Sometime between 1898 and 1907 a company by the name of American Cyanamid started clearing land about 10 miles south of Mulberry to start mining phosphate. The company built homes, a church and a school. This little town was given the name of "Brewster". Around 1911 and 1912 the company started mining phosphate. People who worked at the mine lived in the homes that were built and their children attended the school.
In the late 1920's and early 1930's Brewster was divided into four sections where black people could live. Those were the "New Quarters", "Georgia Quarters", "Dry Bin Quarters" and "Red Quarters", which is where the small church was built. There were two denominations that held services in the church. The Methodists held services on the first and the third Sundays, and the Baptists held services on the second and fourth Sundays.
Ultimately, the Baptist church was named Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist church. In those days, the deacons of the church would walk the dirt roads of the town to collect what was called "church dues". Adults were assessed .25 cents and the children were assessed .10 cents. Compared to the way we live today it is easy to ask "how could a church operate on such little dues"?
Well, there were a few reasons. During that time, employees working in the mine were earning .25 cents per hour, there was no light bill to pay, even though the church had four to five light bulbs burning, and the Pastor was only paid $10 per Sunday.
There were no telephones, so a way to get information to members was created. If a member of the church passed away one of the deacons were notified and he would go to the church and tone the bell for about 10 to 15 minutes.
In 1945 or 1946, the small wood-frame church building was moved from the Red Quarters to the New Quarters. The people of Brewster began migrating north to a town called Bradley and in 1960 the church moved from Brewster to Bradley on Church Street. After the continued growth of its members and their faithful giving, Mt. Olive decided to build another church building in the same spot as the original church. So, in 1963 instead of destroying such a precious part of history the church was sold to Elder Daniel Lavan and moved to West Bradley commonly known as "The Grass Patch". The church stood until it was demolished in the late 70's or early 80's. The new church that was built still stands today, under the leadership of Pastor Eugene Kendrick and still bears its original name.
In the late 1920's and early 1930's Brewster was divided into four sections where black people could live. Those were the "New Quarters", "Georgia Quarters", "Dry Bin Quarters" and "Red Quarters", which is where the small church was built. There were two denominations that held services in the church. The Methodists held services on the first and the third Sundays, and the Baptists held services on the second and fourth Sundays.
Ultimately, the Baptist church was named Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist church. In those days, the deacons of the church would walk the dirt roads of the town to collect what was called "church dues". Adults were assessed .25 cents and the children were assessed .10 cents. Compared to the way we live today it is easy to ask "how could a church operate on such little dues"?
Well, there were a few reasons. During that time, employees working in the mine were earning .25 cents per hour, there was no light bill to pay, even though the church had four to five light bulbs burning, and the Pastor was only paid $10 per Sunday.
There were no telephones, so a way to get information to members was created. If a member of the church passed away one of the deacons were notified and he would go to the church and tone the bell for about 10 to 15 minutes.
In 1945 or 1946, the small wood-frame church building was moved from the Red Quarters to the New Quarters. The people of Brewster began migrating north to a town called Bradley and in 1960 the church moved from Brewster to Bradley on Church Street. After the continued growth of its members and their faithful giving, Mt. Olive decided to build another church building in the same spot as the original church. So, in 1963 instead of destroying such a precious part of history the church was sold to Elder Daniel Lavan and moved to West Bradley commonly known as "The Grass Patch". The church stood until it was demolished in the late 70's or early 80's. The new church that was built still stands today, under the leadership of Pastor Eugene Kendrick and still bears its original name.