Old West Church (Calais, Vermont) facts for kids
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Old West Church
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | 0.8 mi. S of Kent's Corner, Calais, Vermont |
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| Area | 9.9 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Part of | Kents Corner Historic District (ID73000199) |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000200 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 8, 1973 |
| Designated CP | May 8, 1973 |
The Old West Church is a very old and special building. It is a historic church located on Old West Road in the Kents Corner area of Calais, Vermont. This church was built a long time ago, between 1823 and 1825. It is important because it still looks much like it did when it was first built. It shows us what a rural Vermont church looked like in the early 1800s. The Old West Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, which means it is recognized as a significant historical place.
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What Does the Old West Church Look Like?
The Old West Church is in a quiet, rural part of Calais. It stands about 0.8 miles (1.3 km) south of the small village of Kents Corner. You can find it on the west side of Old West Road.
Building Features
The church is a tall, single-story building made of wood. It has a pointed roof and its outside walls are covered with clapboards, which are long, thin wooden boards. The church sits on a strong stone foundation.
The Tower and Front Entrance
A three-part tower rises above the front of the church. The first part of the tower is square and holds the church bell. Above that are two more parts, both shaped like octagons (eight-sided figures), getting smaller as they go up.
The front of the church has three similar doorways. Each doorway has flat, decorative columns next to it. All three entrances are under a shared decorative frame. Windows with sliding sashes are on either side of these doors. There is also a second row of three sash windows above the main entrance area.
Inside the Church
When you go inside, you first enter a small area called a vestibule. From here, stairs lead up to a gallery level on both sides. The main part of the church is one large room. The gallery, which is like a balcony, goes around three sides of the room. It is held up by square posts.
The pulpit, where the speaker stands, is against the back wall. The entire inside of the church is filled with original, simple pine box pews. These are like small, enclosed seating areas.
How the Church Has Changed
The Old West Church was built in the mid-1820s. Its style was actually more common in the late 1700s, making it a bit old-fashioned even when it was new. The pulpit was originally built very high, at the same level as the gallery. However, it was lowered to its current height a few years later.
This church does not have modern things like air conditioning or central heating. It is still warmed by wood stoves that were put in the back of the church in 1831. In 1953, lightning struck the steeple and damaged it. At that time, the weathervane on top was replaced.
See also
