Beth Eden Baptist Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Beth Eden Baptist Church
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Location | Waltham, Massachusetts |
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Area | less than one acre |
Architect | William M. Butterfield |
Architectural style | Romanesque |
MPS | Waltham MRA |
NRHP reference No. | 89001544 |
Added to NRHP | September 28, 1989 |
The Beth Eden Baptist Church is a special old church building located at 84 Maple Street in Waltham, Massachusetts. It was built a long time ago, in 1891. This church is a great example of a building style called Romanesque Revival. It's also important because it's the oldest church on the South Side of Waltham. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. This means it's a building that is officially recognized for its history and special design.
About the Church Building
The Beth Eden Baptist Church stands on the north side of Maple Street. This street is a main road in Waltham's South Side. The church is close to Moody Street, which is a busy area for shops and businesses.
What the Church Looks Like
The church is mostly built from brick. But the bottom part of the building, near the ground, is made from rough, natural stones. The roof has a pointed shape, like a triangle, and faces north and south.
There is a tall tower at the southwest corner of the church. This tower has an open area at the top where bells would be. It's covered by a pointed roof with clock faces on each side. The main door of the church is under a large, round arch. There are two wooden doors and special windows next to them. These windows have simple designs, typical of the Romanesque style.
History of the Church
The church was designed by an architect named William M. Butterfield. He was from Manchester, New Hampshire. The building was finished in 1891. It is the oldest church building still standing on Waltham's South Side. It was built during a time when Waltham was growing fast. This growth happened because of the success of the Waltham Watch Company. Many people moved to the area to work there.
The church group started in 1887. They came from the city's First Baptist Church. In 1908, the church building had a big fire. But it was rebuilt almost exactly as it was before. The rebuilding also made more space for a large organ. The tower of the church used to have a clock that belonged to the city.