Harpswell Meetinghouse facts for kids
|
Harpswell Meetinghouse
|
|
Exterior of the meetinghouse
|
|
 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
|
|
| Nearest city | Harpswell, Maine |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1757 |
| Architect | Eaton, Elisha |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| NRHP reference No. | 68000014 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | November 24, 1968 |
| Designated NHL | November 24, 1968 |
The Harpswell Meetinghouse is a very old and important building in Harpswell, Maine. It is located on Maine State Route 123. This building was constructed between 1757 and 1759. It was used for both church services and town meetings. It is special because it is one of the oldest buildings of its kind in Maine. It has not changed much over the years. In 1968, it was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it is a place of great historical importance in the United States.
Contents
What is the Harpswell Meetinghouse?
The Harpswell Meetinghouse is found in the middle of Harpswell. It is about 9 miles (14 km) south of Brunswick. The building is made of wood and has two stories. It sits on a strong stone foundation. The outside walls are covered with clapboard siding. The roof slopes down on two sides.
The main part of the building is about 35 feet (11 m) wide and 40 feet (12 m) long. There is a smaller section that sticks out from the front. This part is about 10 feet (3 m) by 15 feet (4.6 m). It holds the stairs that lead up to the second floor.
Inside the Meetinghouse
The inside of the meetinghouse is one big room. There is a special balcony, called a gallery, on three sides of the room. On the fourth side, you will find the pulpit. The pulpit is a raised stand where a speaker, like a minister, would stand. It is right across from the main entrance. This setup was very common in meetinghouses in New England long ago.
Above the pulpit, there are special wooden decorations. The walls inside are covered with wood at the bottom. The rest of the walls are smooth plaster. The building used to have "box pews." These were like small, enclosed seating areas. However, these pews were taken out in the 1800s.
How Old is This Building?
The Harpswell community started its church group in 1751. At that time, Harpswell was still part of Yarmouth. The first minister was Reverend Elisha Eaton. He started his work in 1753. Building the meetinghouse began in 1757. Reverend Eaton's son, also named Elisha, helped with the construction. He made the window frames and sashes.
The building was ready to be used by 1759. However, it was still not fully finished in 1774. For many years, until 1844, it was used for both church services and town meetings. After 1844, it was empty for 14 years. Then, the town decided to use it only for town business. It became a place for town offices and where people voted.
In 1958, a careful project began to fix up the building. Workers replaced old plaster with new plaster that matched the original color. They also made new windows to look exactly like the first ones.
The Harpswell Meetinghouse was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1968. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in the same year. These honors show how important this building is to American history.
Want to Learn More?
