Forty Fort Meetinghouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Forty Fort Meetinghouse
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Forty Fort Meetinghouse, HABS Photo, November 1934
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | River St. and Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 0.1 acres (0.040 ha) |
| Built | 1807 |
| Architect | Hitchcock, Joseph; Underwood, Gideon |
| Architectural style | New England meeting house |
| NRHP reference No. | 88002373 |
| Added to NRHP | November 3, 1988 |
The Forty Fort Meetinghouse is a really old and important building in Forty Fort, Pennsylvania. It's located in the Old Forty Fort Cemetery, right where River Street and Wyoming Avenue meet. This special meetinghouse was built a long time ago, between 1806 and 1808. It looks like a classic New England meeting house with its white wooden sides. Because it's so historic, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988, which means it's recognized as a very important place in American history!
Contents
A Glimpse into the Past
Early Settlers and Delays
Imagine a time when the first European settlers arrived in this area from Connecticut in the late 1700s. Back in 1768, a company called the Susquehanna Company set aside land for churches. However, building these churches was put on hold for over 30 years. This was because of big conflicts like the Yankee-Pennamite Wars and the American Revolution. These were difficult times with many disagreements and battles. In fact, an unfinished meetinghouse nearby was destroyed after the Battle of Wyoming in 1778.
Building the Meetinghouse
Finally, after these conflicts, work could begin. The Forty Fort Meetinghouse was designed by Joseph Hitchcock. He was from New Haven, Connecticut, and also designed another church in Wilkes-Barre. This meetinghouse was the very first church in the area to be fully completed and used for religious services.
The meetinghouse was special because it was a "Union Church." This meant that different religious groups shared the building for their services. Both the Congregationalists (who are now Presbyterians) and the Methodists worshipped there. However, by 1837, both groups had grown and built their own churches. After that, the Forty Fort Meetinghouse was used much less often.
Who Owns It Now?
In 1869, the Pennsylvania state government created the Forty Fort Cemetery Association. This association still owns and takes care of the meetinghouse and the cemetery today. It's a great example of a building that has stood the test of time and seen many changes in history!
Images for kids
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Interior of the meetinghouse, looking toward the pulpit
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Interior of the meetinghouse
