Mount Hermon AME Church was founded on April 25, 1906 when Fort Lauderdale was a township of Dade County.
Broward County did not yet exist until 1915. It’s recorded that 20 founding members of Mt. Hermon worshiped before there was a building around 1902. At that time, they met under a tree along with founding members of what is now Piney Grove First Baptist Church. For those that wish to walk in the footsteps of our history, there is a plaque in the spot that tree grew on NW 4TH AV and NW 2nd ST placed. The plaque only refers to Piney Grove First Baptist, but our roots reside in the soil of that very spot as well.
Mother Annie T. Reed, one of the founding members of Mt. Hermon asked her employers for the land to build the 1 st
colored school. Frank and Ivy Stranahan agreed and the land was purchased for $1. The Colored school was opened in
1924 at 1001 N.W 4th St. FTL (which is next door to Walker Elementary School now) In 1938 the first 12th grade graduating class of Dillard High School ceremony was held at Mt. Hermon A.M.E. Church. Dillard’s principal Mr. Clarence C. Walker who was a member of Mt. Hermon extended the educational classes to the 12th grade.
Mount Hermon opened her valiant doors to allow the area's first ever NAACP meeting in 1945. Then Pastor Rev. R.L.
Murrell bravely allowed our building to be temporary NAACP headquarters. The meeting took place under cover of night at 10 p.m. Back in those days anything having to do with trying to gain any rights of any sort for colored folks were labeled "troublemakers." Those were perilous times, and black people were concerned if they meet in their homes, businesses or church buildings the KKK would burn it down, and subject them to other sorts of terror by ruthless brothers Walter and Sheriff Bob Clark. Mount Hermon soldiered through even in the face of terror and is still leading the charge to this day.
The late Alcee Lamar Hastings was the U.S. Representative for Florida's 20th congressional district was a member of Mt. Hermon A.M.E. Church. In 2007, Mt. Hermon participated in Souls to the Polls and many church members volunteered and campaigned for Senator Barack H. Obama. Our volunteers worked countless hours at the BB&T Center while Senator Obama addressed the crowd of Tri-County citizens, signed autographs, shook hands and took hundreds of pictures. Sen. Barack Obama was photographed surrounded by bishops giving a prayer over the candidate at the 48th Quadrennial Session of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in St. Louis. A copy of this historic photo is part of our museum archives.
On Dec 7, 2016 Destination Sistrunk showcases local history, starting with the Mount Hermon African Methodist
Episcopal Church. The first of several way-finding markers has been installed at Fort Lauderdale's third oldest church.
On June 19, 2019 Mt. Hermon hosted its first red carpet movie premier for the private viewing of Emanuel: The untold
story of the victims and survivors of the Charleston Church shooting. The premier was sold out. On November 13, 2019
Mt. Hermon sold out the Regal Cinema Cypress Creek for a private screening of Harriet. The story of heroic abolitionist
Harriet Tubman. Since the opening of the museum the historical society celebrated many anniversaries and awarded numerous members, all while archiving current events. In efforts to collect our church history we asked every member, family, boards, auxiliaries, choirs, etc. to tell their written and pictorial story in book form. Then we asked each member as well as ministerial staff to write their own personal story as it pertains to their membership. All are archived and preserved in our museum.
On July 1, 2021, Mt. Hermon AME Church recognized and celebrated The Westside Gazette Newspaper. Celebrating 50
years of providing news of the world to our community. From an historical perspective the black church and the black
press were part of the antislavery movement together they denounced slavery, lynching and other injustices concerning our communities. We are so proud of the progress of the 5th structure Mt. Hermon’s Senior Citizens Apartment which will be completed in mid 2024. Mt. Hermon continues to be a faithful voice of the church, community, the disenfranchised and the oppressed.
