“Before Emancipation, restrictive laws often prohibited blacks from gathering in large numbers, except in churches. Rev. Samuel Roundtree, one of five Nicodemus organizers and promoters, recruited homesteaders from Baptist churches in central Kentucky. Soon after arriving in the fall of 1877, Rev. Silas Lee organized the Nicodemus First Baptist Church. At first the congregation worshiped in a dugout at Tom Johnson's homestead north of town. Later they worshiped in a large sod structure at this location. In 1880, they built a large limestone church here on the main street of the growing town. In 1907, the congregation substantially enlarged the church and the front entrance moved to this side of the building. The original church was incorporated within the new one.” #fromthepasttopresent #nicodemus #blackhistory #slavemigration (at Nicodemus National Historic Site) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWryYlcNsDo/?utm_medium=tumblr