Dexter Universalist Church (Dexter, Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Dexter Universalist Church
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Church St., Dexter, Maine |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1867 |
| Architect | Thomas Silloway |
| NRHP reference No. | 85001258 |
| Added to NRHP | June 20, 1985 |
The Dexter Universalist Church, also called the First Universalist Church of Dexter, is a special old church in Dexter, Maine. It's a historic building that was first built in the 1820s. Later, in the 1860s, it got a big makeover by a famous architect named Thomas Silloway from Boston, Massachusetts. Because of its unique design and history, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. This means it's an important landmark worth protecting!
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What Makes This Church Special?
The Dexter Universalist Church is located right in the middle of Dexter. You can find it where Hall Street and Church Street meet. It's a two-story building made of wood. Most of its outside walls are covered with overlapping wooden boards called clapboard siding. The roof slopes down on two sides, forming a triangle at the front.
Unique Design Features
At the front of the church, there's a part that sticks out. This area has a lower, sloped roof and is covered with smooth wooden boards. From this section, a tall, square tower rises up. This tower has several levels, leading up to a bell tower, which is called a belfry. Above the belfry is a pointed steeple, reaching high into the sky.
The front part of the church has three sections. There are narrow, rounded windows on each side of the main entrance. The entrance itself is inside a large, rounded opening. This opening is part of a section that also sticks out and has its own small, sloped roof. Along the edge of this roof, there's a decorative row of small, tooth-like blocks. Inside the church, the main worship area has walls and a ceiling covered with decorative pressed metal.
A Look at Its History
The main part of the Dexter Universalist Church was built a long time ago, around 1828 or 1829. But the church you see today looks mostly the way it does because of a big renovation. This makeover happened between 1867 and 1870.
The Architect: Thomas Silloway
The new design for the church came from a talented architect named Thomas Silloway. He was from Boston. Silloway was very busy and designed many churches during his career. He is probably best known for designing the Vermont State House, which is the state capitol building in Vermont.
Even though Silloway designed many buildings, the Dexter Universalist Church is special. It is one of only three buildings he designed in Maine that still look mostly the same as they did when he finished them. This makes the church a rare example of his work in the state.
See also
