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 very old and important building located on U.S. Route 1A in a small village called Maple Grove, in southern Fort Fairfield, Maine. This church was built in 1863 and updated in 1906. People believe it is the oldest church building in the Fort Fairfield area. It is also thought to be the most northern stop on the Underground Railroad, a secret network that helped people escape slavery. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000 because of its special history.
Contents
What the Church Looks Like
The Maple Grove Friends Church is on the west side of U.S. Route 1A. It's a simple, one-story building made of wood. It has a stone foundation and a roof that slopes down from the front. A tall, square tower stands at its front-right corner.
The front of the church faces east. It has a large, colorful stained-glass window. The main entrance is in the bottom part of the tower. This door has a small roof over it, supported by decorative brackets. The middle part of the tower is covered with shingles. The top part has an open area with rounded archways, like small windows. A pointed roof sits on top of the tower.
Inside, the church has two main parts. The largest part is the main worship area, which takes up about two-thirds of the building. The rest of the space is used for other church activities. The worship area has wooden benches called pews. There is a raised platform in one corner with a stand for speaking. The ceiling and the top parts of the walls are covered with metal panels.
A Look Back: The Church's History
How the Church Was Built
Many Quaker families started moving to the Fort Fairfield area around 1859. Quakers are a religious group known for their peaceful beliefs. Soon, these families wanted a place to meet and worship. So, the Maple Grove Friends Church was built in 1863. When it was first built, it was a very simple building. It did not have the tall tower or the beautiful stained-glass window that you see today.
Updates and Changes Over Time
In 1906, the church building was updated. This is when the tower and the stained-glass window were added. The window was specially made to honor William Penn Varney and Lydia Cook Varney. They were important leaders of the Quaker community there 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, a different church group bought the building. In 1995, it was given to Frontier Heritage, a local history group. The church was then reopened as a Quaker meeting house in 2000.
The Underground Railroad Connection
The Maple Grove Friends Church is believed to have been a secret stop on the Underground Railroad. This was a network of safe houses and routes that helped African Americans escape slavery in the southern United States. They were trying to reach freedom, often in Canada. This belief comes from stories passed down through the Quaker families who were part of the church.
There are even signs inside the church that suggest a hiding place. The floor shows evidence of a secret spot and a hidden door. As the most northern stop on the Underground Railroad, the church offered a safe place for people to rest and hide. From there, they could follow a nearby stream called Tomlinson Brook. This stream led across the border to Tomlinson Lake, near Perth-Andover in New Brunswick, Canada. In Canada, a free Black family would help them find new homes and start new lives.
See also
