In 2013, 6wiggies and I will have been married for 15 years. 6wiggies suggested hiding a series of 15 caches in places significant to our relationship, and I thought that was a great idea. This is the fifth hide of the series.
Shortly after moving to Northport in 1999, 6wiggies and I began discussing moving our membership to a church closer to our home. We began visiting Northport Baptist and soon joined the church. Two of our four children were born while we were members at NBC. We made some very good friends there and continued with the church for several years until we joined a group that intended to plant a new church in Northport, with the help of NBC and Five Points Baptist.
NBC is an historic church that has been around for the better part of two centuries. Organized in 1838 with 41 charter members, the first minister was Rev. A. K. Atkins. The first deacons were J. S. Reynolds, A. R. Pool and N. Lloyd. Originally named North Tuscaloosa Baptist, the name was changed in 1854 to Northport Baptist. A wooden structure was erected at this site in 1858. A new building - the Chapel of present facilities – was erected in 1923, replacing the 1858 wood structure.
On August 25, 1940, the church voted to purchase the property just back of the building. This property and the frame house which stood on that lot was used for children’s Sunday School classes for several years. Church property was extended with the purchase in November 1966 of five additional lots on Main Avenue adjacent to the property on which the church building is located. Additional lots were purchased on Tenth Street in 1993 and 1995. Two wings or educational buildings, were added to the church – the first in 1947, and the other in 1953, these being joined to the original building in the back. Two wings for educational purposes, the Preschool Buiding and the Fellowship Hall building, were added in 1968. In 1974, the main auditorium was redecorated: the floors were carpeted, the walls were painted, and new pews were purchased. Dedication upon completion of this work was observed October 27, 1974.
During 1985-86 more new buildings were constructed, consisting of a new educational wing, housing children’s and youth departments, a new office suite, and a Family Life Center. In February of 1994 the church voted to proceed with the building of a preschool addition as well as modifying the Family Life Center. Construction of a new preschool building and playground began in 1995 with official dedication in 1996. The new sanctuary was completed in the mid-2000s.
Avoid caching on Sundays and possibly Wednesday nights, as the parking lot will likely be full of people. Happy hunting!
Congratulations to Righteous Quest 2000 and TacoMan 2001 for FTF!