John Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Encyclopedia
John Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church is a historic African American
church in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
. The church, which is one of Pittsburgh’s oldest African American faith-based organizations, was founded in 1836 following a series of prayer meetings and preaching services.
On October 11, 1993, the church received City of Pittsburgh Historic Designation as a local landmark. However, in the following year the congregation was forced to temporarily abandon the church property following flooding that was created by waters from an abandoned 100 acres (40.5 ha) mine that ran below the church. In 2006, the church again faced flooding from the mine water, and the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) installed new piping to divert the mine water from the church. At the DEP’s suggestion, a geothermal
system was installed in November 2008 that used the runoff from the mine water to provide heating and cooling for the church building.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
church in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
. The church, which is one of Pittsburgh’s oldest African American faith-based organizations, was founded in 1836 following a series of prayer meetings and preaching services.
On October 11, 1993, the church received City of Pittsburgh Historic Designation as a local landmark. However, in the following year the congregation was forced to temporarily abandon the church property following flooding that was created by waters from an abandoned 100 acres (40.5 ha) mine that ran below the church. In 2006, the church again faced flooding from the mine water, and the Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) installed new piping to divert the mine water from the church. At the DEP’s suggestion, a geothermal
Geothermal
Geothermal is related to energy and may refer to:* The geothermal gradient and associated heat flows from within the Earth- Renewable technology :...
system was installed in November 2008 that used the runoff from the mine water to provide heating and cooling for the church building.