St. George's Catholic Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. George's Catholic Church
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | VT 25, Bakersfield, Vermont |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1840 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Gothic Revival |
| MPS | Religious Buildings, Sites and Structures in Vermont MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 01000218 |
| Added to NRHP | March 2, 2001 |
St. George's Catholic Church is a very old building in Bakersfield, Vermont. It's located on Vermont Route 25. This building was first built in 1840.
For many years, it was a school called the South Academy. This lasted until 1888. Then, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington bought the building. It became a church and served the community until 1996. Today, the local historical society uses the building. It's a great example of Gothic Revival architecture in the area. Because of its history and design, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.
Contents
About the Building
The old St. George's Church building is in the middle of Bakersfield village. You can find it on the south side of East Bakersfield Road. It is right across from the village cemetery.
What it Looks Like
The building has two stories and is made of brick. It has a pointed roof, called a gabled roof. There is also a small addition at the back. A short, square tower sits on top of the roof. This tower has openings for bells and a decorative top.
The front of the building has three sections. The main entrance is in the middle on the first floor. Above it, on the second floor, are three arched windows. A round "rose window" is in the pointed part of the roof above these windows. The sides of the building have five sections, also with arched windows.
Inside, there is a small entry area. This leads into the main two-story room, which used to be the church. There is also a balcony at the front of the building. You can reach this balcony by stairs in the entry area.
A Building with Many Lives
Bakersfield was first settled in the 1790s. In the 1830s, people in the town started saving money. They wanted to build a local high school.
From School to Church
In 1840, this building was finished. The Bakersfield Academical Institution opened on its second floor. The building was known as "South Academy." At the same time, a Methodist church used the ground floor for their services.
The school was very popular in 1850. It had 50 students. But after that, fewer students attended. This was partly because another school, the North Academy, opened in 1844.
In 1864, a group called the Masons took over the upper floor. Then, in 1867, the Catholic church bought the ground floor and the bell tower. By 1885, the Catholic church bought the rest of the building. They officially named it St. George's Catholic Church.
In 1905, the upper floor was changed. Its windows were updated to match the Gothic Revival style. The church closed its doors in 1996. Today, the local historical society uses the building to share the town's history.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de San Jorge para niños
