The Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church was established in 1849 and is Ohio’s first Black church and the only surviving antebellum Black church in the state of Ohio. The building is now being restored under the direction of Hardlines Design, Columbus Ohio. The Wooster Tree Ring Lab was contacted to help in the dating of the timbers in the church’s structure.
Charles Linthicum, Macedonia Trustee and Charissa Durst standing in front of the church in the summer of 2023 before the renovation began.
A scene also prior to renovation showing the interior of the church. The structure was moved and rebuild likely in the late 1800s so tree-ring dates on the timber may help to distinguish the portions of the structure that were original.
Renovation underway in February of 2025.
Nick Wiesenberg made a trip in February to the site to core the now-exposed beams during the renovation. Here Nick is sampling flood joists made from white Oak.
Nick points out the waney edge of this timber – the waney edge is the outer ring (bark year) and once assigned a calendar age indicates the calendar year the tree was cut.
Straps keep the walls of the church in tact as the restoration proceeds.
A historical marker and sign explain the history and the restoration of the Church. The work is funded, in part, by a Save America’s Treasures Grant from the Historic Preservation Fund administered by The National Park Service along with several other foundations and donors.