COLUMN: REMEMBER WHEN: Story of Andalusia’s Baraca Hall

Several Andalusians have taken notice recently of an older   downtown building that is known as the Baraca Hall on Crescent Street. Some of those who participated in ReAct Theatre’s “Tales from the Tomb” at the Magnolia Cemetery in October were admiring the beauty and uniqueness of the older structure while wondering how it got there and who first occupied the structure. 

Most of the younger generation of citizens do not know that the Baraca Hall was once located adjacent to the old downtown First Baptist Church that stood where the parking lot behind the courthouse is situated. The old church was razed around 1959 when the new church was built on East Three Notch Street. There is a history and an interesting story about the Baraca Hall.  I would like to share it with you readers since those who established it and remember anything about it are mostly dead and gone.

In 1890 Marshall Hudson at the First Baptist Church in Syracuse, New York began the Baraca Class, an ecumenical class to foster young adult evangelism. Wikipedia defines the word “Baraca” as an international interdenominational organization of Bible classes of young men – so named in allusion to the Hebrew word “Berachah” in the Bible (Chronicles) meaning “Blessing.”

By the early 1900s, there were Baraca classes in every major Protestant denomination in almost every U. S. state, Canada, Italy, England, India, and Japan. The classes of young men met during Sunday School to study the Bible together. The Philathea Union or Society was a similar group which consisted of young women in leadership roles studying the Bible – the Greek word “Philathea” meaning “lovers of God.”

An early mention in the newspapers of the Andalusia Baptist Baraca Sunday School Class was in 1909. “The Baraca Class is growing. Last Sunday the attendance of this class was 46.”

December 12, 1912 – “The Baraca and Philathea classes will organize a Baptist Young Peoples’ Union at the Andalusia Baptist Church next Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock. All young men and women of the town are cordially invited to either join or to visit these meetings.”

January 23, 1913 – “The Baraca Class of the Andalusia Baptist Sunday School meets every Sunday morning at 10  o’clock. New members will be gladly received.”

August 31, 1915 – “The Baraca and Philathea classes enjoyed a moonlight picnic at the park Friday evening.”

November 2, 1915 – “A unique Halloween party was given by the Baraca Class of the Methodist Sunday School in the large barn of A. C. Darling at Andalusia last Friday evening. Many games were played after which delightful refreshments were served.”

December 7, 1915 – “The Philathea and Baraca classes will have an entertainment at the home of Mrs. C. A. O’Neal on Wednesday evening. All members of the classes are cordially invited to be present.”

May 20, 1921 – “About 15 men turned out yesterday on the local diamond for the first practice and organization of the Baraca team. They now stand ready to play any team in the city and for the first game issue challenge to the Kiwanians for a game Monday afternoon at 4 o’clock. The Rotarians are also asked to get their old leaguers together for a game Wednesday.”

October 7, 1924 – “Mayor J. Morgan Prestwood delivered a lecture before the Baraca Class Sunday morning. The mayor chose as his subject the theme, ‘gambling.’ He told the men the result it brings upon the men who indulge in this crime. The mayor stated that so long as he is mayor, the lid is on within the police jurisdiction of Andalusia and regardless of how high they may stand in the social or business scale, all violators of the criminal laws will have to appear before him and have their names recorded on the docket and if proven guilty will be punished as the law directs.”

February 18, 1925 – “The largest Sunday School class in Andalusia is the Baraca class which is made up of the younger business men of the city. This class with a membership around the 100 mark was all present at the bird supper.”

June 9, 1925 – “To all Baracas and invited guests: You are hereby notified that our class ‘fish fry’ will be ready for your appetites on Wednesday at the Boy Scout cabin (River Falls).”

October 10, 1925 – “The Baraca Class will meet Sunday morning in the Kiwanis Club room of the McArtan building.”

February 21, 1928 – “Baptist Baraca Banquet – On Thursday evening, the ladies of the Baptist church served the annual banquet to the Baraca Class in Kiwanis Hall. The class has on its roster the names of young business and professional men who wield an influence over civic, moral, and religious life of the city. Their hand of mercy is often extended in help to orphan children and to the unfortunate of the community and in building a bigger and better Baptist Baraca brotherhood.”

March 6, 1931 – “Promptly at 9:45 last Sunday morning, the Baraca orchestra began playing “Love is the Theme” as the Senior Philathea class marched in, 65 strong. President King remarked that it was largely a “Mrs. Baraca Class” because many of the members were wives of the Baracas. He then requested all to shake hands with those about them. Many reported meeting strangers. The song service was under the direction of Robert Ham who performed his duties in his usual charming manner. Following the prayer, the Baraca quartet composed of Ham, W. C. Boutwell, Eddie Conner, and Dr. H. H. Martin sang. It was announced that Prof. Lambert, teacher for the Baraca Class of First Baptist, Montgomery, will lecture the Baracas the following Sunday. We hope to have as our guests the men’s class from the First Presbyterian Church.”

March 25, 1932 – “When the Baraca Class sets out to do a thing, it is done. This is true because of faithful members who believe in the work of the Lord and who are willing to give of their time and effort to carry on the work. The class decided to buy a piano last Sunday, the president announced. He had already collected $89.50 to apply to the instrument. The class made up the balance of the necessary $100. in the regular morning collection. There were over 150 present last Sunday and there should be at least 200 present on Easter. Will you be one of them?”

October 14, 1932 – “The Baraca Class, the Junior Baracas, and the Junior and Senior Philathea ladies classes all assembled in the courthouse court room Sunday morning with 388 present to hear Dr. Lambert of Montgomery. ‘This great depression that is upon us is the result of greed and of our lack of faith in God. The world needs to get away from the den of noisy business and turn an attentive ear to the teachings of Jesus before we can hope for better times,’ he stated.”

Other class meetings in the 1930s were reported to be held above the City Drug Store, at the Paramount Theater, and at the courthouse. It was always advertised in The Andalusia Star that “A hearty welcome awaits you there.”

In January 1936, a special newspaper announcement read, “The class is making plans and has considerable money on hand to begin soon the erection of a modern class building on the lot adjoining the church. The building will be built on the order of a community house and can be used for other purposes as well as for a comfortable meeting place for the class. Many of those who were present pledged their support to the building program.”

“Remember the Baraca aim for 1936: ‘A Bigger and Better Class.’ The Baraca Class is blessed with some of the finest musical and teaching talent – pianist, Louise Bozeman Cox; chorister, W. O. Bozeman; quartet and orchestra.

March 26, 1936 – “It was announced Sunday by the Building Committee that the work on the 40 X 70 annex will be started at once and rushed to an early completion. The class has had to find a meeting place outside the church building over a long period of time. The sum raised for the building is $2,500. W. N. Rushton of the Andalusia Development Company has the contract for the building. This additional room will supply a long-felt want.”

May 14, 1936 – “Members of the Baraca Class are looking forward to next Sunday as a ‘red letter day’ in the history of the organization when they will meet for the first time in their new building which has been erected on the lot adjoining the church. Although the building has not been completed, it will be possible for the class to hold its weekly sessions there while finishing touches are being added. Officers of the class have expressed their desire to thank the people of Andalusia for their splendid cooperation without which the building could not have been erected.”

The newspaper editor, Dugger, reported on June 4, 1936, “On last Sunday, the members of the class agreed to each contribute the wages earned on Wednesday of last week for the purpose of paying the cost of a permanent roof for the building. To judge from the number of bills and checks which were laid on the table by the class members as they entered, we would say that the roof will go on without further delay. They are all to be congratulated on their willingness to make a definite sacrifice in order to provide a permanent home for this class.”

June 10, 1937 – “Friday night, June 11, the Baraca Class is having a big celebration supper at the new Baraca Hall. The program will begin on the lawn while the Supper Committee receives boxes brought by the members. From what we can hear, there will be more food and every kind of food. The class is staging this supper in an entirely different manner from the usual custom. As a suggestion for those who might not know just what to bring, fried chicken will do. A bowl of salad, an egg custard, apple tarts, bread, cake, pickles, onions, rice, peas, blackberry pie, chicken pie or sandwiches of any kind – in fact anything that a hungry man can eat. Bring your box, hand it to the committee, and they will arrange the table. This is a great day for the class when they can meet to celebrate the completion of their hall on which every dime has been paid and each member is urged by the officers of the class to be present and enjoy the fine fellowship.”

The June 17, 1937 edition of The Andalusia Star reported that the banquet served on the lawn of the new brick building was an enjoyable and inspiring occasion of early summer in Andalusia. Editor Oscar Dugger brought greetings and congratulatory messages from the First Presbyterian Church and the First Methodist Church. Rev. Jesse Cook gave a message of greeting to some 200 members and guests present along with J. T. Moates over the loud speaker and E. L. King, master of ceremonies presiding.

As was planned, the Baraca Hall was used over a period of time for other community gatherings including ladies volunteering for Red Cross services, Camellia shows of the City Garden Clubs, banquets for young and old alike, and other civic club meetings in the 1940s and early 1950s prior to the building of the Scherf Memorial Building in 1950. A special guest, Governor Frank Dixon made a speech to civic leaders of the town in 1939 at the hall.

August 28, 1952 – “Driver Smashes into Baraca Hall Half an Hour Before Church-Goers Assemble – A man charged with driving while intoxicated steered an automobile into the side of the Baraca Hall building of the First Baptist Church Sunday just a few minutes before a large crowd had assembled there for Sunday School. City officers Earl Prestwood and John E. Owens who investigated said that the driver passed the Covington County Courthouse, turned right at the Martin Theatre striking a stop sign in the center of the street, continued toward the main door at First Baptist, but then turned left on Crescent Street, drove up onto the sidewalk across the church lawn and into the side of the Baraca Hall building breaking a gas meter and line. The mishap occurred at 8:55 a. m. The driver suffered facial injuries and a broken tooth.”

January 2, 1958 – “Sale of the First Baptist Church buildings and property that adjoin the courthouse in Andalusia has been approved. The buyer is the Covington County Board of Revenue whose offer of $70,000. for the property was accepted by a vote of the FBC congregation. It is planned for the Baraca Hall building to be converted into offices for the welfare and pension department of Covington County in the immediate future. The First Baptist Church is now erecting a new sanctuary costing some $240,000. at a site on East Three Notch Street that adjoins the FBC pastorium (later known as the West annex). The Baptists plan to expand their building program in the near future with the erection of additional buildings. The Baraca Class has voted to hold its regular sessions in the church sanctuary temporarily. County officials have indicated there will be no rush to take over the Baraca Hall. Renovations will be launched to place office partition walls in the building.”

     April 10, 1958 – “Guest teacher for the Baraca Class of the First Baptist Church will be Ed Dannelly, Editor of The Andalusia Star News. Col. Guy Wilder, Baraca president, has announced that the class program will be held at the Martin Theatre.”

Well, readers, this is the Baraca Hall story which some of you have asked for. There are some beautiful panoramic pictures of the Baraca Class members standing in front of the courthouse. I do not know the dates of these pictures but am wondering if maybe the dates coincide with the sale of the building or maybe a special holiday like Easter. These photos are hung and displayed in the First Baptist Church Chapel on the north wall and at the Three Notch Museum.  Maybe you can pick out your grandfather or uncle. I can.

It is my hope that the Baraca Hall building which windows are now boarded up will be part of our city’s historic preservation efforts. The facade is a beautiful Mission Revival architectural style and the character of its structure adds to the ambience of downtown. Thank goodness the wrecking ball did not raze this edifice.

The Baraca Class of First Baptist Church is still today a Sunday School Class. Like the members of the past, they still worship with a lesson and with music whether rendered by a soloist, a quartet, or an instrumentalist and, of course, the group singing of a favorite traditional hymn. The Baracas, they are indeed a “Blessing.”

— Sue Bass Wilson, AHS Class of 1965, is a local real estate broker and long-time member of the Covington Historical Society. She can be reached at suebwilson47@gmail.com.