Liberty Chapel was organized
in 1849-1850. The first church, built of logs in1850, was located
near the cemetery fence across the road from the present church site.
When a smallpox epidemic hit a company of soldiers camped on the Military
Highway four miles from the church, twelve of them died and were buried
near the center of the church cemetery.
A wood frame church was built
in 1881, and was followed by a third church building in 1888. The
1888 church also served as a schoolhouse. In the 1890s, Matthew Nugent
rode throughout the area collecting money. With the $50 he raised,
40 acres of land were purchased at public auction on May 26, 1894 in Colfax
(Conveyance Book H, p. 97). Soon after, 40 acres of land nearby was
purchased. The church and cemetery occupy this land.
The present church building
was constructed in 1910. When the local school burned down, it was
used as the schoolhouse for a while. The bell in front of the church
was originally located at the Winnfield church. It was moved to the
Dry Prong Methodist Church, but ended up at Liberty when the Dry Prong
church was torn down.
Additional space was added to
the back of the church building in 1959-1960. A recreation building
was constructed in 1997. |
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