Springfield, Mo., August 12, 2024 – Significant restoration will begin on the former African Methodist Episcopal Church located on the corner of Benton Avenue and Central Street. With grants totaling over $3 million received, the installation of a new, 50-year roof will begin over the coming weeks. Soon to follow will be window improvements and tuckpointing on the brickwork. Once those foundational improvements have been finished, work on the interior will commence.
Funding for this project comes from private donations, allocations from Greene County, the state of Missouri, Drury University, and The American Rescue Plan Act, which provided capital for state and local governments to make strategic investments in long-lived assets. This project has been a priority for the University and the major construction is slated for completion in 2025.
“The historical context of the AME Church is one Drury University is trying to preserve while also furthering our mission to educate students by honoring the legacy of the African-American community in the region and furthering goodwill,” said Drury University President, Dr. Jeff Frederick. “The University will renovate and preserve the facility to serve educational purposes and honor Rev. Oliver Brown, the national struggle for civil rights, and especially Brown v. Board of Education.”
The restoration and improvements will provide space for exhibits that reflect upon the history of the church, issues of race and civil rights in Springfield, and struggles for justice and freedom across America. Dr. Michael Verney, Associate Professor of History at Drury, will gather historic photographs and documents for preservation and exhibition at the renovated AME Church. “The goal will be to create an internal walking tour that chronicles the long and continued road to freedom and equality and that unfolds on local, regional, and national scales,” Verney said.
In addition to providing exhibit and classroom space, the greater Springfield community will have access to meeting spaces and utilization of the historic church for educational purposes. Dr. Rosalyn Thomas, Associate Dean of Diversity and Inclusion at Drury University, shares that “the restored building will be a part of the African American Heritage Trail, which will become a noted attraction for other community programming such as the Black History Summer Academy. We all look forward to the completion of the building.”
Community members and colleagues interested or able to assist in the museum or collections work are encouraged to contact Dr. Verney at mverney@drury.edu.
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Media Contact: Kevin Kropf, Ed.D., Executive Vice President of Enrollment Management, Marketing & Communications | Office: (417) 873-7390 | Email: kkropf@drury.edu
