Maple Grove Friends Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Maple Grove Friends Church
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Maple Grove, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1863 |
| Architectural style | Mid 19th Century Revival, Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000764 |
| Added to NRHP | July 05, 2000 |
The Maple Grove Friends Church is a special old building in Maple Grove, Maine. It's a historic Quaker meeting house, which is a place where Quakers gather for worship. Quakers are a group of Christians known for their peaceful beliefs. This church was built in 1863 and later updated in 1906. People believe it's the oldest church building in the Fort Fairfield area. It's also thought to be the most northern stop on the Underground Railroad, a secret network that helped enslaved African Americans find freedom. Because of its important history, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.
The Church Building and Its Story
The Maple Grove Friends Church is located on the west side of U.S. Route 1A in southern Fort Fairfield. It's a simple, one-story building made of wood, with a pointed roof and a tall, square tower on one side. The front of the church faces east and has a beautiful stained-glass window. The main door is in the tower, covered by a small roof. The tower has different sections, with the top part open like a bell tower, and a pointy roof.
Inside, most of the space is the main meeting room. The rest is for other church activities. The meeting room has wooden benches (called pews) and a raised area with a stand for speaking. The ceiling and upper walls have cool metal panels.
Quaker families started moving to the Fort Fairfield area around 1859. Soon, they wanted a place to meet and worship. This building was first built in 1863. Back then, it was a very simple structure without the tower or the stained-glass window. In 1906, the church was renovated. This is when the tower and the beautiful stained-glass window were added. The window was dedicated to William Penn Varney and Lydia Cook Varney, who were important leaders of the Quaker group for a long time.
In the early 1900s, other religious groups also used the church. However, after World War II, fewer people attended, and the church eventually closed. By 1972, another church group bought the building. In 1995, it was given to Frontier Heritage, a local history group. In 2000, it was rededicated as a Quaker meeting house once again.
A Stop on the Underground Railroad
The Maple Grove Friends Church is believed to have been a secret station on the Underground Railroad. This was a network of safe houses and routes that helped African Americans escape slavery and unfair laws before the American Civil War. This belief comes from stories passed down through Quaker families who were part of the church.
There's even evidence inside the church, like a hidden spot and a secret hatch in the floor. As the most northern station on the Underground Railroad, the church offered a safe place for people to rest and hide. From here, they could follow a nearby stream called Tomlinson Brook. This stream led across the border into New Brunswick, Canada, near Tomlinson Lake. In Canada, a free Black family would help them find new homes and start a new life in freedom.
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