Historic Locust Grove Baptist Church To Be Relocated to Boone History Village in Mid-September

The Boone County History & Culture Center (BCHCC) is pleased to announce that the historic Locust Grove Baptist Church in north Boone County is scheduled to be relocated to Boone History Village in Nifong Park in mid-September. While the exact date has not yet been determined, the relocation of this 145-year-old church to the History & Culture Center’s campus marks a significant milestone in the preservation of Boone County’s history.

Built in 1881, the church is currently located on Thomas Hill Road near Sturgeon. It will be transported in two sections along southbound Highway 63, exiting at Grindstone Parkway before arriving at the History & Culture Center’s campus in Nifong Park. There, it will become a permanent feature of Boone History Village, joining four other historic buildings on the property.

“This is a project we’ve envisioned for many years,” said Chris Campbell, Executive Director of the Boone County History & Culture Center. “Bringing this historic church to our campus ensures that an important piece of Boone County’s rural heritage will be preserved, interpreted, and experienced by future generations.”

The relocation is made possible through the extraordinary generosity of the late Linda Humes and Boone County native Gene Gruender, trustee of the Linda Humes Memorial Trust Fund. Gruender chose to use the memorial fund to underwrite the entire cost of moving and restoring the church. The Locust Grove Baptist Church Cemetery Association made the project possible by gifting the church to the Boone County Historical Society.

The church traces its roots to a congregation established in 1881, when the building was erected in October of that year, according to a newspaper account. Samuel and Caroline Woods made the land available for the church and an adjoining cemetery. In 1883, they deeded the land to the congregation. Sunday services were held in the church from late 1881 until 1953, when the congregation chose to disband. Like many rural churches in the 19th and early 20th centuries, it served as both a place of worship and a gathering place for the surrounding community.

Locust Grove Baptist Church brought people together for more than worship services. It hosted revival meetings, community dinners, weddings, funerals, and probably civic gatherings for generations of Boone County families. The adjacent cemetery, where many early pioneer families are buried, will continue to be maintained by the Locust Grove Baptist Church Cemetery Association with ongoing support from the Linda Humes Memorial Trust Fund.

The relocation and restoration are being overseen by Reinhardt Construction Company of Columbia. Once relocated, the church will undergo a careful restoration using original materials whenever possible while incorporating modern utilities that will allow the building to serve as both a historic exhibit and a venue for weddings, educational programs, and community events.

Transportation of the church is expected to take place sometime between September 8 and September 16, most likely late in the evening or early in the morning to minimize disruptions for local commuters. Additional details regarding the route, anticipated travel times, and opportunities for the public to safely view the move will be shared as they become available.

The Boone County History & Culture Center extends its sincere gratitude to Gene Gruender, Joe Gruender, the Linda Humes Memorial Trust Fund, the Locust Grove Baptist Church Cemetery Association, Reinhardt Construction Company, and the many partners who have helped make this preservation effort possible.

For updates on the relocation, check back on this page and follow @boonehistory on social media.