African American Settlements in Cass County, Michigan

The Chain Lake Baptist Church is the oldest African American church in our region.  It was established in the late 1830s.  Here, people worshiped freely and celebrated their freedom.

A walk through the cemetery at Chain Lake Baptist Church reminds us of the many African American families that have lived in this area for many generations.

There is a historical marker at Chain Lake Baptist Church that tells of the role the African American church in the antislavery movement.

In 1846, there were an estimated 100 runaway slaves in Cass County, mostly in Penn and Calvin Townships.  In 1850 the U.S. Census for Cass County listed 389 free Blacks living there.  This Black community is still in existence today.

The area of Cass County known as Paradise Lake developed into a popular African American community.  This beautiful lake property was originally owned by the Bonine (Bonnie) family, who had actively supported the needs of local African American families for generations.

Known throughout Michigan, Indiana and Illinois as a summer resort, the Paradise Lake community grew out of the desire for recreational facilities for the Black community, who were commonly excluded from enjoying White-owned businesses and public places.

In the 1930s, the Allen family gathered at Paradise Lake to enjoy a large family reunion at the Paradise Lake resort.

Local churches often baptized their members in Paradise Lake.

At the height of African American settlement in Cass County, the area offered the Gray Hotel, dining establishments, tennis courts, boating, swimming, horseback riding and other leisure activities.  These facilities served Blacks, and Whites were also welcomed at these establishments.

Today, the buildings at Paradise Lake stand in disrepair, a silent testimony to a way of life that is now changed.  Black families continue to own the lake property and enjoy boating and fishing.

Calvin Center School, a one-room schoolhouse, was attended by both Black and White students.  Medora Powell was the school marm at this school around 1900.  Medora was related to the Powell family who lived in South Bend, Indiana.

Also located near Calvin Center School was Calvin Community Chapel.  This church was built of fieldstones gathered by local African Americans.  The chapel grounds served as a gathering place for an annual summer picnic called a "bush meeting."  Everyone attended this special summer event.

The "bush meetings" were held in the wooded area behind the chapel.  A potluck meal became the traditional fare for these special occasions and was often referred to as a "dinner on the grounds."

Near Calvin Community Chapel and the picnic area is a cemetery where members of the local community were buried.  Many of the family names on the headstones are the same as those found in the Nicholsville Cemetery in Volina Township (Cass County, Michigan) and in Porter-Rea Cemetery in Union Township (St. Joseph County, Indiana).  This illustrates the strong relationship that has existed between the African American families in these areas.

Along with the Calvin Center School was the Thompson's Corner School.  This was also a one-room schoolhouse where both Black and White students from the area attended school.  The school master was Bert Riley.  The school was located at the intersection of Marcellus Highway and Lawrence Road.

The Powell Family and Early Black Churches in South Bend

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