WHEREAS, Reverend Leonard George Carr was born in the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1902 and was a third-generation minister; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Carr was a seminarian at Lincoln University in 1932 when a small group of Christians gathered to form a missionary Baptist church in West Philadelphia. Following the founding of the church, he was selected as its leader; and
WHEREAS, Under the leadership of Reverend Carr, the congregation steadily grew, and required a move from the Elks Hall at 57th & Vine Street to 56th & Vine Street in 1935, and then to its current location at 56th Street and Girard Avenue in 1945; and
WHEREAS, In the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, Reverend Carr and several other Black clergymen petitioned local businesses like Tastykake, Bond Bread, Pepsi, and Coca-Cola, to hire African Americans in entry and supervisory level positions. They were successful in placing their congregants in positions that would provide them with am above minimum wage salary and a career; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Carr was instrumental in training future leaders both in the community and his church. He hired a young musician in his church who would serve for over 60 years. He licensed many clergymen and ordained more than 100 men into the diaconate; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Carr affiliated his Church with the National Baptist Convention, USA Inc., and the American Baptist Convention. He served as the National Treasurer of the National Baptist Convention, USA. Inc. for over thirty years; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Carr pastored Vine Memorial Baptist Church from 1932 until his death in 1976; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Carr’s legacy is currently preserved in a mural on the Market-Frankford Elevated Train Line at the Intersection of 56th Street and Market Street; and
WHEREAS, In honor of Vine Memorial Baptist Church’s 90th Anniversary, the legacy and service of Reverend Leonard George Carr should be honored and commemorated by adding his name to the street signs where the church is located; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That is hereby also names the 600 Block of N. 56th Street as “Reverend Leonard George Carr Way”, in honor of Reverend Leonard George Carr, the founder of Vine Memorial Baptist Church.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Reverend Leonard George Carr as a sign of the sincere admiration and respect of this legislative body.
End