East Parish Meeting House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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East Parish Meeting House
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 150 Middle Road, Haverhill, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1838 |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| NRHP reference No. | 11000149 |
| Added to NRHP | March 29, 2011 |
The East Parish Meeting House is a very old and beautiful building in Haverhill, Massachusetts. People also call it the Fourth Parish Meeting House. It was built way back in 1838. This building is a special place where people used to gather for church services. Today, it's a popular spot for many events. You can find weddings, community dinners, and meetings happening here. It's a great example of Greek Revival architecture. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011. This means it's an important historical site. A local group now takes care of this amazing old building.
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What the Meeting House Looks Like
The East Parish Meeting House stands on Middle Road in a quiet part of eastern Haverhill. It is made of wood and has a classic design. The outside is covered with clapboard siding. It has a roof that slopes down from the front. The building sits on a strong granite foundation.
Special Features of the Building
Inside, the main room is called the sanctuary. Four very large windows let in lots of sunlight. This makes the space feel bright and open. The building also has a tall steeple. This steeple has three parts: a steeple box, a belfry, and a spire. These parts were carefully fixed up in 2014.
The building shows a simple but elegant style. This style is known as Greek Revival. It has narrow boards at the corners. The entrances are the most detailed part. They have tall, thin columns called pilasters. These columns support decorative tops. Square windows are placed above each entrance.
Inside the Meeting House
The inside of the building looks much like it did when it was built in 1838. There is a large sanctuary with rows of wooden benches. A balcony, or gallery, looks down over the main room. In the past, a gas-lit chandelier helped light the building at night. Oil lamps were also used along the walls. Today, electricity is available.
Next to the building, you can find old remains of carriage sheds. These sheds were used to park horse-drawn carriages. They were destroyed by a fire in 1928.
History of the Meeting House
The Fourth Parish in Haverhill was started in 1743. They had their first meeting in 1744. This group was the third to form from Haverhill's very first church. The congregation was never very large. Sometimes, they didn't even have a full-time minister.
Building and Changes Over Time
The first meetinghouse was taken down in 1838. The building you see today was built to replace it. The church continued to have money problems. In 1906, the congregation joined with another nearby church. Many of the old records from the East Parish were lost when that church later burned down.
For many years, a group called the East Parish Sewing Society helped take care of the building. They held social events there. Today, a local non-profit group keeps the building in good shape. It is still used for occasional religious services. It is also a popular place for many other community events.
See also
