First Presbyterian Church of Dalton returns almost to original downtown site

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The historic and stately Col. W.C. Martin home on Selvidge Street, which once served as the Dalton Public Library, has been purchased by First Presbyterian Church of Dalton. Phase I of a proposed two-step renovation plan is expected to begin later this year when architectural work is completed and approved. Christian education and office spaces will be located in the house. Phase II calls for the construction of a sanctuary, probably to be on the southeast corner of the property where an addition was built years after original construction of the house.

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March 9, 2013

First Presbyterian Church of Dalton returns almost to original downtown site

Submitted by First Presbyterian Church of Dalton The Dalton Daily Citizen Sat Mar 09, 2013, 06:01 AM EST

“For 165 years, Dalton’s been in our hearts … now we’re coming back to the heart of Dalton,” the sign reads on the lawn of the historic Martin House on Selvidge Street in downtown Dalton.

This structure, which first served as a private home to Col. and Mrs. W.C. Martin, evolved into the Dalton Public Library, then transformed into the home of United Way of Northwest Georgia, and eventually converted into professional offices housing an accounting firm.

Once again, it will find new life, this time as the home of First Presbyterian Church of Dalton.

“We are very excited about restoring this property not only for our use, but also for our community’s use,” said Robert Smalley, building committee chairman. “We are also excited about returning downtown to our original home.”

A church comes home

The property is directly across the street from the 1847 initial site of the church, a place that now houses a Whitfield County Courthouse annex in the cream-colored brick structure with an attached parking lot. That structure was built in 1972 as First Presbyterian’s third sanctuary on the triangle-shaped property between Selvidge Street and Thornton Avenue.

The first sanctuary was destroyed during the War Between the States. The second sanctuary underwent several renovations over the years before being converted into Christian education space and a fellowship hall.

In 1989, First Presbyterian moved into new facilities on South Tibbs Road. Twenty-three years later, in 2012, elders of the church voted to affiliate with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) denomination.

The members who chose to stay with the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America (PCUSA), the denomination with which the local church has been affiliated since 1983, decided to retain the church name and traditions.

Two Presbyterian churches were created as a result: the original First Presbyterian (PCUSA affiliate) and the new ChristChurch Presbyterian (EPC affiliate).

Two groups, one representing each Presbyterian denomination, worked out the division of properties and other resources. ChristChurch Presbyterian retained the Tibbs Road property.

First Presbyterian, which is meeting temporarily at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, will start a multiple-phase renovation of the Martin House after final plans are approved this spring with Phase I focusing on the main floor of the house. Phase II is projected to involve the demolition of a small building added later at the southeast corner of the Martin House. Preliminary designs call for a new sanctuary to be built there.

Persons desiring more information about First Presbyterian Church of Dalton may call the church office at (706) 278-8161; email office@firstpresdalton.org; visit the church website at firstpresdalton.org; or visit the church on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FirstPresDalton.

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First Presbyterian Church of Dalton returns almost to original downtown site

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