Crete Area Historical Society welcomed Barry Jurgensen, of the National Park Service, and Dr. Larry McClellan, distinguished scholar and history professor at Governors State University, for a tour of the old Crete Congregational Church recently. Jurgensen is the Midwest Regional Manager of the National Park Service Network to Freedom.
Society President Ryan Martin and Vice President Tim Piepenbrink gave the guests a tour of the church building and railroad depot that serves as the home of the Society.
The National Park Service designated the Crete Congregational Church as an historic site on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Trail in 2018. The church building was constructed in 1853 by the Crete Congregational Church. The church and its members were committed to the abolition of slavery and helping those who escaped slavery reach freedom. Several prominent families were members of Crete Congregational Church and served as conductors on the Underground Railroad – a network of people and places that helped protect, move, feed, and shelter freedom seekers before slavery was abolished in 1865.
Dr. McClellan, who also serves as president of the South Suburban Genealogical and Historical Society, dropped by the Crete Area Historical Society, while taking Jurgenson on a tour of several sites documented as locations of the Underground Railroad in the south suburbs. Dr. McClellan and Jurgenson both pointed out Crete Congregational Church is rare in that the structure still exists. Buildings are long gone on most sites people visit that were part of the Underground Railroad, with only an empty site remaining.
Jurgensen also explained some of the programs the National Park Service has supporting projects, such as the restoration of Crete Congregational Church.
Martin explained, “Crete Area Historical Society is very proud of the church building and its rich history, especially its historical association with the abolition of slavery.”
The group currently is developing a plan to preserve the 170-year-old structure, and Piepenbrink explained, “Our top priority is to rebuild the floor and supporting structure in the church building. We plan to eventually display the group’s historic artifacts in the building.”
The group is seeking donations to help pay for the floor project, which is quite expensive. Crete Area Historical Society is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization and accepts donations of historical artifacts, labor services, and monetary means to support the restoration of the facility.
Information on joining the organization and making donations to help repair and restore the church is at www.CreteHistorical.com.