Emerson Avenue Baptist Sunday School Graduates--1948 and 1956

Emerson Avenue Baptist Church has been an important institution in the neighborhood since 1921.  Located at the northwest corner of North Emerson Avenue and East Michigan Street, the church used to be sheathed in brick but was later covered in Bedford Stone after some significant additions.  In these two photos, both taken in the mid-twentieth century, you can see the brick facades.  In the case of the 1948 image, we have the names of every child in the photo.  The opposite is true for the 1956 image so if you recognize anyone let us know!

Back Row: (left to right) Jackie Weninger, Linda McKay, Vickie Visom, Susan Page, Billie O’Connell, Kenneth Fromer, Steven Self, David Bradbury, Harold Wilson

Front Row:  (left to right) Barbara Azbell, Betty Lou Page, Patty Windel, Johnny Shannon, Hilda Powers, Linda Mosier, Christine Davis, Judy Fleehearty; This was photo was taken on September 26, 1948

Emerson Avenue Baptist Church Sunday School Graduates in 1956

The historic images are courtesy of Barbara Sanders.  To see a contemporary photo of the church click on the address link below.  

Emerson Avenue Baptist Church Groups

The Emerson Avenue Baptist Church has been a part of the Irvington area since 1913 and on the northwest corner of Emerson Avenue and East New York Street since 1921. The current structure at 306 N. Emerson was remodeled in 1958. All of the photos posted today are images of various Sunday school groups from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. If you recognize any of the folks in the photos, drop us a note so that we can identify them!

In the top photo, a group of Sunday School kids pose for a photo in 1921. The only child identified in this photo is Evelyn Schneider, who is the third child from the left in the bottom row.

In the middle photo, a women's group affiliated with the church, pose in the backyard of someone's home. The photo was likely taken around 1930. The only person identified is Myrtle Schneider, who is seated on the ground in the front row and at the left. It is possible that she was hosting the event at 327 Poplar Road.

In the bottom photo, members of a graduating Sunday School class pause for a photo in October of 1949. Note that the church used to be brick. Today it is clad in stone. A very young Bill Ferling stands in the top row of the photo. Mr. Ferling also graciously loaned the photos for this post.