When construction workers began tearing away the damaged portion of St. John AM Church on Monday morning, they unearthed historical artifacts that had been hidden for decades.
“We were jumping for joy in here because it’s part of our history. This is the oldest Black church in this city,” Pastor Blaine Hackett said. “It was a very significant part of this community for a long time, and we still are.”
The workers found an old wooden sign from the church’s early days that was installed above the original entrance to the building, which was constructed in 1867. The sign was covered up with bricks when the church was renovated in 1960…