Asa Bates Memorial Chapel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Asa Bates Memorial Chapel
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2 Ten Lots Road, Fairfield, Maine |
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| Area | 0.4 acres (0.16 ha) |
| Built | 1918 |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 02001272 |
| Added to NRHP | October 31, 2002 |
The Asa Bates Memorial Chapel, also known as the Ten Lots Chapel, is a special historic building in Fairfield, Maine. It's a church and a community center where people can gather. This beautiful brick building was built between 1916 and 1918.
A man named Milton LaForest Williams had it built. He grew up in this community with his grandfather, Asa Bates. Milton Williams wanted to give something important back to the place he loved. So, he built this chapel to honor his grandfather and help the community. It's one of the most impressive buildings in the area. Because of its history and design, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.
What Does the Chapel Look Like?
The Asa Bates Memorial Chapel is a single-story building made of brick. It has a grand front that looks like an old Roman temple. This front has four tall, round columns that hold up a decorative top section. This top part continues around the sides of the building.
Above the columns, there's a triangular roof section called a pediment. In the middle of this triangle, you can see a half-round window shaped like a fan. The front of the building has three main sections, separated by flat, decorative marble columns. The main entrance is in the middle section. It has a simple marble frame and a square window above the door with a diamond pattern.
Inside the Chapel
When you go inside, you first enter a small area called a vestibule. To one side of this area, there's a library room. This library takes up about one-third of the building.
The back two-thirds of the chapel is a large auditorium. Sliding mahogany doors separate the auditorium from the vestibule. The walls and ceiling inside are smooth and plastered. In the auditorium, the walls and ceiling meet with curved plasterwork. Stairs from the vestibule lead down to the basement. The basement has a big open room and a separate kitchen area.
A Gift to the Community
The area where the chapel stands, called Ten Lots, was first settled a very long time ago, in 1774. This area is split between the towns of Fairfield and Oakland.
Milton LaForest Williams was raised in this community. His grandfather, Asa Bates (who lived from 1794 to 1878), took care of him. Milton Williams became a very generous person. He gave this building to the community so it could be a church and a place for people to meet.
Milton Williams passed away in 1919, not long after the chapel was finished. He is buried in Lake View Cemetery in Oakland. He also gave gifts to that cemetery. We don't know for sure who designed the chapel building itself.
See also
