Sashabaw Presbyterian Church facts for kids
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Sashabaw Presbyterian Church
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 5331 Maybee Road |
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| Nearest city | Clarkston, Michigan |
| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1856 |
| Built by | Pratt & Tuttle |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001885 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 9, 1980 |
The Sashabaw Presbyterian Church is a very old church building. It is located at 5331 Maybee Road, near Clarkston, Michigan. This church is one of the oldest in the Detroit Presbytery. It has been a place of worship for almost 150 years. The church was named a Michigan State Historic Site in 1964. Later, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Contents
History of the Sashabaw Church
In 1840, a group of people started a church community here. It was a mission from the First Presbyterian Church in Pontiac. Soon after, some members formed a new group. They called themselves the Church of Orion and Independence. This group met in local schools.
Building the First Church
On January 20, 1855, the community decided to build a church. They created a special group to organize the construction. Pratt & Tuttle were chosen as the builders. The church group changed its name to "First Presbyterian of Independence Township." They bought land for the building. The church was finished in 1856. The total cost, including furniture, was $3000.
Changes Over the Years
Between 1917 and 1918, the church building was updated. Its foundation was replaced. The tall steeple was also removed at this time. However, the church community remained small. In 1932, the original church group officially ended.
In 1946, a new group formed called the Sashabaw United Presbyterian Church. They started using this historic building. In 1952, the church was lifted up. A new foundation was built underneath it, adding a basement. The steeple and bell tower, which were taken down earlier, were put back in 1958. In the 1960s, a new meeting house was built nearby. The church community moved their main worship services there in the 1970s.
Restoring the Historic Church Today
The work to restore the old 1856 church building began in 2012. It started with a workshop on how to fix old windows. This event was held with the DAR and the Clarkston Historical Society. Over the years, this building has been used for many community activities. It was a youth center and the first home for LightHouse North. It also served as a practice area for the church's youth theater group.
Challenges and New Partnerships
Sadly, in 2017, the building started to be damaged by vandalism. In 2018, the Clarkston School District showed interest in using the building. They wanted it for their new building and technology program. Some work on this partnership began in the fall of 2018. However, the COVID-19 pandemic greatly affected this plan. By 2024, it was clear the school project would not be finished.
Because of this, the church created a special group. This group's job was to decide what to do next. The Sashabaw Presbyterian Church has now teamed up with local groups from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They are working together to restore the building. Their goal is for the greater Clarkston community to use it. This new restoration project started on June 26, 2024. A cleanup event took place with 87 volunteers from both churches. They boarded up windows to stop more damage. They also prepared the inside of the building for restoration work.
Current Restoration Efforts
Right now, the Historic Building Commission is raising money. They need these funds to get architectural plans. These plans are a very important step before the actual restoration work can begin. If you want to help with this project, you can offer your skills. You can also help with fundraising efforts. Please contact Sashabaw Presbyterian Church (USA) if you are interested.
What the Church Looks Like
The Sashabaw Presbyterian Church is a small building. It has a rectangular shape. It is built in the Greek Revival style. The outside walls are covered with clapboard siding. The roof is shaped like a triangle, called a gable roof. The front of the gable has flat boards that look like a triangle. The windows have many small panes of glass, sixteen over sixteen. There is a small steeple on top that was added in 1957. A newer addition is connected to the back of the church.
