♪♪ >> WE ARE IN GREEN COUNTY AND AN INTERESTING PLACE CALLED YELLOW SPRINGS.

IT STARTED IN 1950 AND THE FIRST PRESIDENT WAS FORREST MANN WHO IS KNOWN AS FATHER OF EDUCATION.

THERE'S BEEN A RAILROAD STATION THAT'S BEEN REDONE AND AN OLDER POST OFFICE, BUT WE'LL LOOK AT ONE SPECIFIC BUILDING THAT LOOKS PRETTY INTERESTING.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> HI, KEVIN.

>> HELLO.

NICE TO SEE YOU.

>> I HAVEN'T BEEN IN YELLOW SPRINGS IN A WHILE.

I'M GLAD TO BE HER.

TELL US ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL BUILDING WHERE WE'RE STANDING.

>> WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THIS IS AN ARCHITECTURE STUDIO FOR A CHROME YELLOW SPRINGS AND IT'S HOUSED IN THE FORMER FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.

>> IT'S NOT WORKING AS A CHURCH ANYMORE.

IT'S SORT OF A COMMERCIAL BUILDING -- IN WHAT WAS A HISTORIC CHURCH.

THE HISTORIC CHURCH, KEVIN, IS AN EXPERT AND I'LL DEFER TO HIM TO HISTORY.

>> WHEN WAS THE CHURCH BUILT?

>> IN THE 1850s AND IT WAS BUILT BY A CONGREGATION THAT NEVER OCCUPIED IT AND THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH THAT MOVED IN IN 1869 PURCHASED IT.

>> IT'S ALMOST 20 YEARS, BUT NEVER OCCUPIED UNTIL THE FIRST BAPTIST.

FIRST BAPTIST MUST HAVE QUITE A HISTORY.

>> THE CONGREGATION WAS FOUNDED IN 1863 AND IT WAS THE ANTI-SLAVERY CHURCH AND THAT GAVE US THE IDEA OF THE TIMES AND THE END OF THE CIVIL WAR AND THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION, AND THAT WAS THE INITIAL NAME.

>> YELLOW SPRINGS HAS QUITE A HISTORY IN THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD MOVEMENT.

>> IT DOES.

THERE IS AN ARTICLE FROM THE 1890s FROM THE OHIO STATE PROFESSOR WHO WROTE ABOUT THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD AND THERE'S A MAP THAT HE HAS SHOWING THE ROUTE IN OHIO AND THERE ARE SO MANY ROUTES THAT COME THROUGH YELLOW SPRINGS, AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT US ON THE MAP WITH A DIRECT LINE GOING NORTH TO CANADA, REALLY, AND SO THIS CHURCH IS BEING FOUNDED IN THAT PATHWAY.

>> SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT YELLOW SPRINGS IN 1863 WHEN THE CONGREGATION WAS FOUNDED, THERE IS A WELL-ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY HERE AT THAT POINT.

PART OF THE REASON IS BECAUSE MANY OF THE COMMUNITIES AROUND HERE WERE WANT WELCOMING TO BLACK PEOPLE.

YELLOW SPRINGS WAS NOT.

BLACK PEOPLE WERE MOVING HERE FROM THE 1850s AND MAYBE EVEN EARLIER AND THEY WERE BUILDING THEIR OWN BUILDINGS AND SO THAT'S THE COMMUNITY THAT FIRST BAPTIST ENTERED INTO.

>> OKAY.

>> AND THEN IN THAT COMMUNITY AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, THAT POPULATION GREW INTO KENTUCKY, VIRGINIA AND THE UPPER HOUSE WHO WERE COMING TO YELLOW SPRINGS AND BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT WELL IN IN MANY OF THE OTHER COMMUNITIES, THEY'RE COMING HERE AND THEY'RE THRIVING AND THIS CONGREGATION IS THRIVING AND IT BECOMES A MAJOR CENTER OF COMMUNITY AND THEN CENTERS, ENTERTAINMENT AND THE KIND OF THINGS THAT BLACK CHURCHES DO WERE DOING ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN THE LATER PART OF THE 1800s.

>> YELLOW SPRINGS HAS BEEN KNOWN AS A LIBERAL PLACE AND WELL BACK TO THE CIVIL WAR ERA WHERE THE COMMUNITY WELCOMED THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN ARRIVALS AND IT STOPPED BEING A CHURCH.

>> ROUGHLY 20+ YEARS AGO THE CHURCH BUILT A NEW FACILITY CLOSE BY ON DAYTON STREET AND THE BUILDING WAS PURCHASED BY A COUPLE WHO CONVERTED IT INTO A HOUSE.

>> OKAY.

>> SO IT WAS A HOUSE FOR A LITTLE OVER 20 YEARS BEFORE MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT IT.

>> I HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR A BUILDING IN YELLOW SPRINGS TO OPEN AN ARCHITECTURE FIRM AND WHEN THIS CAME ON THE MARKET IT WAS ONE OF THE BUILDINGS THAT I LOOKED AT, INSPECTED TO POTENTIALLY PUT MY ARCHITECTURE STUDIO IN.

>> I WOULD LOVE TO SEE INSIDE.

KEVIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE INFORMATION I APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS, KEVIN.

I'LL SEE YOU IN TOWN.

COME WITH ME.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> WE HAVE BATHROOMS AND THE ORIGINAL STAINED GLASS WINDOWS AND THE CONFERENCE ROOM HERE AND ENTRY INTO MY PRIVATE LOFT HERE.

>> WHAT A SPACE.

THIS IS WONDERFUL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SO THIS IS THE SANCTUARY FOR THE CHURCH.

>> YES.

>> IT'S NOT WHEN YOU'D SEE IN A CHURCH THESE DAYS.

THEY WOULD HAVE PLASTER ON THE WALLS AND YOU CAN SEE THE WOOD TRESSES ABOVE AND IT'S HOW A BUILDING WOULD HAVE BEEN BUILT IN THE 1860s.

>> THAT'S ONE THE INTENSIONS OF THE DESIGN WAS TO EXPOSE THE STRUCTURE.

THE PLASTER WAS FAILING WHEN WE GOT THE CHURCH SO WE NEEDED TO DECIDE WHETHER TO REPLACE IT OR TO REPAIR IT AND WHEN WE PULLED SOME OF IT BACK AND SAW THE ORIGINAL BRICK UNDERNEATH I DECIDED TO PULL IT ALL OFF AND THEY WERE REALLY WHAT CONVINCED ME TO DO THIS PROJECT.

I WAS SKEPTICAL AT FIRST ABOUT PUTTING AN ARCHITECTURE FIRM AND DURING THE INSPECTION I GOT UP INTO THE ATTIC AND I SAW THESE BEAUTIFUL TRESSES, AND I JUST KNEW THAT A COULD MAKE A BEAUTIFUL PROJECT.

>> THE TRESSES ARE WONDERFUL.

THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY VERY OLD, 1960s AND I ASSUME THIS IS OAK?

>> YES, OAK.

THIS TYPE OF WOOD IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND THESE DAYS AND YOU CAN SEE FROM THE WAY IT'S PUT TOGETHER YOU CAN SEE -- STILL SEE THE HATCHET MARKS AND YOU CAN STILL SEE BARK ON SOME OF THE WOOD AND YOU CAN REALLY GET A FEEL OF INTUITIVELY, GET A FEEL OF HOW THIS BUILDING HAS HELD UP.

THE VARIOUS PIECES HAVE HELD TOGETHER JUST WITH THE NOTCHES.

THERE ARE NO SCREWS AND NO NAILS.

THE ONLY METAL IN THE CONSTRUCTION ARE THE VERTICAL BOLTS AT EACH VERTICAL.

>> WE ARE ON THE MAIN FLOOR AND THERE'S A MURAL.

WHAT'S THE STORY BEHIND THAT?

>> WELL, WHEN WE OPENED THIS FLOOR UP, I NOTICED HOW PROMINENT THE FLOOR WAS AND I NOTED THAT WE HAD TO HAVE A MURAL THERE AND I TALKED TO MY OLDEST FRIEND IN THE WORLD, MY BEST FRIEND, JARED ADOLF IF HE KNEW A MURALIST IN TOWN, SO HE REFERRED IT TO PIO NEGLY HAS DONE THE MURALS IN TOWN.

I ASKED HIM TO PAINT THE MURAL OF PEAK VALLEY AND PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU INCLUDE THE MURAL THAT HAS VIRGINIA HAMILTON AND IT HAPPENS TO BE MY BEST FRIEND JAMIE'S MOTHER.

SO IF YOU GREW UP AROUND HERE YOU GREW UP READING VIRGINIA HAMILTON.

IN FACT, PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY GREW UP READING VIRGINIA HAMILTON.

THE MURALS ALL REFLECT STORIES FROM HER BOOKS AND THE LITTLE GIRL THERE -- IS FROM THE BOOK AND IS MEANT TO REPRESENT JAMIE'S DAUGHTER ANAYA.

>> THERE ARE PERSONAL STORIES AND THERE'S A UNIVERSALITY TO IT TELLING THE STORY OF THIS AREA.

>> YEAH.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW THE BUILDING LOOKED BEFORE.

YOU'D HAVE TO LOOK ON IT.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO PASTOR BERT RANDOLPH.

>> I'M JEFF DARBEE.

>> THANK YOU HOSTING US TODAY.

>> TELL ME, WHAT WAS THE CHURCH, AND IT WAS A DIVERGENT GROUP OF PEOPLE AND WE HAD A MIXTURE OF YOUNG PEOPLE, OLDER PEOPLE, AS WELL AND PRIMARILY AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONGREGATION AND HOW WAS THE INTERIOR FINISHED AT THAT TIME AND IT WAS A TRADITIONAL, BIG, OPEN SANCTUARY?

>> YES.

WE ARE VERY COMFORTABLE RIGHT NOW HERE, BUT BACK THEN IT WAS WARM.

IT WAS HOT IN HERE.

THERE WAS LITERALLY NO AIR-CONDITIONING AND THIS FLOOR WAS WHERE THE CONGREGATION WAS YOU COME THROUGH THE DOOR HERE.

>> ARE YOU CORRECT IN ASSUMING THAT IN THE LOWER LEVEL WHERE I CAME FROM CHURCH IS UPPERS?

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

WE WOULD HAVE FELLOWSHIP MEALS DOWN THERE AND EVERYONE WOULD BRING A MEAL AND EVERYONE WOULD CONTRIBUTE IN THAT REGARD.

THIS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN A LOVING CONGREGATION WHERE IF THERE WAS A NEED YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH, IF THERE WAS A NEED IN THE COMMUNITY THEN WE WOULD STAND READY TO ASSIST.

>> HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH THE BUILDING?

>> I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT AND HOW MAX AND HIS TEAM RENOVATED THE BUILDING AND HOW THE WHOLE TEXTURE OF IT AND EVERYTHING.

>> REVEREND, THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE INFORMATION YOU GAVE ME.

I ENJOYED THE STORY AND THERE'S MORE FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND.

>> THANKS FOR BEING WITH ME.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> THIS IS THE OTHER HALF OF THE STUD WHY.

THIS IS MY PARTNER STEVE PRICHER.

>> HI, STEVE.

AND I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO RAFAELA SANTOS.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THIS.

>> MAX WANTED ART WORK ON THE WALL AND I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND UNTIL I STEPPED INTO THE CHURCH AND FELT SORT OF THE SENSE OF THE SPIRITUALITY AND I HAD TO THINK ABOUT HOW DO I HONOR THE SPACE AND I DID RESEARCH ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD AND ALSO THE IMPORTANCE OF OHIO AND THE BAPTIST CHURCH AND THERE WAS AN INSTALLATION IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM WHICH TALKED ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO DID THE PASSAGE FROM KENTUCKY TO CANADA, AND OHIO AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT A WHOLE YEAR IN ORDER TO CONTINUE THE JOURNEY.

THE INSTALLATION IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM IS REALLY AN HOMAGE TO THOSE TWO.

A LOT OF THE WORK WAS CREATED NOT ONLY TO BEAUTIFY THE SPACE AND ALSO TO HONOR THE PEOPLE WHO CAME HERE AND THE HISTORY.

>> SO HOW DID OTHER ARTISTS BECOME INVOLVED?

>> WE PUT OUT A CALL FOR ARTISTS.

WE FORMED A COMMITTEE TO REVIEW SUBMISSIONS AND WILL FROM TIME TO TIME SELECT A NEW ARTIST TO SHOW HERE.

>> WE REALLY WANT TO KIND OF BRING ARTISTS INTO SPACE THAT UNDERSTAND THE AREA.

CHOOSING ARTISTS THAT HONOR THE SPACE IS IMPORTANT TO US.

>> THANKS FOR TELLING THE STORY.

IT'S A GREAT USE OF THE SPACE.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> IT WAS MY PLEASURE.

>> MAX, IS OUR TOUR DONE?

>> THERE'S ONE MORE PLACE I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU.

LET'S GO SEE.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> OH, LOOK AT THIS.

>> UP CLOSE ANY PERSONAL WITH THESE TRESSES.

THIS WAS BETTER THAN BEFORE.

>> THIS IS MY FAVORITE PART OF THE BUILDING AND I LIKE BEING VERY CLOSE TO THE WOOD UP HERE AND YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THE WAY UP INTO THE BELFRY.

THERE IS INTERESTING CONSTRUCTION DETAIL AND YOU CAN SEE THE FOUR POSTS THAT GO ALL OF THE WAY UP TO THE ROOF OF THE BELFRY AND THAT IS HOW THE BELFRY IS STABILIZED BY THIS VERTICAL CANTILEVER.

>> THEY REST ON THIS CROSS BEAM WHICH IS THE PRIMARY SUPPORT.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU'VE DONE A TERRIFIC JOB HERE AND I DON'T DOUBT THAT IT WILL CONTINUE HERE IN YELLOW SPRINGS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR A GREAT TOUR.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

IT'S MY PLEASURE.

♪♪