Historic Clayborn Temple: Saving history from becoming history – one stone at a time
By Grinder, Taber & Grinder Inc., Commercial Construction Contractors
There is something special about rehabilitating an old building – particularly one that holds such storied history. The curious artifacts you find; the clues about the people who built it and how they went about it; the history you uncover. Standing just south of Beale Street, Historic Clayborn Temple is inseparable from the history it has known.
Historic Clayborn Temple has played a role in countless stories since the original structure was built in 1891, perhaps none more notable than the Civil Rights Movement. It served as an organizing space for protestors and civil rights activists during the Sanitation Workers’ Strike of 1968. The iconic “I AM A MAN” signs were created by the congregation’s pastor with his own printing press located in the basement of the church.
No stone unturned
Having been left vacant and crumbling since the early 2000s, the city was in danger of losing this treasured landmark. The roof was caving. The interior dome and chandelier dangled. The stained-glass windows and antique organ were vandalized. As general contractor for the project, the task for us at Grinder, Taber & Grinder, Inc. would require no small amount of research, planning and appreciation of the monument’s importance to our city.
Because of Clayborn Temple’s notable history, the Romanesque Revival structure has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979, therefore necessary to adhere to the stringent requirements of the National and State Historic Preservation Offices. These agencies require the church to be restored to a specified period of time during which the structure was of historical importance. Instead of being restored as it stood in the 1800s, the transformation will reflect the church just as it was in 1968.
Accurately recapturing that moment in time would depend in large measure on available photographic archives. The work began with extensive exterior repairs in 2021 and included a full masonry restoration, refurbishment of the stained-glass windows, and structural reinforcement of the roof – lifting it by three feet in some areas.
Before: Left, the south wall had separated from the building and was leaning outward as much as nine inches before restoration. Right, the roof had fallen into disrepair, requiring significant structural reinforcement.
And then, there was the south wall
Perhaps the most difficult and unusual challenge to be addressed was the highly unstable south wall. Time had caused it to lean outward as much as nine inches from the rest of the building. How could we go about maintaining the integrity as a landmark while reinforcing the integrity as a structure? The answer – one stone at a time.
The requirements of being on the historic register dictated a captivating process of disassembling the wall, stone by stone, enumerating them, and then rebuilding according to original plans. It is a process that has been utilized throughout history to relocate historic structures such as the Temple of Dendur from Egypt to New York and the London Bridge from England to Arizona.
Take it from the top
Successful reconstruction of the wall relied on careful documentation of the building and the individual stones. Clayborn Temple was built using a masonry technique called Random Ashlar which involves arranging various sized stones in a random pattern. To ensure the exact placement of each stone in its original position once rebuilt, each was numbered and sequentially stored. In addition to providing historical authenticity, this restoration technique enabled the walls to adjoin accurately and openings for windows to be in the correct size and location.
As one would imagine, the process started at the top. The finial was removed by a system of pulleys and winches, allowing the extraction of the stones that made up the south wall to proceed. For six months, the stones were removed, numbered, lowered to the ground, and then stored at a secure, offsite location. This process was repeated over 800 times until each stone was removed. After the support structure had been stabilized, one by one, the stones were reinstalled in order and properly secured in their original positions.
Process: Left, scaffolding covers the south wall as one by one, the stones are being removed. Right, a collection of numbered stones in storage after being extracted from the building.
A future set in stone
A new stained-glass window, created by local artists and depicting the Civil Rights Movement, is currently being installed, completing the exterior rehabilitation. The building, now structurally sound, is ready to begin interior work early next year.
Historic Clayborn Temple envisions a future where visitors will be able to enjoy the thoughtful artistry of the preservation, and through planned interactive exhibits, learn about the landmark’s role in Civil Rights Movement history.
Grinder, Taber & Grinder, Inc. is a full-service commercial construction firm, celebrating its sixth decade of operations in the Mid-South. We are proud to serve as general contractor for the rehabilitation of Historic Clayborn Temple through a partnership with Historic Clayborn Temple Foundation, Self+Tucker Architects, LRK Architects, Allworld Project Management, Bologna Consultants, and Bass River Advisors.
