800 Main Street
Dodson Memorial Presbyterian Church
- First built in 1857 as a simple frame structure costing $2,500 by enslaved labor.
- The original sills and corner posts were preserved during major renovations in 1890, which transformed the building into the picturesque Victorian-style church seen today.
- Throughout its history, the church has endured repairs from both an earthquake and a lightning strike.
- In 1867, a meeting was held there to discuss establishing a higher institution of learning, which led to the creation of Oxford College.
- 1890 renovations brought significant upgrades, including new carpet, pews, chandeliers, and a pipe organ.
- In 1919, the congregation renamed the church Dodson Memorial Presbyterian Church to honor Professor John L. Dodson, founder of Oxford College, longtime clerk of session, and a champion of higher education for young men and women.
- Local folklore holds that the church may have been part of the Underground Railroad, though no written records have confirmed this claim.