Old Brick Church (Athens, Vermont) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old Brick Church
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | Off VT 35, Athens, Vermont |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1817 |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000340 |
| Added to NRHP | November 30, 1979 |
The Old Brick Church is a very old and special building in Athens, Vermont. It was built way back in 1817. This church is made of brick and has a simple, classic design. For many years, it was used as both a church and a place for town meetings. Today, the town of Athens owns this historic building. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, which means it's an important landmark!
Discovering the Old Brick Church
The Old Brick Church is found in a quiet, country part of Athens. It's a short distance from Vermont Route 35. This building is two and a half stories tall. It's mostly made of brick, but its back wall and gable ends are made of wood. The church sits on a strong stone foundation.
A square tower sticks out from the front of the building. The lower part of the walls uses a special brick pattern called "Flemish bond." The upper parts of the tower are covered with wooden clapboards. Inside, the church used to be one big open room. There was also a balcony at the back. Around 1860, a full second floor was added. This changed the inside of the church quite a bit.
A Look at the Church's History
The Methodist Society of Athens built this church in 1817. This group of Methodists started in 1801. The Old Brick Church was the very first church built for them in the area. When it was new, the inside had special seating called "box pews." There was also a tall pulpit with a "sounding board" above it. A sounding board helped the preacher's voice carry through the room.
By the late 1850s, the main part of Athens had moved. A new Methodist church was built in a different spot. Because of this, the Old Brick Church was changed. The box pews and pulpit were taken out. A second floor was added to create a large hall. This hall was used for town meetings.
In 1924, a local group tried to keep the building in good shape. But they didn't have enough money for big repairs. In 1951, the town of Athens officially took over the church. They continued to use it for town meetings until the 1970s. The Old Brick Church stands today as a reminder of Athens' past.
See also
