ML47-E. MOUNT TABOR AME ZION CHURCH AND CEMETERY

The c. 1886 Mount Tabor AME Zion Church and Cemetery is listed in the National Register of Historic places. Located in Mount Holly Springs Borough, Cumberland County, PA, the church was established by formerly enslaved and free individuals who migrated to the town after the Civil War. The church was the heart of the local African American community. The building is a locally significant example of vernacular log design. In Part I of the course Carmen James – a former member of the church – will share the history of the church and the work of Mt. Tabor Preservation Project (MTPP) and show artifacts. The Project started in 2016 by a group of descendants, former congregants, residents, and historians. This group of volunteers is dedicated to discovering, preserving, and presenting the history of the church and the cemetery.  Part II is a field trip to visit the church and cemetery. It will include a tour of the Amelia S. Givin Free Library, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The tour will involve standing and some walking for about an hour and half. There are no restrooms on the church site. Restrooms are available in the library. The library is ADA compliant.