First Baptist Church of McKeesport
Abandoned in 1990, the former First Baptist Church of McKeesport, Pennsylvania now sits vacant, falling to pieces, set for demolition. While this particular structure would not come to life until the 1900s, the church itself goes a bit further back in history. Not long after McKeesport was established in 1795, the First Baptist Church was chartered as the McKeesport Regular Baptist Church on June 3, 1820 by Rev. William Stone and Nathaniel Tibbets. They had met in the Union Church until 1838, when they finally decided to construct a new building on Blackberry Alley in a lot donated by James Penney.
Population rise due to coal mining
Due to a rise in coal mining around the McKeesport area, population began to increase as well. The church had now grown to 50 members, and was admitted into the Pittsburgh Baptist Association on April 10, 1841. In just over a year from that point, membership had doubled for the church.
Built for $22,000
With a rise in membership came a need for more space, and by December 25, 1868 the church decided to move to a building at the corner of Walnut and Sixth streets. By the end of the 19th century, the church’s membership had climbed to 541, with 350 members attending Sunday school. In August 1902, the church was sold for $65,000 and demolished to make way for a skyscraper. They had then acquired new property at Olive Street and Locust Ave. for $22,000 – equivalent to about $682,000 today. This would eventually become the home of the church seen in these photos.
New church constructed
The new church was constructed in 1904 and was designed by architect J.C. Fulton of Uniontown. The projected cost of construction was $50,000. On May 28, 1903 a cornerstone laying ceremony was held, led by Rev. J.A. Maxwell. During this ceremony, Andrew Carnegie had donated half of the cost for the pipe organ. By June 19, 1904 the building was complete, and dedicated. Â Â
Rise & fall of McKeesport population
By the late 1930s, McKeesport had seen immense growth. The National Tube Works employed nearly 10,000 at the time, and McKeesport’s population was nearing 55,000. By 1938, the First Baptist Church congregation totaled 908 people. Things were going well for the area. This growth however wouldn’t last. In following decades as the steel industry began to collapse, unfortunately, like most rust belt cities, so did McKeesport. Population began to decline as the US economy had begun focusing on service industries such as medical care and entertainment. These industries began their heavy rise as the other industries fell. Consumer products such as radios, televisions, refrigerators and washing machines were being produced in greater quantities, creating a new consumer economy. Jobs were being cut from steel mills and other heavy industry, and many people were left too poor to enjoy the lifestyle of this new economy. People began to go elsewhere for jobs, leaving many industry-heavy cities behind. By 1990, with more and more people leaving McKeesport, the church congregation had been cut nearly in half from its peak. With such a small congregation remaining, and expenses becoming out of reach on the aging church, the First Baptist Church was closed as members disbanded.Â
Fifteen years later on April 19, 2005, Zion Baptist Church had purchased the building from the McKeesport Redevelopment Authority for only $1,000. The church had initially had plans to attempt renovating the decaying structure, but due to high costs, the project was abandoned.
