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's also one of the oldest buildings of its kind in all of Maine. For many years, it was used as both a church and a place for town meetings. In 1972, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the Biddeford Historical Society takes care of this special building.
Contents
What is the First Parish Meetinghouse?
The First Parish Meetinghouse is located where Old Pool Road and Meeting House Road meet. It's a one-story building made of wood. It has a pointed roof at the front and wooden siding. The building sits on a strong foundation made of granite.
How Does the Meetinghouse Look?
The front of the building is balanced, with two doors at the bottom. There is one window higher up in the pointed part of the roof. All the doors and windows have a special pointed arch design at the top. The main part of the building was made using large, hand-cut wooden beams.
Changes Over Time
The meetinghouse originally had a bell tower. This tower was removed around 1840. At that time, the church's pulpit (where the speaker stands) was made lower. A soundboard, which helped voices carry, was also taken out.
History of the Meetinghouse
The First Parish Meetinghouse was built in 1758. A local master builder named Nathaniel Perkins constructed it. The town of Biddeford voted to have it built.
A Place for Community
The church group that met here was very important. It was the "mother church" for other churches nearby. This includes the church in Saco, Maine and the current United Church of Christ in Biddeford.
Role in American History
This meetinghouse played a big part during the American Revolutionary War. Local people gathered here to plan activities against British rule. It is also connected to James Sullivan. He became a well-known lawyer here. Later, he even became the Governor of Massachusetts.
The Meetinghouse Today
Today, the Biddeford Historical Society uses the meetinghouse. They hold talks and educational events there. These events teach people about Biddeford's history. Sometimes, they even have reenactment performances.
See also
