Pond Meeting House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Pond Meeting House
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | US 202, China, Maine |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1807 |
| MPS | Rufus Jones TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000458 |
| Added to NRHP | August 04, 1983 |
The Pond Meeting House is a very old and special building in China, Maine. It is a historic Quaker meeting house, which is a place where Quakers gather for worship. This building was constructed in 1807, making it one of the oldest structures still standing in the town.
It played an important role in the early life of Rufus Jones. He was a famous Quaker writer. The meeting house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This means it is recognized as an important historical site.
Contents
About the Pond Meeting House
The Pond Meeting House is located about 3 miles (4.8 km) north of South China village. You can find it on the east side of United States Route 202. It sits close to the road, just south of the main entrance to the Friends Camp. The building is actually on the camp's property.
What the Building Looks Like
The meeting house is a simple, one-and-a-half-story building. It is made of wood and has a pointed roof. The outside walls are covered with clapboards, which are long, thin boards. A small entrance area sticks out from one of the long sides. This area has two doors with a window between them. There is also another window above. The building has simple decorations around its doors.
Inside the Meeting House
Inside, the building used to have one large room. This room was filled with benches, called pews. It also had a special shutter system that could divide the room into two parts. Over time, the pews and shutters were removed. Today, part of the room has been made into a kitchen.
History of the Meeting House
The Pond Meeting House was built in 1807. It is one of the oldest buildings still standing in China, Maine. This building was where Rufus Jones attended Quaker services when he was young. He grew up in South China.
Rufus Jones' Connection
Rufus Jones learned from important Quaker teachers who visited this meeting house. He continued to worship here until the South China Meeting House was built closer to his home. The Pond Meeting House was a key place for his early spiritual growth.
Current Use of the Building
When the meeting house was listed on the National Register in 1983, it was being used by a religious summer camp. Today, the meeting house is still used by Friends Camp. This is a Quaker camp run by the New England Yearly Meeting of Friends.
When Friends Camp first started in 1953, the Pond Meeting House was the only building they had. It was used for everything, including eating, sleeping, and worship. As the camp grew, daily worship moved to a larger building. Now, the Pond Meeting House is used as the arts building at the camp.
See also
