First Parish Meetinghouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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First Parish Meetinghouse
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First Parish Meetinghouse
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Old Pool Rd., Biddeford, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1758 |
| Architect | Perkins, Nathaniel |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000080 |
| Added to NRHP | October 26, 1972 |
The First Parish Meetinghouse is a very old and important building in Biddeford, Maine. It was built way back in 1758. This makes it the oldest public building in Biddeford. It is also one of the oldest buildings of its kind in the entire state of Maine.
For many years, this meetinghouse was used for two main purposes. It served as both a church and a town hall until about 1840. Today, the Biddeford Historical Society owns and cares for this special place. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
Exploring the Historic First Parish Meetinghouse
The First Parish Meetinghouse stands at a three-way intersection. This is where Old Pool Road (which is also Route 9 and Route 208) meets Meeting House Road. The building faces west, looking toward Meeting House Road.
It is a single-story building made of wood. It has a triangular roof at the front, called a gable roof. The outside walls are covered with overlapping wooden boards, known as clapboard siding. The building sits on a strong foundation made of granite stone.
The front of the meetinghouse looks very balanced. There are two doors on the ground level. Above them, in the triangular part of the roof, is a single window. All the doors and windows have decorative tops. These look like pointed arches, similar to Gothic style windows. The main part of the building was constructed using large timbers. These timbers were cut and shaped by hand, showing the skill of the early builders.
The meetinghouse originally had a bell tower, called a belfry. This belfry was removed around 1840. At that time, some changes were made inside the building. The raised platform where the speaker stood, called the pulpit, was made lower. Also, a special curved board above the pulpit, called a soundboard, was taken away.
A Glimpse into the Meetinghouse's Past
The First Parish Meetinghouse was built in 1758. A skilled local builder named Nathaniel Perkins led the construction. The people of Biddeford voted to build it at a town meeting.
The church group that met here was very important. It was like the "mother church" for other congregations. These included the church in nearby Saco and the current UCC church in Biddeford.
This meetinghouse played a big role during the American Revolutionary War. Local people gathered here to plan and organize activities against British rule. It was a central place for the community during those exciting times.
The building is also connected to a famous person named James Sullivan. He became a successful lawyer here. Later, he even became the Governor of Massachusetts.
Today, the Biddeford Historical Society uses the meetinghouse. They hold talks and educational events about Biddeford's history. Sometimes, they even put on reenactment performances. This helps people learn about the past in a fun way.
Images for kids
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First Parish Meetinghouse
