St. George's Greek Orthodox Church (Southbridge, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. George's Greek Orthodox Church
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St. Georges Greek Orthodox Church
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 55 North St., Southbridge, Massachusetts |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1932 |
| MPS | Southbridge MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000579 |
| Added to NRHP | June 22, 1989 |
St. George's Greek Orthodox Church is a special old building in Southbridge, Massachusetts. It is a Greek Orthodox Church, which is a type of Christian church. Built in 1932, it is the oldest Orthodox church in Southbridge.
This church is a rare example of Byzantine and Greek architecture in the area. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. This means it is an important historical place in the United States.
What the Church Looks Like
The church building is found on North Street in Southbridge. It is a single-story building made of stone or brick. The church has a special shape called a cruciform plan. This means it looks like a cross when you view it from above.
A round dome, called a cupola, sits in the middle of the roof. The front of the church has two low square towers. These towers have round tops with crosses on them. The main entrance is between these towers. It has columns and a decorative top part, which are typical of Greek style. The windows are shaped with round arches at the top.
A Brief History of the Church
The Greek community in Southbridge started this church. Many Greek immigrants came to Southbridge to work at the American Optical Company. They first gathered in their homes for worship.
In 1908, they officially formed their church group. Their first church building was finished in 1910. Sadly, that building burned down in 1932. But the community did not give up!
They quickly built this new church in the same year, 1932. They bought the land from the Hamilton Woolen Mill. The new church was designed by George Glynou. It was built by F. X. Lalliberte and Sons. The church's bell has an interesting story too. It was made in 1860 in Troy, New York, and was given to the church by the Hamilton Woolen Company.
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