by Shirley Dalaska

Historian at Pioneer Room

James Curry was the guest speaker at the LeDuc on Saturday, April 2, discussing Brown’s Chapel History. James’s great-grandparents James and Phoebe Ella Curry settled in Hastings in 1885 to be near Phoebe’s Aunt Nancy Wallace who lived at 740 W. 4th Street. The Curry family, which included two young daughters lived with the Wallace family just long enough to get established. By 1889 they had purchased two lots and James built a nine-room home, which is located at 400 River Street. He later purchased eight adjoining lots, built a barn, purchased a cow and chickens, and was given a horse. They also had a large garden. He and his wife had ten children, nine of whom graduated from Hastings High School, and one was valedictorian of her class. James and Phoebe Ella are buried at Lakeside Cemetery.

The black citizens in Hastings went to the Methodist church but were not always well received. In 1892 they were able to purchase a building to be used as their church for $500 with some help from the community. The African Methodist Episcopal Church (A.M.E.) was called the Brown Chapel. It was named for Bishop J.M. Brown. James had several pictures of the congregation which included his relatives. In November of 1907 someone cut the window screen in the back and entered the church. They covered everything in kerosene and lit a match. The church was destroyed and never rebuilt. There was no inquiry into who or why the church was burned. After sitting empty for two years the land was sold to Graus Lumber Company.

James’s grandfather, James Dabney Curry grew up in Rockingham, Virginia. He joined the circus at age 16 and spent a year with them. At one point he accepted a bet and when he won, rather than pay him, the person put a knife to his throat and threatened him to get out of town. James was a popular man and was the janitor at the Hastings High School. Even when he was older and a janitor, he could still do a standing back flip. When he died in 1933 the businesses and schools all closed so everyone could attend the funeral. After his kids graduated, they moved to Minneapolis and joined another African Episcopal Church. James had a picture of the entire congregation standing outside the church and was able to identify several of his relatives.

Photos by Bruce Karnick