Mount Vernon African Methodist Episcopal Church
Why it's listed
Mount Vernon African Methodist Episcopal Church is a brick Gothic Revival building at 913 E. Calhoun Street in Palestine, Texas. Completed in 1921, it has two three-story corner towers with steep pyramidal roofs and a large pointed-arch window on the front. Brick veneer covers a wood frame, and the building remains in good condition with few changes. The congregation was organized in 1873 and is reportedly the third oldest A.M.E. church in Texas. Land for a church was donated to the local African-American community by Judge John H. Reagan, and the congregation built a small frame church in the late 1870s. Members later raised money for the brick building through a "mile of nickels" campaign. The church stands in Palestine's oldest African-American neighborhood. It was listed for its role in the city's Black heritage and for being among the finest local examples of Gothic Revival design, and it still serves the community today.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is significant under Criteria A and C at the local level. It reflects the development of Palestine's African-American community and is reportedly the third oldest A.M.E. church in Texas. It is also among the city's finest surviving examples of Gothic Revival architecture and retains exceptional integrity.
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 98000635, listed June 3, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 913 E. Calhoun St., Palestine |
|---|---|
| County | Anderson County |
| Listed | June 3, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98000635 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1921-1945 |
| Architect / builder | Rountree, J.B. (builder) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Late Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Black, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a religious facility; described as in good condition and minimally altered since construction. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Old Town Residential Historic District |
| Coordinates | 31.76827, -95.62300 (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 98000635.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6924349
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.