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 |
The All Souls Chapel is a beautiful old chapel located at the Poland Spring Resort in Poland, Maine. It was built a long time ago, in 1912. This special building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. This means it's an important place in history!
The chapel was first built for the people who worked and stayed at the Poland Spring Resort. Today, the Poland Spring Preservation Society takes care of it. This group also owns the Maine State Building, which was part of a big fair called the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago back in 1893.
Inside the chapel, you can see amazing hand-painted windows. There's also a large pipe organ made by a famous builder named Ernest M. Skinner. The chapel is still used today for many events. People have weddings and other special services there. It's also a place for plays and concerts.
How the Chapel Came to Be
The idea for the chapel started in 1885. A man named Julius Gassauer began 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 place to go when it rained. That's when the idea of building a chapel came up! The workers even started a fund to help pay for it.
Later, the meetings moved inside to the dining hall. Some of the guests staying at the resort started to attend. They were happy to donate money to the Chapel Fund. This fund grew quite a bit before they paused their efforts for a while.
Around this time, some ladies at Poland Spring organized the first "Children's Fair." This fair was a way for the children of the guests to help raise money. At first, the money went to a "Fresh Air Fund" to help poor children in cities. Later, a large donation of $5,000 was given to create the "Poland Spring Free Bed" at the Central Maine General Hospital in Lewiston.
Meanwhile, a woman named Miss Sadie Ricker started a Sunday School for children in the area. People thought, "Why not help this Sunday School?" So, money from the Children's Fairs was used to support it. After the school was well set up, a small amount of money was left over. The interest from this money, along with other donations, was used for Christmas parties and summer outings for several years.
After helping the Sunday School, the ladies decided to work on raising enough money for the chapel. They wanted to make the dream of the man who first thought of the chapel come true. The owners of the estate also said they would pay half of the final cost. Inspired by this goal, the ladies, families, and guests at Poland Spring raised about $15,000.
Building the Chapel
In September 1909, a very young boy named Garrett A. Hobart III helped start the building process. He was only two years old and was the grandson of a former Vice President. He performed the important ceremony of breaking ground for the new chapel. For the next three years, many friends worked hard to make the little church building a reality.
The chapel was built on top of a hill at the Poland Spring estate. From there, you can see amazing natural scenery all around. No expense was spared to make the chapel beautiful and strong. It was designed to match its wonderful surroundings.
The walls and arches were made from strong Maine granite, taken from the best quarries. The ceilings, doors, and other inside wooden parts were made from the finest oak wood. Brass was used for sills, the reading desk, and railings. The floor was a beautiful and expensive design of inlaid mosaic. Italian workers from Boston built the chapel slowly and carefully. They made sure every detail was perfect and would last a long time.
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 part of the window shows the figure of Jesus and has beautiful, bright colors. This window was a very expensive gift from two ladies who visited Poland Spring. The church was officially opened on September 1, 1912.
The next year, bells were put into the tower. These bells are known as the "Westminster Peals" or "Cambridge Quarters." There were four bells in total, weighing 1,500, 500, 400, and 300 pounds. They were made from a special mix of copper and tin to make the best ringing sound. The largest bell has a message on it: "Presented to All Souls Chapel, Poland Spring, Maine, by Mrs. Calvin Allen Richards and Miss Annie Louise Richards of Boston, Mass. June 1, 1913."
Church services were held during the summer months (May through October) until about 1975. Each Sunday, there were two Catholic services and one Protestant service. The Catholic service was part of the Catholic Church in Yarmouth, Maine. Ministers came from different towns, or sometimes they were guests or travelers visiting the resort. Services have also been held in the winter for special events. The building was kept warm all year to protect the furniture and equipment inside.
This chapel has been the location for countless weddings. Many people who have worked or vacationed at this resort feel a strong connection to this special place.
The prayer at the chapel's opening ceremony in 1912 ended with these words: "We pray that this beautiful chapel may be a perpetual reminder of the reality of the spiritual life to many who are struggling upward toward the height where Thou dost dwell."
See also
