BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — At the heart of Buffalo's African American community, the Michigan Street Baptist Church has been around for about 200 years.
"If the walls could talk, the stories they would tell..." Buffalo Niagara Freedom Station Coalition Chair Lillie Wiley-Upshaw said.
On Wednesday, this historic landmark will reopen its doors to the public after undergoing carefully crafted interior renovations and restoration.
"That enabled us to create beautiful, replica pews from an original that we had in the basement," Wiley-Upshaw said. "We added beautiful detailed stenciling that is historically accurate. We've refurbished the hardwood floors, we've painted. We've updated the electrical work."
This is just a snippet of what to expect at its unveiling.
"We still have some announcements to make because this is not the end," Wiley-Upshaw said. "We are still going to be building historic interpretive exhibits in the church and we still have a huge construction project remaining. We're building an annex to connect the church and make it accessible."
"Much of the original structure of the church remains to this day," Wiley-Upshaw explained. "It's the only structure that was built by and for African Americans and continuously occupied by African Americans in the City of Buffalo."
It was a place where freedom seekers who came to Buffalo after escaping slavery created a new life.
National leaders like Frederick Douglass and Adam Clayton Powell Sr. delivered messages from this sanctuary. It was also the home base of Mary Talbert, a trailblazing woman who fought tirelessly for civil rights.
"People who transformed our country and our society sat here," she said. "They worshipped here. Mary Talbert probably did all her strategizing from this church and we're fortunate to be in a city and community where they value this history."
This was also the home of the Rev. Edward Nash Sr. and the late Bishop William Henderson, who saved the church from destruction.
"I am so glad that we have restored her to her glory," Wiley-Upshaw said. "People will just be blown away by the beauty and the wonderful detail."
The last time a congregation worshipped in this church was in 2019.
To honor Black History Month, free tours will be given on February 1 from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. every 45 minutes. You can register here.
