Mariner's Church (Portland, Maine) facts for kids
|
Mariner's Church
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
Front of the church, HABS photo from 1965
|
|
 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 368-374 Fore St., Portland, Maine |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1828 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Part of | Portland Waterfront (ID74000353) |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000117 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | April 23, 1973 |
| Designated CP | May 2, 1974 |
The Mariner's Church is a really old and important building in Portland, Maine. You might also hear it called the Old Port Tavern or the Mariner's Church Banquet Center. It's located on Fore Street. This building was finished way back in 1828. It's built in a style called Greek Revival. For a long time, it was used as both a church and a place for businesses. It was even the biggest business building in Portland for many years! Amazingly, it survived a huge fire in the city in 1866. Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
About the Mariner's Church Building
The Mariner's Church building is in Portland's Old Port area. It takes up a big part of a city block. The building has a unique shape, like a trapezoid. It faces Fore Street, with Market Street on its east side and Moulton Street on its west.
This building has three stories. It's made from strong materials like granite and brick. The roof is wide and sloped. On the ground floor, there are six storefronts. Each one has a door that is set back a bit. Next to each door is a large display window.
The second floor has a row of twelve windows. These windows have a cool round-arch shape at the top. The third floor has rectangular windows. Above these, the roof has a triangular part called a pediment. In the middle of this pediment, there's a fan-shaped window. The corners of the building are rounded. The left corner is made of brick, and the right one is stone. The front of the building is mostly stone, while the sides facing the streets are mainly brick.
History of Mariner's Church
The Mariner's Church was built in 1828. It was created to offer "moral and religious" lessons to local mariners. Sailors are people who work on ships. The businesses on the ground floor helped pay for the building's upkeep.
In 1866, a huge fire swept through Portland. The Mariner's Church building was damaged, but it survived! In 1969, a person named C.H. Robinson bought the building. He saved it from being torn down.
In 1973, the building became a restaurant called the Old Port Tavern. That same year, it was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list recognizes important historical places in the United States. Today, the building is used for special events. It is now known as the Mariner's Church Banquet Center.
The Old Port Tavern, which was on the Moulton Street side, closed in 2022. It had been open for fifty years. However, Old Port Billiards, which is on the third floor of the building, is still open.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Portland, Maine
- Portland Freedom Trail
