Bethel AME Church and Manse
Why it's listed
Bethel AME Church and Manse occupy a small lot at 291 Park Avenue in the village of Huntington, across the street from Huntington Hospital. The church is a one-and-one-half story wood frame building with a gable roof, clapboard siding, three entrances on the east facade, and round-arch stained-glass windows. Next door stands a two-story, hip-roofed manse of about 1915, now covered in asbestos siding. The church was built in the 1840s by the local Methodist congregation and has been used by Huntington's black residents since 1860. It is the oldest black church in continuous use in the town. Of three properties identified in a town-wide survey as connected to local black history, it is considered the most important, given its long role in the community's spiritual and social life and its prominent location. Both buildings show plain wood construction typical of the area, and despite alterations they keep their overall historic appearance.
Significance in brief: The complex is argued to be the most important surviving historic resource tied to local black history in the town of Huntington. The 1840s church was built by a Methodist congregation but has been used by Huntington's black residents since 1860, and it is the oldest black church in continuous use in the town. Its wood frame, utilitarian construction is also representative of local building tradition.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 85002490, listed September 26, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 291 Park Ave., Huntington |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | September 26, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002490 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1840s-1915 |
| Areas of significance | Black, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a church; condition listed as fair, with alterations but retaining overall historic appearance. Manse covered in modern asbestos siding. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.87804, -73.41804 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 85002490.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4897849
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.