My family has attended First Baptist Church Holly Pond since the beginning, as my ancestors were charter members. The Church celebrated 130 years of ministry in this community. It is my prayer that [the] church with continue to thrive and share the Gospel for generation[s] to come.”Robin Henderson, church and Holly Pond Historical Society member
HOLLY POND – On Sunday, Nov. 15, the Holly Pond Historical Society dedicated a historical marker at First Baptist Church of Holly Pond, with many from the community gathering to celebrate the event.
“My family has attended First Baptist Church Holly Pond since the beginning, as my ancestors were charter members,” said Robin Henderson, church and Holly Pond Historical Society member. “The Church celebrated 130 years of ministry in this community. It is my prayer that [the] church with continue to thrive and share the Gospel for generation[s] to come.”
The marker reads:
First Baptist Church Holly Pond
First Baptist Church of Holly Pond was organized in 1885 as Holly Pond Missionary Baptist Church. Charter members included the families of P. R. Tennison, William Jefferson Hazelwood, Bill House, Seaborn Shaw, and Isaac Barnett. Over the course of the church’s life, the congregation worshipped in three different locations and five different sanctuaries.
The first, destroyed by fire in 1895, was a wood-framed structure located in the triangle formed by HWY 278 and Blountsville Road. The second, destroyed by a wind storm in 1914, was a wood-framed building located 1/10 mile west of the first site.
The third sanctuary was white, wood-framed, and located at the triangle formed by HWY 278 and New Hope Road, as was the fourth, a brick, Georgia Colonial structure built in 1939. The last was built on this site in 1978, the same year the church’s name was changed to First Baptist.
Many preachers and missionaries have been sent from here to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Dedicated October 2015 on the occasion of the church’s 130th anniversary.
Sponsored by the Holly Pond Historical Society
ALABAMA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION 2015
“I have attended this church all my life. So have my parents and grandparents,” smiled church member Melissa Roberts. “I did not realize all the history of the church until now,” she chuckled.
The Holly Pond Historical Society is an active group, with big plans for the future.
So far, they have:
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Published a book of early Holly Pond family histories in 2008
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Participated in Founders Day activities
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Published five calendars: 2011 Historic Holly Pond School, 2012 Centennial of Town of Holly Pond, 2014 Community Schools, 2015 Historic Homes and 2016 Historic Churches
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Secured a place on the Alabama Historic Cemetery Register for Holly Pond Cemetery
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Placed three historical markers: one at Guy Hunt Library and Museum, one at Holly Pond Cemetery and now First Baptist Church of Holly Pond. A fourth marker, for the Holly Pond Methodist Church, is next.
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Sponsored four cemetery walks to tell stories of early citizens of the Holly Pond area who are buried here
The Holly Pond Historical Society collects and preserves materials of a historical nature, including genealogies, newspapers, letters, journals, store ledgers, church records, photographs, family stories, relics and anything that relates to the history of the Holly Pond area.
The group holds monthly meetings on the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the conference room at the Guy Hunt Library and Museum, located at 60 Lions Park Road in Holly Pond. The meetings are open to the public.
