The First Baptist Church of Proctorville had groundbreaking ceremonies for its new church building on Sept. 13 and now the building is one third on its way to completion. The new church will be located at 105 Elizabeth St. and is being constructed at approximately $60,000. The auditorium will seat 300 and will also include facilities for a nursery, the pastor study, a baptistery and a choir loft that will seat 30.

The new church is next to a home that was built before the Civil War. The home is now an apartment building, but the church plans to use it for the Sunday School classes. The old house has quite an interesting history. According to Arthur Gorby, of Proctorville, there was an underground tunnel leading to the house to which slaves, attempting to escape to the north, used. They were then hidden in the house for a short time, and then sent on their way north.

Another part of history connected with the grounds is that at one time it could have been an old Indian burial ground. In the excavation work, bones have been found and have been identified as the joint of an elbow, a socket to a leg and a piece of pelvic bone. It would be most interesting to hear from anybody in the Proctorville area that might have further knowledge on the old home and grounds. Church services will continue, until the new one is completed, at Grant and Wilgus Street. Mr. Gorby said this building, at one time, was the United Brethren Church and was built in 1900. The First Baptist rented the building in 1911 and later purchased it. According to the church's pastor, Rev. John Alley, no plans have as yet been made as to the disposition of the old church building.