St. Frederick Baptist Church earns Texas historical marker
DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR
MARBLE FALLS — The Rev. George Perry is a man who uses words to share God’s message. But he struggled to find the right ones to describe how he felt after learning the St. Frederick Baptist Church congregation earned a Texas historical marker.
“I guess, overwhelmed,” he said after a few moments of reflection. “I’m just so grateful for all the people who kept (the church) going. It’s an amazing church with great people.”
The Burnet County Historical Commission along with church members began seeking the historical marker from the state historical commission about a year ago. Getting it took a lot of time and effort, explained county historical commission member Jane Knapik.
“You have to gather a lot of information and documents,” she said. “Fortunately, the church held on to quite a few things.”
While the Texas Historical Commission approved the historical marker for the congregation, the actual dedication is probably still a year off.
“Even though the (state) historical commission approves the marker, you have to buy it,” local historian Caryl Caslyn said. The local commission and the church are raising money to cover the marker’s cost, which will run about $1,800.
Still, Perry feels blessed for the recognition.
St. Frederick formed in 1893. At the time, the congregation met in the home of Dicie Yett Johnson, which was located behind the old Roper Hotel. A bit later, the congregation began meeting on the first floor of the Blazing Star Lodge, along with holding school there. The Rev. A.L. Walker led the services during these early years.
The church formed in an era when some laws banned blacks from gathering in groups, even for worship, Perry said.
“Just to think about where we came from,” he said, “starting in an illegal stage to legal stage is incredible. You have a lot of folks, especially younger folks, who won’t believe that, but that’s how it was.”
While change came, it came slowly and in little steps. Perry recalled growing up in Georgetown, where if he was walking down a sidewalk and a white man approached, as a black man, Perry had to step off the sidewalk and let the white man pass.
“To know where we were to where we are now is a big accomplishment,” Perry added.
The historical marker helps share those struggles and accomplishments with the current congregation as well as the rest of the community.
“With the marker, every time somebody drives by or somebody comes in, there will be something here to tell them about this congregation and its importance to the town,” Knapik said. “It helps the whole town by telling the story of the church.”
Bessie Jackson, a St. Frederick member, agreed.
“The Lord gave us this ministry to serve the community,” Jackson said. “But the community also serves us by coming in and being a part of the ministry and helping. The marker is important because of the feeling when you see the church — the congregation — you see we’re a part of the community and the community is part of us. It means something. It means we represent something.”
The church is collecting donations to help purchase the marker. Donations may be sent to St. Frederick Baptist Church, Historical Marker, P.O. Box 812, Marble Falls, TX 78654.
daniel@thepicayune.com