1869 was a miserable time for Tennessee; most schools and churches were still in shambles. The Civil War was over but the battles raged on. The political battles between the Conservatives and the Radicals were spilling over into the streets. During the Conservative’s time in office taxes were raised, labor was scarce, and ex-confederate soldiers were barred from voting.

Farms that were productive before the war lay idle. The farms that were not destroyed by the war were idle due to a lack of manpower. Slave labor was gone and the freed Blackman had dared to ask for equal pay of a white men. Riots were common, the destruction from the civil war was all around, and the Klu Klux Klan was doing their dirty deeds; this was not a good year. 

The political tide turned, now the Radicals were in power. Times were not any better for Tennessean's, just different politicians. The Radical lobbied for factories to come and build in Tennessee. Promoting cheap labor and cheap land, investors responded and built their factories in Tennessee. Most of these jobs paid wages that held their workers below the poverty line. 

In 1869 families struggled to survive and hate still killed our brothers, but hope for the future was not dead. A need to rebuild and hope for the future could still be found. Churches and schools devastated by the war were being rebuilt, including Kelley’s Chapel. In 1869 Kelley's Chapel was rebuilt a few miles down the road from the original site.

Over the next 131 years a few alterations have been made to the original building; the necessity of indoor plumbing and lighting and many other creature comforts were added. Even with all the new improvements, the history of the church can be seen by noticing the details. The old time cut nails are still visible in the woodwork and the wide pine planks in the floor show the true age of this church. There is pride that this old church building has made it through all these years. Looking back on the old church register it is nice to see some of the sir names repeated through the generations. 

Times are better in Tennessee but Kelley’s Chapel still has problems to overcome. Problems such as apathy and the lowly position the church has been given in our society; but hope is still alive at Kelley’s Chapel. Hope that our church will grow and hope that the Holy Spirit will inspire people to do the right thing. 

The one thing that is evident in reading the history of Kelley’s Chapel is that hope and faith in God cannot be destroyed by the wickedness that mankind forces upon itself. Hope and faith may take a beating, but cannot be destroyed.

 

C. Fern Cook

Author, South Dakota Way