The next time you stroll past the Fremont Baptist Church, you might do a double take. The historic congregation has given its trim a fresh coat of paint in a distinctive orange shade. According to the Fremont Baptist Church Office Manager, Jan, the color comes from their long-running market booth where they do outreach at the Fremont Fair. While it can’t be confirmed, churchgoers believe the booth’s orange was inspired by the Fremont Bridge.
According to FremontHistory.org, the church’s roots run deep in Fremont, dating back to March 20, 1892, when Rev. E. G. Wheeler gathered a small group in the chapel car Evangel. The current building has stood at its location since 1924, witnessing a century of neighborhood evolution.
As for that distinctive bridge orange? FremontHistory.org notes that the bridge got its famous hue in 1972 when the Fremont Improvement Committee selected Fremont Orange to replace the original dull green. When the faded orange needed refreshing, a 1984 vote at the Fremont Street Fair chose Canal Blue, with orange not even on the ballot. But the neighborhood wasn’t settled – months of debate, letter-writing campaigns, and meetings followed until August 1985, when a compromise was reached: blue as the predominant color with orange highlighting structural features.
Holiday Outreach in Full Swing
Those bright orange doorways aren’t just for show, they’re welcoming the community in for the church’s annual holiday outreach efforts. The Fremont Baptist Church Thanksgiving Dinner Food Drive is currently underway through Thursday, Nov. 20, collecting non-perishable items like cranberry sauce, canned vegetables, gravy, pie fillings, and stuffing, along with frozen turkey parts. All donations will go to the Union Gospel Mission Downtown Men’s Shelter for their annual Thanksgiving dinner.
The church is also gathering new athletic socks through mid-December for Operation Nightwatch’s “Sock It to Homelessness” Drive, helping keep the homeless warm and dry as the rainy season sets in.
Donations can be dropped off at 717 N 36th St. on Sunday mornings, or call ahead at 206-632-7994 to arrange another time. As the Outreach Committee’s Ralph and Sarah Weathers put it, together these donations can give hope and lift spirits.
The Fremont Neighborhood Council will also be collecting these donations at their monthly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 7 p.m. at the Doric Lodge.