Mercer Union Meetinghouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mercer Union Meetinghouse
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Main St., 1/10 mi. W of jct. with US 2, Mercer, Maine |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1829 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 06001223 |
| Added to NRHP | January 9, 2007 |
The Mercer Union Meetinghouse is a very old and special church located in Mercer, Maine, USA. It was built way back in 1829. What makes it unique is that it was designed for different church groups to share, which was not very common at the time. It also has a cool mix of old building styles, like Greek Revival and Gothic. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007 because of its importance.
Contents
What the Meetinghouse Looks Like
The church stands on the north side of Main Street in Mercer. It is a rectangular building made of wood. The front part of the church sticks out a bit, like a small entrance area. The roof above this part is shaped like a triangle.
The Tower and Entrances
A tall, square tower rises above the front entrance. The bottom part of the tower is covered in plain wooden siding. The top part, where the bells might have been, has special openings with angled slats called louvers. The tower is topped with fancy corner spires and a decorative railing.
On the front of the building, there is a large, arched window in the middle. On each side of this window, there are two identical doors. These doors lead into small entryways inside the church. From these entryways, you can go into the main hall.
Inside the Meetinghouse
Inside, the church has special seats called pews. These pews are a mix of older styles and newer bench styles. They are arranged in groups, and the ends of the pews are painted to look like wood grain, which is quite unusual. The lower part of the walls is covered with wooden panels, and the upper part, along with the ceiling, is decorated with pressed tin panels.
History of the Meetinghouse
The Mercer Union Meetinghouse was built in 1829. Its main purpose was to provide a place for several different church groups to meet.
Sharing the Space
In the early 1800s, groups like the Methodists and Congregationalists were active in Mercer. However, neither group had a permanent church building. So, they worked together to build this meetinghouse. Money was also raised by selling seats to another group called the Universalists, who also used the building.
Later Years
By 1857, it seems the Congregationalists were the main group using the building. Their congregation eventually stopped meeting in the early 1900s. After that, the Methodists used the building again, but only during certain seasons of the year.
Today, the Mercer Union Meetinghouse is owned and cared for by the Mercer Meetinghouse Association. This is a local non-profit group that helps keep this important historic building in good condition for everyone to appreciate.
See also
