Restoring Mt. Liberty Missionary Baptist Church and Dunbar School

Former Boonville residents and members of Mt. Liberty Baptist Church, in conjunction with Boonville Now, are working together to restore a significant part of Boonville history. Mt. Liberty is the old brick church on Walnut Street between 5th and 7th Streets. The building next to the brick church served as the first church and schoolhouse for the Negro children in Warrick County, IN. These buildings represent important landmarks of Boonville’s transformation to what it is today.

Mt. Liberty was organized in 1873 and is one of the first black churches in southern Indiana. It is believed to be the third oldest in the state. The organizers of the church worked and saved until they had enough money to construct a building in 1893. The church was rebuilt later, as the brick building on the Walnut Street site today. The building next door to the church was replaced in 1941 with a proper school that became Dunbar Elementary School for the Warrick County Negro children to attend. After desegregation in the '60s, the building became the offices for the Warrick County School Corporation, which is now torn down. Upon building the brick edifice, the small building next door to the church became fondly referred to as “the annex,” where it initially became the rectory. Later, “The Annex” served as the dining hall for church socials, receptions, and the place for church fundraisers, selling fish and barbecue dinners.

The church has been closed for several years and all but forgotten. Bad weather and intruders have contributed to the damage of the two buildings. However, the Mt. Liberty Baptist Restoration Committee would like to restore both buildings and provide a historical perspective of the African American heritage in Boonville and the Warrick County area. The committee is working with the city of Boonville on this restoration. We will continue to seek donations and apply for additional grant funding for the planned restoration of the edifices. Donations will be used towards the immediate need to match grant funds so that the work can commence, as well as pay for the continued care of the grounds, payment of utilities, city taxes/fees, and the cleanup efforts.

Boonville has been awarded 2 grants toward restoration. A Black Heritage Preservation Program Grant for $5,000 was awarded to Boonville for Mt. Liberty in 2023, and a Historical Preservation Grant for engineering assessment was awarded to Boonville in October for $8,000, with a $2,000 match from the church. The engineering assessment is underway to determine the plan and costs of the restoration. The city of Boonville is pursuing other grants, such as the Eli Lilly Grant, to assist in the preservation of this Boonville history.

The committee thanks you for your support in preserving significant history of the community,

Mt. Liberty Baptist Church Restoration Committee

Dan Brinkley, Chairman

Contact Email: [email redacted]

Diana VanHooks, Co-chair

Email: [email redacted]