Raisin Valley Friends Meetinghouse facts for kids
|
Raisin Valley Friends Meetinghouse
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 3552 N. Adrian Highway Adrian Charter Township, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Built | 1835 |
| NRHP reference No. | 82002847 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | April 28, 1982 |
The Raisin Valley Friends Meetinghouse is a very old and important church building. It is located at 3552 North Adrian Highway (also known as M-52) in Adrian Charter Township, Michigan. This is about two miles (3.2 km) north of the city of Adrian.
This meetinghouse is special because it houses the oldest Quaker congregation in Michigan. This group started way back in 1831. The building itself was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 28, 1982. Later, it was named a Michigan Historic Site on January 23, 1992. It is also the second oldest church building in Michigan that has been used continuously. Only the Mission Church on Mackinac Island, built in 1829, is older.
Contents
History of the Meetinghouse
How the Quakers Started Here
In 1831, Quaker missionaries traveled to Michigan. They started two groups, or "meetings," as Quakers call them. One of these groups, first known as the Adrian meeting, grew into the Raisin Valley Friends. Quakers are members of the Religious Society of Friends. They believe in peace, equality, and helping others.
Building the First Meeting Place
At first, the Raisin Valley Friends met in a simple log cabin. This cabin was close to where the church stands today. By 1834, the group had grown quite a bit. They needed a bigger, more permanent place to meet. A local settler named David Baker gave them six acres of land. The congregation raised $800 to build their new church. It opened its doors in 1835.
A Stop on the Underground Railroad
The Raisin Valley Friends Meetinghouse played a very important role in history. The church strongly opposed slavery. Because of this, it became a major stop on Michigan's Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was a secret network of safe houses and routes. It helped enslaved people escape to freedom in the North.
Many brave people were part of this effort. Abolitionists Charles and Laura Smith Haviland started the Raisin Institute at the church. An abolitionist is someone who wants to end slavery. The poet and abolitionist Elizabeth Margaret Chandler was also a member of this congregation.
Changes Over the Years
Over time, the meetinghouse has had some updates. In 1947, a basement was added to the building. An addition was built in 1953, making the church larger. In 1961, a Sunday School unit was added to one end. A front porch was put on in the late 1960s. The building is still used by the Raisin Valley Friends Church today.
What the Meetinghouse Looks Like
The Raisin Valley Friends Meetinghouse is a simple, wooden church. It looks like many other churches built in the early 1800s. Even with the additions over the years, it still looks much like it did originally.
The building has one story and is covered with clapboard siding. This is a type of wooden siding. It has simple corner boards and a thin, classic-looking trim under the roof. The roof itself is a gable roof, meaning it slopes down on two sides. The main entrance is at one end of the church and has a porch. The windows were originally large, with 16 small panes of glass. The windows there now are very similar in size and placement.
