate the church in 1983. As part of this renovation, Reverend Bell purchased a new public address system and placed new carpeting in the sanctuary. He then went on to add a new alter on Mother’s Day that same year.

Rev. H.T. Johnson, Rev. J.C. Mitchell, & Mr. Elmer Jones, 1989

Union Missionary BaptistChurch

Union Missionary Baptist ChurchFirst Baptist Church Formed

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, there was still not a formal black church in the community, though numerous community members met in each others’ houses on Sundays to worship. Like several other congregations, the early members of the First Baptist Church decided to start a church where people could attend traditional services in a formal setting. Because of this, 18 members of the Whitley community gathered together in the home of Mrs. Neely Franklin on December 12, 1905 to begin the formation of their future church. During this meeting, the small group of 18 selected the plot of land on the corner of Highland and Penn Streets to be the temporary home for the First Baptist Church. Though the property did not hold a traditional church building, First Baptist’s congregation did attend weekly services in the second-hand store on the property.

After a couple of years at the Highland and Penn location, those at First Baptist decided it was time to find a permanent location for their church. As a result, a lot on the corner of Macedonia and Russey was purchased by the church members in 1906 and the church was finally constructed by 1909.


Union Missionary Baptist ChurchFirst Baptist and Antioch Baptist Split Again

In the year of 1915, First Baptist’s pastor, Reverend W.R. Payne, decided to unite the two congregations that he was overseeing, First Baptist Church and Antioch Baptist Church. Upon their merger, the combined churches became the Union Baptist Church, but this arrangement was short-lived. After a brief period of time, the congregations could not agree on many issues concerning the church and its teaching, so the two congregations split and once again became their separate churches. Antioch adopted the extended name of the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church while the previous First Baptist Church chose to keep their new name of the Union Baptist Church.

Inspired by their new name and that of the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, the congregation decided to extend their name as well to become the Union Missionary Baptist Church that it is today.



Reverend Dew’s Contribution

As the years progressed, Union Missionary’s congregation continued to grow as a host of pastors lead its members, with nine pastors serving the church from 1915 until 1958.

During his time at Union Missionary Baptist Church, Reverend H.L. Buckman headed the project in 1933 that added a baptismal pool to the building. Reverend A.L. Dew also greatly contributed to the church after his arrival from Chicago, Illinois in 1960. For 26 years, Reverend Dew served the Union Missionary Baptist Church until his departure on March 23, 1986 for health reasons. While leading the congregation during those nearly 30 years of service, Reverend Dew ensured the full payment for a new church building and parsonage as well as increased contribution to foreign missions (two of them being a well built in Haiti and the construction of a senior retirement home). Because of his outstanding contributions, when Reverend Dew departed from his time at Union Missionary Baptist Church, the congregation was debt free.Union Missionary Baptist Church, 1970s


Whitely Churches TodayThroughout Whitley’s history, numerous churches have come and gone. They arose to meet the demands of community members, their passion for their faith, and the desire to have a church of their very own in the neighborhood. However, because of several difficult economic times, many of the churches in Whitely were forced to shut down due to the expenses of owning and maintaining a building as well as decreased attendance numbers.

Despite these hardships though, several of Whitely’s historical churches have remained in the community and have continued to serve their congregations and the neighborhood. These churches, Antioch Baptist Church, Shaffer African Methodist Episcopal Church, and Union Missionary Baptist Church, have historically been the community’s foundation—a foundation that continues to support the community in many ways.

However, the greater church community has been a foundation that has not always worked as a cohesive network aimed at helping all of those in Whitely.

Union Missionary Baptist Church, November 2016


It has not been until recently that the churches in Whitely, especially the big three, have united to improve the entire neighborhood, not just their parishes.

When asked about the past churches’ involvement in the neighborhood, Whitely Community Council President, Frank Scott, stated, “These churches have been around a long time, and although they got along…I didn’t really see where they worked together. They did things in the community, and if [we] asked for help, they would give you help. But I never actually saw where they linked together to form kind of like a partnership.”

This by any means does not demonstrate that the churches have not helped the community, far from it actually. As the church histories demonstrate, the numerous churches in Whitley have done their part to help their neighbors, stepping in whenever someone needed help—oftentimes without even having to be asked. But, the recent unification of churches showcases the goals that could have been accomplished if the churches had come together sooner.

Antioch Baptist Church,November 2016

Whitely Churches TodayFor instance, Scott described the recent impact that church unification has had on the community with the creation of a multi-church Vacation Bible School. Though the school is held in Union Missionary Baptist Church, several of the churches in Whitely have gathered together to create a program for all of their youth to attend and further their faith—a faith in God, but also a faith in their community to provide them with love and security no matter the circumstances.

For Scott, he believes that when the churches come together and formulate programs such as a communal Vacation Bible School, “it is going to be bigger than what it was if you had done the same thing individually.”

This testimony applies to several of the efforts being made by the community in collaboration with the several neighborhood churches. The recent community clean-up involved pastors and parishioners coming together with other neighborhood members to help improve the Whitely area in a way that expresses an inherent love for the community. With many community members participating in the clean-up, including numerous parishioners from Whitely’s many churches, residents were able to clear three dilapidated buildings as well as several tons of trash from side ditches, yards, and road medians.

Shaffer Chapel AME Church,November 2016

Whitely Churches TodayAs a community where churches are such an integral aspect to the neighborhood’s past and future success, Scott believes it is important to promote Whitely as a whole because for him, Whitely is not “promoting individual ministries; we’re promoting, I think, a culture…a culture for our neighborhood.”

With the unification of Whitely’s churches, especially those that have persevered throughout the community’s many obstacles, community members can now promote a culture within their neighborhood. This culture will embody the pride that elders in the community are hoping to instill amongst the youth.

When asked about creating this communal pride in all neighborhood residents, longtime Whitely resident, Cornelius Dollison mentioned that, “One of our goals is to instill neighborhood pride in where we live. We want people to be proud of where they’re at. That’s what builds a better, stronger community.”

Unknown & Mary Dollison

Whitely Churches TodayIn order to achieve a universal pride of everything that Whitely and its residents have endured over the years, the churches’ involvement in community programs and projects has become more crucial than ever. As Whitely’s younger demographics enter into adulthood, they will take on more leaderships roles within the community and directly affect the neighborhood in a way that they most likely have never done before.

For longtime community leader Mary Dollison, church involvement in the community makes a great difference in their youth. Dollison believes that Whitely’s churches are “doing things…to keep our youth positive and proactive, and keep them out of trouble.” Because of the churches’ influence on Whitely’s children, Dollison stands firm in her idea that “our churches are very effective in helping the community.”

Reverend Robert Scaife knows that when he was growing up as a teenager, Reverend W.J. Jackson and Union Baptist Church “were instrumental in helping us [the youth]…understand what we wanted to do…and how to get where we wanted to be.”

Union Missionary Baptist Church,November 2016

Today, Whitely’s churches are trying to do the same thing for their youth—help them find their spark and have the confidence to pursue that spark simply because it is what makes them happy. Once the youth knows that they have the support of their community, their love will only continue to flourish.

Reverend Willie Jackson also wanted to make sure that Whitely’s churches were involved in the community. When discussing Union Baptist’s contribution, he wanted “Union involved in anything that’s meaningful and significant in our community. And it doesn’t have to be religious.”

Reverend Jackson furthers this point by saying that the church’s “ability to mobilize the community is because we represent the sacred, we represent which is right, we represent that which is just, and so anybody who wants to be right and just, whether they’re saved or unsaved, often we give a hearing to the voice of the church.” This mobilizing then allows for parishioners to bring in those that they know who are not a part of the church, and Reverend Jackson believes that this strengthens and extends a church’s impact because of the way it reaches those inside and outside the church.


Shaffer Chapel AME Church,November 2016

Whitely Churches TodayWith the current churches’ involvement in Whitely, the community is able to build allies that would not exist without the unification of the neighborhood churches and parishioners.

This unification has allowed for Whitely to house its own food pantry within the community to help combat the neighborhood’s current food insecurity concern. Because of its size, Union Missionary Baptist Church has offered their building to be used for the food pantry. But the church involvement does not end there. Though the pantry is held at Union, parishioners from other churches volunteer their time at the food pantry while other churches, like Antioch Baptist, donate whatever the pantry needs—whether that be food or monetary funding.

Mary Dollison also shared that “Shaffer Chapel has allowed us to have a museum, an African American museum, in the church.”

Supporting Our Schools at Muncie Central High School, 2016


So because of this constant contribution to the community and its success, those in Whitely want to make sure that everyone, especially the youth, is aware of the impact the neighborhood churches make. For Scott, he believes that the number of churches in Whitely—ten—is very powerful.

He went onto discuss the way in which the elders in the community are trying to make everyone knowledgeable of the church contribution as something that “we’re trying to bring to the forefront, because every area…just about has a church in it, and a church representing an area. So even though you’re not a member here in this church…this church is going to kind of adopt this area so the community will be more aware of the churches.”

If the churches in Whitely were not working together as one unit, many of the residents think that they as a community would not have accomplished so many objectives and projects so quickly.

School Within the Context of Community

Whitely Churches TodayProjects such as the Vacation Bible School, community clean-up, neighborhood food pantry, Revive Muncie, and Paint the Park so heavily relied on the volunteers and the support of those in Whitely. No matter which church they belonged to, many of the church congregations were one of the first individuals to volunteer for these projects.

For those in Whitely, especially those in the church community, it is not about helping their parish for personal reasons, but assisting the community in any way to help the community as a whole succeed.

According to Mary Dollison, “it’s been great to have those churches come along because that is a big help in any community because…they’re trying to help make the community look nicer.” Cornelius Dollison agreed because the churches’ contributions are “building community and is on par with what we’d like to see.”

Volunteers at Paint the Park, 2016

Current Union Missionary Baptist pastor, Reverend Robert Scaife, also believes that Whitely is setting the bar for what it takes to be a model community, one that not only Whitely residents can be a part of, but Muncie residents as well. Just this year, several of the churches in Whitely gathered together alongside other churches in Muncie to participate in Revive Muncie. Scaife says the objective of this project was not only for the churches to join together, but “just to let everybody know that it’s all about one church [family] and our whole purpose was to evangelize, go out and witness…share the love of Christ.” When Whitely’s churches participate in projects aimed at improving their community as well as Muncie as a whole, Scaife believes it shows that “Whitely is definitely on the map to become a model community in Muncie.”

Though Whitely’s churches helped in any way possible in the past, their recent unification has assisted the community to the point that Whitely would not be where it is today without its churches. Today, the neighborhood churches are Whitely and Whitely is its neighborhood churches.


Antioch Baptist Church,November 2016

Content Works Cited1Dollison, Mary. Personal Interview. 31 Oct. 2016.

2Bartlett, Helen Fields. God’s Promise: Gethsemane United Methodist Church. A-1 Graphics, 1995.

3Clark, James R. History of Black Churches in Delaware County. N.P. 1976.

4Long, Sam. “Engaging in Religious Practices.” Other Side of Middletown. 2003.

Dollison, Cornelius. Personal Interview. 31 Oct. 2016.

Scott, Frank. Personal Interview. 2 Nov. 2016.

Scaife, Robert. Personal Interview. 16 Nov. 2016.

Images Works Cited1Union Missionary Baptist Church. 1971. Ball State University Digital Repository. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.

2Antioch Baptist Church cornerstone. 1953. Ball State University Digital Repository. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.

3Shaffer Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church. 1970s. Ball State University Digital Repository. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.

4Shaffer Chapel church officers. 1900s-1970s. Ball State University Digital Repository. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.

5“Whitely Community Council Logo.” Whitely Community Council. 18 Nov. 2016. <https://whitelycc.org/>.

6Whitely Land Company. Whitely, Indiana, circa 1892. 1892. Ball State University Digital Repository. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.

7Bus to Whitely on Walnut and Adams. 1938. Ball State University Digital Repository. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.

8Whitely Christian Pilgrim Church. Ball State University Digital Repository. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.

9Shaffer Chapel AME Church Family and Friends: “Now and Then” 1989. 1989. Box #, Folder #. Unique identifier and collection name. Stoeckel Archives, Ball State University Libraries, Muncie, IN. Date.

10Shaffer Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church: “A Church With a Proud History.” 1996. Box #, Folder #. Unique identifier and collection name. Stoeckel Archives, Ball State University Libraries, Muncie, IN. Date.



13Schools of Whitely and District Number One, Centre Township, Delaware County 1902 commencement program. 1902. Ball State University Digital Repository. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.





Images Works Cited

18Journey in Faith. 1995. Box 2, Folder 4. MSS 6 Church Records. Stoeckel Archives, Ball State University Libraries,Muncie, IN. Date.

19Journey in Faith. 1995. Box 2, Folder 4. MSS 6 Church Records. Stoeckel Archives, Ball State University Libraries,Muncie, IN. Date.

20Antioch Baptist Church cornerstone. 1953. Ball State University Digital Repository. Web. 18 Nov. 2016

21Reverand Ivan P. Broaddus. 1990s-1970s. Ball State University Digital Repository. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.

22Ivan P. Broaddus at five years old. 1930s. Ball State University Digital Repository. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.

23Shaffer Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church. 1970s. Ball State University Digital Repository. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.


Images Works Cited

26Shaffer Chapel church officers. 1900s-1970s. Ball State University Digital Repository. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.



29John E. Johnson Mortuary Hearses. 1930. Ball State University Digital Repository. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.



Images Works Cited



34“Union Missionary Baptist Church.” Union Missionary Baptist Church. 18 Nov. 2016. <http://www.umbcmuncie.com/ copy-of-our-beliefs>.

35“Union Missionary Baptist Church.” Union Missionary Baptist Church. 18 Nov. 2016. <http://www.umbcmuncie.com/ copy-of-our-beliefs>.

36Union Missionary Baptist Church. 1971. Ball State University Digital Repository. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.

37Jacket Copy Creative. Union Missionary Baptist Side Angle. 2016. Photograph.

38Jacket Copy Creative. Antioch Baptist Church Side Angle. 2016. Photograph.

39Jacket Copy Creative. Shaffer Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church Front Angle. 2016. Photograph.

Images Works Cited

40Whitely Community Council. Photo Name. 2016. Photograph.

41Jacket Copy Creative. Union Missionary Baptist Church With Sign. 2016. Photograph.

42Jacket Copy Creative. Shaffer Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church Side Angle. 2016. Photograph.

43Whitely Community Council. S.O.S. Volunteers Cheer On Students As They Enter Muncie Central High School. 2016. Photograph.

44Whitely Community Council. School Within The Context of Community. 2016. Photograph.

45Whitely Community Council. Volunteers For Paint The Park Day on June 25. 2016. Photograph.

46Jacket Copy Creative. Antioch Baptist Church With Sign. 2016. Photograph.

47Jacket Copy Creative. Antioch Baptist Church Sign. 2016. Photograph.

48Jacket Copy Creative. Former Union Missionary Baptist Church. 2016. Photograph.

Images Works Cited

49Jacket Copy Creative. Union Missionary Baptist Church Close-up. 2016. Photograph.

50Jacket Copy Creative. Shaffer Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church Historical Marker. 2016. Photograph.

Images Works Cited

Whitely, Indiana

Our Churches Are Our Community

Documents

Whitely, IndianaWhitely Community Council Frank Scott Rebecca Parker Whitely Community Members Mary Dollison Cornelius Dollison Rev. Robert Scaife Jacket Copy Creative Sarah Debs Kirsten