National Register Record for ST. JOHN BAPTIST CHURCH AND RECTORY

Historic Name: ST. JOHN BAPTIST CHURCH AND RECTORY
Current Name: None
Address: 1009 SOUTH ELEVENTH STREET
City: PONCA CITY            County: KAY
Section: None           Township: None           Range: None          
Description of significance: ST. JOHN BAPTIST CHURCH AND RECTORY IN PONCA CITY, OKLAHOMA IS SIGNIFICANT UNDER CRITERION A AT THE LOCAL LEVEL BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY OF THAT CITY SINCE ITS CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IN 1927. THE PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE THUS BEGINS IN 1927. SEGREGATED WITHIN THE DIXIE HILL-ATTUCKS NEIGHBORHOOD, THE BLACK COMMUNITY DEVELOPED ITS OWN INSTITUTIONS, OF WHICH ST. JOHN BAPTIST CHURCH WAS ONE AND PLAYED A LEADING ROLE. THE PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE ENDS IN 1954, THE YEAR THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT HANDED DOWN ITS DECISION IN BROWN V. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF TOPEKA, KANSAS THAT SEGREGATION WAS INHERENTLY UNEQUAL. ALONG WITH OTHER BLACK CHURCHES, ST. JOHN BAPTIST CHURCH FOUND ITS ROLE CHANGING BUT NOT ENDING AS ITS CONGREGATION MERGED INTO THE LARGER PONCA CITY POPULATION AND INSTITUTIONS.

Type: BUILDING
Historic Function: RELIGION: RELIGIOUS FACILITY; DOMESTIC: SINGLE DWELLING; DOMESTIC: OUTBUILDING
Current Function: RELIGION: RELIGIOUS FACILITY; DOMESTIC: SINGLE DWELLING; DOMESTIC: OUTBUILDING
Area of Significance 1: ETHNIC HERITAGE: BLACK
Area of Significance 2: None
Architectural Style: LATE 19TH AND EARLY 20TH CENTURY AMERICAN MOVEMENTS: BUNGALOW/CRAFTSMAN
Architect: UNKNOWN
Year Built: 1927-1954            Original Site: YES
Condition: EXCELLENT
Restricted: N
Documentation Source: None
Date Prepared: 2015