Apponegansett Meeting House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Apponegansett Meeting House
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Dartmouth, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 14 acres (5.7 ha) |
| Built | 1791 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 91000241 |
| Added to NRHP | March 14, 1991 |
The Apponegansett Meeting House is a very old and important building in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. It's a special place where Quakers, also known as Friends, have gathered for a long time. Built in 1791, it's the oldest Quaker meeting house in southeastern Massachusetts and is still in great shape. The land it sits on, which also has a cemetery, has been used by Quakers since at least 1699. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991, meaning it's recognized as a really important part of history.
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About the Apponegansett Meeting House
The Apponegansett Meeting House is located on the south side of Russells Mills Road. It's a two-story building made of wood, with a pointed roof. The outside is covered with wooden shingles, and it sits on a stone foundation.
What the Property Includes
The meeting house is on about 14 acres (about 5.7 hectares) of land. This land also has a cemetery, which is south and west of the building. You can also find a small 19th-century outhouse there. Plus, there are old buried remains of the very first meeting house and other small buildings.
Its Long History
Quakers were among the first European settlers in the Old Dartmouth area. This area once included parts of what are now Westport, Acushnet, New Bedford, and Fairhaven.
The Quakers built their first meeting house on this land in 1699. The cemetery is where many of Dartmouth's early settlers are buried. The first meeting house was made bigger several times over the years. Finally, in 1791, they decided to build the meeting house you see today.
Building the New Meeting House
In 1787, the Quakers of Old Dartmouth decided to build a new meeting house. They tore down the old one in 1790 to make space. The new building cost £300, which was a lot of money back then! A special committee collected the money from the Friends.
In the 1790s, about one thousand Quakers came to worship at the meeting house. By 1875, this number had dropped to about 100. This was partly because the Quaker group had strict rules. If someone didn't follow these rules, they might be asked to leave the group.
Later Years and Special Events
Meetings for worship at the Apponegansett Meeting House stopped in the mid-1920s. The Dartmouth Monthly Meetings then moved to the Smiths Neck Meeting House. All regular activity at Apponegansett stopped in 1930. However, in 1931, a large meeting took place, and these annual meetings have continued ever since.
Even though fewer Quakers meet there regularly now, the community still takes care of the building. It is used for services during the summer months.
The Apponegansett Meeting House was even a movie set! Several scenes for the 1922 film Down to the Sea in Ships were filmed there. In 1990, a committee was formed to plan a week-long celebration of the meeting house's history.
See also
