Readfield Union Meeting House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Readfield Union Meeting House
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 22 Church Rd., Readfield, Maine |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1828 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 82000756 |
| Added to NRHP | July 08, 1982 |
The Readfield Union Meeting House is a very old and special building. It is made of brick and stands at 22 Church Road in Readfield, Maine. This historic building was constructed in 1828. It is a great example of the Federal style of architecture, especially for a building in a countryside area. Because of its importance, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
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What Makes It Special
The Readfield Union Meeting House is located in the main village of Readfield. You can find it on the west side of Church Road. It is just a short distance north of where Church Road meets Maine State Route 41.
Building Design and Features
This building has one story and a roof that slopes down on two sides, called a gable roof. On top of the roof, there is a wooden tower. This tower sticks out a little bit from the front of the building.
The tower has a tall, rounded window in the middle of its first section. Above this, there is a low, triangular shape. This shape separates the brick base from the higher parts of the tower. The next part of the tower is tall and square. It has a clock near the top.
Above the clock section, there is an eight-sided bell tower. This part has openings with slats, like shutters, and columns called Doric pilasters. A bell-shaped roof covers the very top. On either side of the tower on the front of the building, there are entrances at ground level. Above these doors are more tall, rounded windows. The side walls of the building also have tall, rounded windows set into recessed areas.
History of the Meeting House
The Readfield Union Meeting House was first built in 1828. It is a really good example of church architecture from the Federal period in rural Maine. The Federal period was a time in American history when a specific style of building was popular.
The building was updated between 1866 and 1868. An architect and builder named Hubbard Lovejoy, who worked in central Maine, led these changes. During this renovation, the walls and ceiling inside were painted in a special style called trompe-l'œil. This French term means "to trick the eye." It makes flat surfaces look like they have depth or real objects. People believe that an artist named Charles J. Schumacher from Portland, Maine did this amazing painting.
You can find more information on the Readfield Union Meeting House Official Website.
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