Congregational Church of Medway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Congregational Church of Medway
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Church St., Medway, Maine |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1874 |
| Architect | Cushman, Mansford |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000081 |
| Added to NRHP | November 21, 1977 |
The Congregational Church of Medway is a special old building in Medway, Maine. It's also known as the Wonder Grange. This historic church was built in 1874. It shows a unique style called Italianate, but in a simple, local way.
This building is privately owned. For a long time, it was used as a Grange hall. A Grange hall is a meeting place for a group called the National Grange. This group helps farmers and their communities. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. This means it's an important historical site in the United States.
Contents
What Does the Church Look Like?
The former Congregational Church of Medway is in a quiet, residential area. It sits on Church Street, near a cemetery. It's a wooden building, about two and a half stories tall. The roof has a pointed shape and is covered with wooden siding. The foundation is made of strong granite.
Cool Architectural Details
The roof has a wide edge with decorative brackets. These are like fancy supports. On top of the roof, there's a tall, square tower. This tower has three parts and a steep, pointed roof. The front of the church has three sections. There are windows on the second floor. On the first floor, there are two entrances. These doors are on either side of a central section that sticks out. This central part has windows on the front and sides.
A covered porch, called a portico, protects the entrances and the central section. This porch has large brackets too. In the middle of the front roof, there's a beautiful round-arch window. These details make the building look very interesting and unique.
A Look Back at the Church's History
The area where Medway is now located was first settled around 1820. The town itself became official in 1875. The church building has a fascinating story.
Who Built the Church?
A local businessman named Benjamin Fiske paid for the church to be built. He owned a hotel in town and was very involved in Medway's community. A local builder named Mansford Cushman constructed the church.
Mr. Fiske gave the building to the community. He made a special rule that it had to be used as a church and a school. If it stopped being used for these purposes, the property would go back to his family.
From Church to Grange Hall
Over time, the church and school activities moved to other buildings in Medway. Because of this, the Fiske family's descendants took back the property. In the 20th century, they leased it to the local Grange chapter. This is how the church became known as the Wonder Grange. It has served the community in different ways for many years.
See Also
