Ocean Park Historic Buildings facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ocean Park Historic Buildings
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B.C. Jordan Hall
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Temple Ave., Ocean Park, Maine |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1882 |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 82000796 |
| Added to NRHP | March 2, 1982 |
The Ocean Park Historic Buildings are a special group of four old buildings in Ocean Park, Maine, which is part of Old Orchard Beach, Maine. People also call this area Temple Square. These buildings are important because they were the center of a summer "camp meeting" that started in 1881. A "camp meeting" was a place where people gathered for religious events and community activities. One of the buildings, called The Temple, is very unique because it's one of the only church buildings in Maine shaped like an octagon (an eight-sided shape)! In 1982, these buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district.
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History of Temple Square
The idea for the Ocean Park camp meeting began in 1880. A group of Free Will Baptists met at Weirs Beach, New Hampshire, and decided to create a new summer gathering place.
They bought land in Saco, Maine, which later became part of Old Orchard Beach. The first building, The Temple, was built soon after. By 1915, three more buildings were added around The Temple. These buildings were placed on land set aside for them by the association.
Exploring the Historic Buildings
Let's take a closer look at the four main buildings that make up Temple Square. We'll explore them from west to east.
Porter Hall
Porter Hall was built in 1902. It's a great example of Greek Revival architecture, which looks a bit like ancient Greek temples. The front of the building has tall columns that support a decorated band called a frieze. On the frieze, you can read "Hall in the Grove." Above that, the words "Porter Hall" are written.
This building has a double door in the middle, with windows on either side. Porter Hall is where the association's library and research materials are kept.
The Temple
The Temple is a very large building with eight sides, making it an octagon. It has two stories and a roof that slopes up to a small tower called a cupola. At the front, there's a two-story entrance area with the main door on the first floor.
The inside of The Temple is a big open space. There's a raised platform at one end, and the original chairs and benches are still used today.
The Bell Tower
Just to the east of The Temple, you'll find a square building known as the Bell Tower. It was built in 1882. This structure looks a bit like a gazebo, which is an open-sided building often found in gardens.
It has a deck that you can reach by climbing a flight of steps. The roof has decorative sides that look like clock faces.
B. C. Jordan Memorial Hall
The B. C. Jordan Memorial Hall was built in 1915 and is the last building in this group to the east. It's a two-story wooden building. The main entrance is set back a bit and has four smooth columns in front of it.
The main entrance and a side entrance both have triangular shapes above them, similar to the tops of ancient Greek temples. You can also see this detail above the windows on the first floor.
