All Souls Chapel (Poland Spring, Maine) facts for kids
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All Souls Chapel
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Preservation Way, South Poland, Maine |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1912 |
| Architect | G. Henri Desmond |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| Part of | Poland Springs Historic District (ID13000595) |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000060 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 17, 1977 |
| Designated CP | August 13, 2013 |
All Souls Chapel is a special old building at the Poland Spring Resort in Poland, Maine. It was built in 1912. This chapel is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.
The chapel was made for the people who worked and stayed at the Poland Spring Resort. Today, the Poland Spring Preservation Society owns it. They also own the Maine State Building, which was part of a big world fair called the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893.
Inside the chapel, you can see beautiful hand-painted windows and a large pipe organ. The chapel is still used today for weddings, baptisms, and other services. It also hosts plays and concerts.
How the Chapel Began
In 1885, a man named Julius Gassauer started holding religious services for the workers at the Poland Spring House. At first, these meetings were held outside. But soon, people realized they needed a covered place for rainy days. That's when the idea for a chapel came up.
The workers started a special fund to collect money for the chapel. When the meetings moved indoors to the dining hall, some of the resort guests began to attend. They were happy to donate to the Chapel Fund, which grew quite a bit.
Later, some ladies at Poland Spring organized a "Children's Fair." The goal was to encourage children of the guests to help raise money. The money first went to help poor children in cities. Then, a large amount was given to a hospital in Lewiston.
Miss Sadie Ricker also started a Sunday School for local children. The money from the Children's Fairs helped this Sunday School. After the school was well set up, some money was left over. This money was used for Christmas parties and summer trips for the children.
Building the Chapel
After helping the Sunday School, the ladies decided to focus on raising enough money for the chapel. They wanted to make the dream of the man who started the idea come true. The owners of the resort also promised to pay half of the final cost.
Inspired by this goal, the ladies, families, and guests at Poland Spring worked hard. They managed to raise about $15,000.
In September 1909, a two-year-old boy named Garrett A. Hobart III helped break ground for the new chapel. For the next three years, many friends continued to work on the church building.
The chapel was built on top of a hill at the Poland Spring estate. It has amazing views of the natural scenery. No expense was spared to make it beautiful and strong.
The walls and arches were made from Maine granite. The ceilings, doors, and other inside wood were made from the best oak. Brass was used for sills and railings. The floor was a beautiful and expensive mosaic design. Italian workers from Boston built the chapel slowly and carefully. They made sure every detail was perfect and long-lasting.
The large stained-glass window at the front of the church is very special. It shows the words, "I am the Resurrection and the Life." At the bottom, it says, "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost." The middle of the window shows Jesus and has wonderful colors. This window was a gift from two ladies visiting Poland Spring and was very costly. The church was officially opened on September 1, 1912.
Chapel Bells
The next year, bells were put in the tower. They were called the "Westminster Peals" or "Cambridge Quarters." There were four bells, weighing 1,500, 500, 400, and 300 pounds. They were made from copper and tin to create the best sound.
The largest bell has a special message carved on it. It says it was given to All Souls Chapel by Mrs. Calvin Allen Richards and Miss Annie Louise Richards of Boston on June 1, 1913.
Church services were held during the summer months (May through October) until about 40 years ago. There were two Catholic services and one Protestant service each Sunday. Ministers came from different towns, or sometimes they were guests staying at the resort. Services have also been held in the winter for special events. The building was kept warm all year to protect the inside furnishings.
This chapel has been the location for many weddings. Thousands of people who worked or vacationed at the resort have a special connection to this place.
The prayer at the chapel's opening ceremony in 1912 ended with a hopeful message. It said the chapel would remind people of the importance of spiritual life.
See also
