Bingham Free Meetinghouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bingham Free Meetinghouse
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | S. Main St. (U.S. 201), Bingham, Maine |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1835 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000113 |
| Added to NRHP | June 03, 1976 |
The Bingham Free Meetinghouse is a very old and important church building in Bingham, Maine. It stands on South Main Street (U.S. 201). Built between 1835 and 1836, it was the very first church constructed north of Caratunk Falls in northwestern Maine. This special building shows a mix of two old architectural styles: Federal and Gothic Revival. Because of its history and unique design, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
Contents
What Does the Meetinghouse Look Like?
The Bingham Free Meetinghouse is a single-story building made of wood. It has a strong granite foundation. The outside is covered with horizontal wooden boards called clapboards.
Front of the Building
The front of the church has three main sections. The two outer sections have matching entrances. Each entrance has tall, flat columns called pilasters on the sides. Above the doors, there are decorative frames with a projecting top.
The middle section of the front has a tall, pointed window. This is a Gothic-style lancet window. All three sections on the upper level, where the balcony is, also have these pointed windows.
Sides and Tower
The sides of the church have four tall, Gothic-style windows. A tower rises above the front of the building. The first part of the tower is square. It has a sunburst pattern with slats on three sides. This section is topped by a low railing with pointed decorations called pinnacles at each corner.
The next part of the tower is an open area for bells, called a belfry. Eight columns support a bell-shaped roof. On top of this roof is a tall, pointed spire with a weather vane.
Inside the Meetinghouse
The inside of the meetinghouse has a simpler style called Federal. Most of the original features are still there. The first pulpit, where the speaker stood, is still present. The original box pews, which are like small enclosed seating areas, are also there. However, the doors that once closed off these pews have been removed. The balcony level was changed during a renovation in 1902.
The town of Bingham began to grow in the early 1800s. In those early days, different church groups met in the local schoolhouse. In 1835, several local church groups decided to work together. They agreed to share the cost of building this new meetinghouse. The building was finished in 1836.
At first, services were organized based on who owned a pew. Later, the Congregationalist church group became the main users of the building. Over time, fewer people attended services there. This was partly because a new church was built around the year 1900.
Saving the Meetinghouse
The Bingham Free Meetinghouse was almost torn down. But a local group called the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) stepped in to save it. This group later gave the building to the town of Bingham. This ensured the historic meetinghouse would be preserved for future generations.
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