Rocky Hill Meeting House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Rocky Hill Meetinghouse and Parsonage
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Rocky Hill Meeting House, Amesbury, Massachusetts.
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| Location | Old Portsmouth Rd. Amesbury, Massachusetts |
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| Built | c. 1785 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000115 |
| Added to NRHP | April 11, 1972 |
The Rocky Hill Meeting House is a very old building in Amesbury, Massachusetts. It was built around 1785. A "meeting house" was a special building used for both church services and town meetings long ago. This one is famous because its inside looks almost exactly as it did in the 1700s.
It stopped being used as a church after 1840. In 1972, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect important historical sites. Today, the Rocky Hill Meeting House is a museum. Historic New England owns and takes care of it. You can visit on certain days to see what life was like centuries ago.
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What is the Rocky Hill Meeting House?
The Rocky Hill Meeting House is in Amesbury, Massachusetts. It is a large, square-shaped wooden building. It has a pointed roof and wooden siding. The building has two and a half stories.
There are entrances on three sides. The main door is on the south side. Inside, there is one big room. A balcony, called a gallery, goes around three sides of the second floor. This old building does not have electricity, running water, or heating.
A Glimpse into History: Its Purpose and Famous Visitor
This meeting house was built in 1785. It replaced an even older building from around 1715. People from the west part of Salisbury used it for their church services. It was also a place for town meetings.
A very famous person visited this building. In 1789, George Washington met local people here. He was on a trip heading north. By the 1840s, regular church services no longer took place here.
Preserving the Past: An Unchanged Interior
The inside of the Rocky Hill Meeting House is truly special. It has stayed almost the same since it was built. You can see the original tall pulpit. This is where the minister would stand. There is also a unique pentagonal (five-sided) sounding board above it.
You will also find the deacon's desk. The columns supporting the galleries still have their original painted designs. The pews, which are like long benches, are also original. Some even have old graffiti and foot warmers! The stairs to the gallery have never been painted. All the door handles and other metal parts are also original.
See also
- List of the oldest buildings in Massachusetts
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Essex County, Massachusetts
