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Renovations Begin Inside Timmons Temple

Claire Kidwell
/
KSMU

The renovation of an Historic African American church that was moved to Silver Springs Park continues, and now work has begun on the interior of the building.

Jenny Fillmer Edwards is the Public Information Administrator for the Springfield-Greene County Park Board.

“It’s a milestone really because it’s the first interior work that we’ve done, and everything we’ve done previously has been outside or underneath.”

A lot of work has been done to the exterior of Timmons Temple, but as of Monday, the Union Carpenters Local 978 apprenticeship program began framing interior walls for new restrooms at no cost.

According to Edwards, “the restrooms were previously in the basement when it was in its original location, and the new building does not have a basement so the restrooms needed to be on the first floor…to make them ADA accessible.”

Credit Claire Kidwell / KSMU
/
KSMU
The beginnings of the walls for a restrooms.

 

Timmons Temple Church of God in Christ served Springfield’s African-American community for more than 80 years and was saved from demolition by the nonprofit group Save Timmons Temple. The group raised money to save the church, and had it moved about 600 feet into Silver Springs Park. Once the renovations are completed, the building will serve as an event center run by the Springfield-Greene County Park Board.

Projects that remain to be done at the site include adding doors and sidewalks. Several thousand dollars are needed to complete the estimated $250,000 project. To make a donation, click here.

 

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