Alna Meetinghouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Alna Meetinghouse
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Side of the meetinghouse
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | ME 218, Alna Center, Maine |
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| Area | 0.2 acres (0.081 ha) |
| Built | 1789 |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000079 |
| Added to NRHP | May 19, 1970 |
The Alna Meetinghouse is a very old and special building located in Alna Center, Maine. It was built way back in 1789, which makes it one of the oldest churches in the entire state of Maine! What's really cool is that its inside looks almost exactly like it did when it was first built. Because of its history, the Alna Meetinghouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
Contents
What the Meetinghouse Looks Like
The Alna Meetinghouse is found on the west side of Maine Route 218. It sits close to the road and faces south. This building is made of wood and has two and a half stories. It has a roof that slopes down on two sides, called a side gable roof.
Outside the Building
The outside walls are covered with wooden boards called clapboards and wooden shingles. The meetinghouse does not have a tall tower. A small entrance area with its own roof sticks out from the front of the building. The main door has decorative columns, called pilasters, on each side. Above the door, there is a fancy frame and a decorative ledge.
Inside the Building
When you go inside, you will see balconies on three sides of the room. These balconies are held up by strong pillars that were carved by hand. The original wooden seats, called box pews, are still there. The original pulpit, which is where the speaker stands, is also still in place. Above the pulpit, there is a special board called a sounding board. This board helps the speaker's voice carry through the room. The roof of the building is held up by huge wooden beams. These beams are about 14 to 18 inches (36 to 46 cm) thick!
History of the Meetinghouse
The area where Alna is now was once part of a bigger town called Pownalborough. This was in 1760. The part that became Alna was known as the North Precinct of that town. Later, in 1794, it became its own town called New Milford. Finally, in 1811, it was renamed Alna. This meetinghouse was built in 1789. People used it actively for church services and meetings until 1876.
