Macedonia African Methodist Episcopal Church

In the former village of Florin (now the Florin ward of Mount Joy), the first congregation of the AME church organized around 1858. They built a log church next to the railroad tracks on the south side of Square Street.  They built a frame church replacing the log church on this same site in 1860.  In 1875 the congregation established the Lincoln Cemetary next to the Mount Joy Cemetary and in 2000 it was incorporated into the Mount Joy Cemetary.  Sparks from a passing train caused the church to burn to the ground in 1912 and all of the church records were destroyed.  

In 1913 the congregation then decided to purchase a property in the village of Richland (now part of Mount Joy), to build a new brick church.   The first trustees were Howard Yellets, Albert Hyson, and Charles Seevers with Rev. Steward as the minister.  By the following year the church was debt free with Rev. W. P. Brown as the minister. By 1951 the church was a mission church and the Rev. George L. McCray of Philadelphia come to Mount Joy each Sunday for services. There were 16 members of the church in 1951.  Services were discontinued in 1961.  

Rev. Louis A. Butcher Jr.  of Lancaster fondly remembered coming to Mount Joy for Easter Egg hunts as a child while his Uncle William was a pastor of the church.  He said Mount Joy had the best Easter Egg hunts. He said the eggs were hidden in the corners of the building, in the grass and even in the downspout.  “But not to worry because they were finders extraordinaire.” 

Over the years there were many families that attended the Macedonia AME church including the Taylor, Wilson, Molson, McCowan, Gantz, and King families.  When the congregation was down to one member (Mrs. Frances King), the conference decided to sell the building. Negotiations began for the purchase of the building by the Mount Joy Historical Society in 1976.  In February 11, 1977 an agreement was signed for the purchase of the property for $7,000.  

When the Historical Society took over the building there were 2 pianos and one pump organ.  There was also an amen corner near the altar in the northwestern corner of the church.  The society decided to use the original lights, pulpit, some benches, and part of the altar.  The dedication and mortgage burning took place August 29, 1982 and the Church became the Mount Joy Area Historical Society Meeting space and Museum.