Mt. Zion United Methodist Church

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, standing right there in Washington County. Now settle in, because this story starts the way a lot of the best Texas stories do, with people claiming their own ground.

After emancipation in 1865, African American families came and settled on the west side of Brenham. They built a community there, and they called it Watersville. That name, that place, that community, theirs.

Then came 1877, and a man named Reverend J.R. Smith. He didn't wait for a building.

He held services under a brush arbor, which if you've never stood under one, is essentially a roof of cut branches and faith, and probably plenty of both. Out of those gatherings, a congregation took shape, and it became known as Mt. Zion Colored Episcopal Methodist Church.

The people were serious about this. Come March of 1878, they purchased land right here on this site, and they built their church. That building stood as a statement as much as a sanctuary.

The years kept moving, and during the nineteen twenties the congregation's name shifted to Mt. Zion Methodist Episcopal Church. Then 1926 arrived, and it brought high damaging winds.

The church took the hit. So they rebuilt it, and this time they left out the basement. You work with what the storm leaves you.

Decades passed, the congregation kept on, and on June 3, 1984, a new fellowship hall was dedicated. And the ground itself, this very corner where all of that history accumulated, came to be known as Heritage Corner. In 1990, Mt.

Zion entered into the National Register of Historic Places. One brush arbor. One determined congregation.

One corner that earned its name.

What the marker says

After emancipation in 1865, African American families settled on the west-side of Brenham and established Watersville. In 1877, Reverend J.R. Smith conducted services under a brush arbor and the congregation became known as Mt. Zion Colored Episcopal Methodist Church. In March 1878, land was purchased on this site and the church constructed. During the 1920s, the church became known as Mt. Zion Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1926, because of high damaging winds the church was rebuilt minus the basement. A new fellowship hall was dedicated on June 3, 1984. The church stands on what is known as Heritage Corner and, in 1990, entered into the National Register of Historic Places.