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 church building. You can find it on Old West Road in a place called Kents Corner, in Calais, Vermont. This church was built a long time ago, between 1823 and 1825. It's important because it still looks much like it did almost 200 years ago! In 1973, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a really important historical site.
Contents
What the Church Looks Like
The Old West Church stands in a quiet, country area of Calais. It is about 0.8 miles (1.3 km) south of Kents Corner village. The building is tall and made of wood. It has a pointed roof and a stone base.
Outside the Church
A tall tower rises above the front of the church. This tower has three parts. The first part is square and holds the church bell. Above that are two more parts, shaped like octagons, getting smaller as they go up. The front of the church has three main doors. Each door has decorative columns on its sides. There are also windows on both sides of the doors. More windows are found on the second level.
Inside the Church
When you go inside, you first enter a small area called a vestibule. From here, stairs lead up to a balcony area on both sides. The main part of the church is one large room. The balcony, also called a gallery, goes around three sides of this room. It is held up by square posts. The pulpit, where the speaker stands, is at the far end of the room. The church is filled with its original pews, which are like simple wooden benches with high backs.
History of the Church
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 new! The pulpit was first built very high, at the same level as the balcony. A few years later, it was lowered to its current height.
Keeping Warm
This church does not have modern heating or air conditioning. It is warmed by wood stoves, which were put in the back of the church in 1831. These stoves are still used today!
Lightning Strike
In 1953, the church's steeple was hit by lightning. This caused some damage. When it was repaired, the weathervane on top of the steeple was replaced. The church has been well-preserved over the years, showing us what churches looked like long ago.
See also
