Cambridge Meetinghouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cambridge Meetinghouse
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Front of the meetinghouse
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | 85 Church St., Jeffersonville, Vermont |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1826 |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000077 |
| Added to NRHP | February 6, 1981 |
The Cambridge Meetinghouse is a very old and important building. People also call it the Old Brick Church. You can find it at 85 Church Street in Jeffersonville, Vermont. This village is part of Cambridge, Vermont.
It was built in 1826. At first, it was a church shared by different religious groups. Later, in 1866, it became the town hall. It served as the town hall until 1958. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. Today, it is home to the local post office.
What is the Old Brick Church?
The Cambridge Meetinghouse is right in the middle of Jeffersonville village. It stands on the south side of Church Street, which is also Vermont Route 108. It is a two-story building made of brick. The roof has a pointed shape, called a gable.
The front of the building has a special design. It has a triangular part at the top, like a classic temple. There is also a wide section that sticks out from the front. This section holds the main entrance. The entrance is set back a little. It has tall, thin columns on the sides and a decorative top.
You can see windows on both sides of the sticking-out part on the second floor. Above the main roof, there is a square tower. On top of the tower, there is an eight-sided bell tower. This is topped with a small dome, called a cupola.
A Look at Its History
The meetinghouse was built in 1826. It is a great example of Federal period architecture in the community. This style was popular in the United States after the American Revolution.
When it was new, four different Christian groups shared the building. It was a place where many important community discussions happened. A religious movement called Perfectionism grew here. This movement later helped start the Oneida Community in New York in the 1840s.
Over time, fewer people used the building for church services. So, in 1866, the town started using it for town meetings. The last church services in this building were in 1889. The Congregationalists, one of the groups, moved to a new building nearby.
The building kept serving as the town hall. Town offices were in the lower part of the building until 1958. In the early 1900s, a new part was added to the back. This was to make space for a stage. It was used for plays and other performances.
See also
