First African Baptist Church has had a long and exciting history that pre-dates the Civil War.  A striking landmark, the tower on the current building was exhibiting signs of instability.  S. Harris & Co. came up with a new design for a lower tower that incorporated many of the original shaped stones from the former tower.  Within this tower, S. Harris & Co. incorporated a system of tie rods to stabilize the walls.  S. Harris & Co. also designed a new roof and drainage system which would protect the new tower from the water damage which contributed to the deterioration of the original tower.  S. Harris & Co. designed a temporary roofing system which could be used during construction to protect the open tower and to provide a surface on which to work.  When the original shaped stones were found to be missing, S. Harris & Co. worked closely with the masons to approximate the look with other stones from the tower.

--S. Harris & Co. Comprehensive Project List--