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Home My WebLink About11300-26 Amending the Zoning Ordinance and Establishing Historic Landmark Status for the Structure and Real Property Known as the Olivet AME / Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church Located at 310 West Monroe Street ORDINANCE No . 11300_26 Passed by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana August 10, 26 20 Attest: kaiktIAJ , 114/V1-- City Clerk Bianca L. Tirado Attest: �/r�'--- President of Common Council Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana August 11, 20 26 dCity Clerk Bianca L. 7irado Approved and signed by me If iAf�+))- I 1 20 26 J i . itA. .v Mayor SOUTif 8 ,s do j, . V \ / ply'1 1865 • BILL NO. 48-26 ORDINANCE NO. 11300-26 AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA,AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE AND ESTABLISHING HISTORIC LANDMARK STATUS FOR THE STRUCTURE AND REAL PROPERTY KNOWN AS THE OLIVET AME/ZION HILL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH LOCATED AT 310 WEST MONROE STREET IN THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT The building and ground located at 310 West Monroe Street (the "Property") in the City of South Bend, Indiana, currently known as the Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church, and formerly as the Olivet African Methodist Episcopal Church, played a unique role in the history of South Bend. The current owner of the property has petitioned the Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend and St. Joseph County (the "Commission") to have the Property designated as a Historic Landmark pursuant to City Ordinance No. 9989-00, as amended. The structure was rated as Significant/Notable in the latest summary report of the Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory(2005)which described it as being unaltered and in good condition. The site is a publicly accessible surviving structure from the first African-American church congregation organized in South Bend and associated with numerous persons of stature in the African-American community of South Bend and is suitable for preservation for its unaltered condition, integrity and continued use. The Commission's Staff prepared a report and recommendation for the Commission, which was approved by the Commission at the meeting held June 15, 2026. At that time public hearing was held and the Commission unanimously approved a Resolution recommending that this Council designate 310 West Monroe Street as a Local Historic Landmark. Historical and Cultural Significance The Olivet African Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in the City of South Bend in 1870 under the direction of Reverend John Bundy and nine charter members. The Organization became a legal entity by Articles of Association dated March 16, 1871 under the name of"Olivet Chapel Society of the African Methodist Episcopal Church of South Bend". Said articles of association were signed by James Hurst, Pharoah (A.K.A. Pharoh and Farrow) Powell, J. H. Jackson, Catherine Wilson and Alice Fowler. The Church placed great emphasis on the religious and social improvement of local residents of African descent. For many years, it was the only center of the social, religious, and political life of the city's African-American community. This congregation is found to be variously referred to as Olivet, Mount Olive and simply Olivet A.M.E. in the historical sources. Among the other early charter members of the Olivet A.M.E. Church were Mrs. Pharoah Powell, Mrs. James Jackson, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Birdgeman, Mr. J. B. Lott, and Mr. John Powell. The first trustees, Pharoah Powell, James Jackson, and Jaynes Hurst purchased this site in 1871. Shortly thereafter, the first church was erected on this site in the late 1870's under the direction of Rev. Bundy.This structure was remodeled under the leadership of Rev. George W. Benson. Late in 1915 plans were made for a new church during the administration of Reverend C. Emery Allen. Construction work on the present structure was completed in 1917. On February 4, 1917 the new church was dedicated during the Michigan Annual Conference, by Right Reverend C. S. Smith, Presiding Bishop. The pipe organ was unveiled October 23, 1917 under the pastorate of Rev.A. T. Reading. In 1969, the Olivet A.M.E. Church purchased the former Lowell Heights Methodist Church at 719 N. Notre Dame Avenue.They sold this building to James and Bonnie Baxter at that time. The Baxters converted the Church into a center for dance instruction and performance. The building was restored to a place of worship in the latter part of 1981 when the Southhold Dancecenter Inc. sold it to the Greater Tabernacle Christian Church. In April of 1986. South Bend's Department of Redevelopment purchased the structure as part of the land acquisitions related to the development of Coveleski Stadium. The Reverend Robert H. Derrickson leased the structure for eight years as the sanctuary of Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church. In 1994, Zion Hill purchased the structure. Reverend Derrickson served as pastor for nineteen years until his passing in 2005. Zion Hill continued to hold services and care for the structure. In 2017, in a sign of the warm relationship between Olivet, the oldest African American congregation, and Zion Hill as the caretakers of the former Olivet sanctuary, Zion Hill hosted a 100th anniversary celebration for the building. Olivet's pastor, the Reverend Rick Jackson, spoke at the celebration. Suitability for Preservation The structure is constructed in a very functional rendition of the Gothic Revival style including a high pitched roof(approximately 12/12 pitch), stained glass windows with pointed arches, water table, a crenelated tower at the northwest front corner and a circular window located in the pediment of the front facade. The construction is of stretcher bond wire cut brick with cut and dressed stone articulating such elements as the water table string course,window sills,the surround of the circular window, the keystone over the main entry door, and the parapet coping over the entry and at the crenelations of the tower. In plan the structure is composed of a main rectangular body with high pitched vaulted ceiling which shelters the sanctuary of the church and a large room directly below the sanctuary in the basement. Additional one story extensions enclose a narthex entry at the front with a quarter-hip roof; choir storage at the southeast corner, and office space at the southwest corner with shed extensions from the upper roof. Vertical accessibility is accommodated by stairway in the tower. The main floor is raised significantly from ground level and articulated by a stone string course often referred to as the water table. Entry is accomplished by concrete steps with metal railings located at the center of the front facade which approach a double set of doors which together have a Tudor arched head. Secondary entry and egress is provided by a door located at the office appendage. Educational Value The Olivet AME/Zion Hill Baptist Church possesses high educational value as a single, intact site through which multiple themes central to South Bend and St. Joseph County history can be interpreted. The property illustrates the location of the first religious institution established in South Bend by a congregation of African-American descent. The extant structure was constructed by that same congregation at this same site at a later date which has since accrued historical merit. The building is an example of the design, plan, detail, and materials of the early twentieth century church construction. The Commission conducted a public hearing on June 15, 2026 for the purposes of hearing comments on the designation of the Property as a Historic Landmark and for delivering a recommendation to the Common Council. Following the public hearing,the Commission gave its favorable recommendation to the Common Council of the City of South Bend to designate the Property as a Historic Landmark Pursuant to Ordinance 9989-00, as amended. NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL FO THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA,AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The building now known as the Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church, and formerly as the Olivet African Methodist Episcopal Church, located at 310 West Monroe Street, with its surrounding grounds and structures,but excluding the parking lot, is hereby designated and established as a Historic Landmark of the City of South Bend, Indiana, pursuant to Ordinance 9989-00. Section 2. This Ordinance shall take effect upon its adoption by the Common Council, signature by the Mayor, and any publication required by law. f 2 Canneth J. Lee, Council President South Bend Common Council Attest: ..---- Bianca L. Tirado, Ci lerk Office of the City Clerk Presented by me, the undersigned Clerk of the City of South Bend, to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana on the 11`" day of August , 2026, at 12 o'clock p.m. `/g/(-061'W"—.1 Bianca L. Tirado, City Cl Office of the City Clerk Approved and signed byme on the 11 pp g I�� day of ��f�J � , 2026, at l' o'clock -m. J /1 Jam Mueller, Mayor Cit of South Bend, Indiana