St. John Baptist Church (Mason City, Iowa)

St. John Baptist Church is an African American Baptist congregation that started in 1919 and is the name of its historic church building at 715 6th Street SW in Mason City, Iowa that was built in 1937.[2]

St. John Baptist Church
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	715 6th St. SW Mason City, Iowa
Coordinates	43°08′46.2″N 93°12′44.7″W
Area	less than one acre
Built	1937
Architect	Spencer Brothers
Architectural style	Ecclesiastical, vernacular
NRHP reference No.	01001484[1]
Added to NRHP	January 24, 2002

The building is a 24 feet (7.3 m) by 56 feet (17 m) rectangular church with a 4 feet (1.2 m) vestibule, built on a high 5.5 feet (1.7 m) stone foundation. According to its NRHP nomination, "St. John Baptist is an example of simple vernacular design, based on the centuries-old rectangular nave floor plan. No architect has been identified, although some believe that Spencer Brothers, a local African-American construction firm, may have drawn the plans." It was built by members of the congregation, using stones salvaged from a demolished local elementary school.[2]

It was added to the National Register in 2002.[1] It was deemed significant " for its association with a strong African-American community, and the role the church played in an ethnically diverse neighborhood."[2]

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
2. Molly Myers Naumann (May 2001). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: St. John Baptist Church". National Park Service. Retrieved July 17, 2016. with 11 photos