Former First Congregational Church (Wells, Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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First Congregational Church, Former
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Historical Society of Wells and Ogunquit
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 938 Post Rd.; SW corner of Rt. 1 and Buzzell Rd., Wells, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1862 |
| Architect | Robinson & Huzzey |
| Architectural style | Romanesque, Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 91000768 |
| Added to NRHP | June 21, 1991 |
The Former First Congregational Church is a really old and important building in Wells, Maine. You can find it at 938 Post Road, right where Route 1 meets Buzzell Road. This church was built in 1862. But guess what? It stands on the very spot where the first meeting house in Wells was built way back in 1664! That's super old! The building looks amazing with its special Romanesque and Gothic styles. Today, it's not a church anymore. Instead, it's home to the Historical Society of Wells and Ogunquit and works as a museum. Because it's so special, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.
Contents
About the Building's Look and Story
The Former First Congregational Church is located on United States Route 1 in the middle of Wells. It's just a short distance north of the Webhannet River. This area is now busy with shops and businesses. The building stands at the corner of Route 1 and Buzzell Road, facing east.
What Does the Church Look Like?
This building is made of wood and has only one main floor. It has a roof that slopes down from the front, like a triangle. The outside walls are covered with overlapping wooden boards called clapboard siding. The front of the building is very balanced and neat. It has windows on the sides with cool pointed arches above them. These arches have louvered panels, which are like angled slats.
Right in the middle of the front is the main entrance. It's set under a round arch, which is held up by flat columns called pilasters. Above this entrance, there's a special three-part window. It has narrow windows on the sides and more pointed arches above them. A tall tower rises from the roof, right in the middle. It has square sections at the bottom, then an open, eight-sided bell tower with round-arched openings. A pointy steeple and a weathervane sit on top of the tower.
Stepping Inside the Church
When you walk in, you enter a small area called a vestibule. From here, two doorways lead into the main hall. There's also a winding staircase that goes up to a balcony, or gallery, above. The doorways inside have fancy triangular decorations called gabled pediments.
The gallery inside is quite unique for churches built around this time in Maine. It sticks out over part of the main seating area without needing columns underneath. Instead, it's held up by large, strong brackets. Look up, and you'll see the ceiling is made of pressed metal, which gives it a cool pattern.
A Long History of the Site
The church building you see today was built in 1862. But it's actually the third meeting house to stand on this exact spot! The very first one is thought to have been built in 1664. The second one was built in 1699, after the first one was unfortunately burned down during a Native American raid.
This church was used actively for worship until the 1960s. In 1967, it was given to the local historical society. Now, the church's vestry (a room often used for meetings) is a library and museum. The main hall is used for community events and performances.
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