The Newest Historic Landmark in Davidson

The Davidson Baptist Chapel was recently designated as a local historic landmark!

 

 

This building is representative of the "town and gown" class divide that once characterized the Town of Davidson, which was physically and socioeconomically divided by the railroad. The eastern side of town was connected with Davidson College and home to the town’s upper- and middle-class residents as well as the business district, while the western side developed in the early 20th century around cotton mills and the associated mill villages.

 

 

Located on the town's western side, Davidson Baptist Chapel served as the Baptist mission, later church, to the white residents of Davidson during and after segregation and stood in contrast to the upper- and middle-class congregants of the dominant Davidson College Presbyterian Church and its connection to Davidson College. Built ca. 1960, the Davidson Baptist Chapel served as a place of worship as well as a place for weddings, funerals, and other activities until its doors closed in the early 2000s.

 

 

In 2008, the Davidson Community Players, working with the Town of Davidson, began leasing the property. The building remains a performance art theatre. The Davidson Baptist Chapel is located at 307 Armour Street, Davidson. For more on its history, visit the website.

 

 

Editors' Note: by our count, this makes 31 historic landmarks in the Town of Davidson.