Swedish Lutheran Church (Monson, Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Swedish Lutheran Church
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Wilkins and Hebron Sts., Monson, Maine |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1890 |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 84001489 |
| Added to NRHP | July 19, 1984 |
The Swedish Lutheran Church is a very old and special building in Monson, Maine. It's also known as the Old Church Hostel. Swedish people who moved to Maine built this church in 1890. It looks different from many other buildings because it shows Swedish design ideas. Because it's so unique, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Today, the building is used by a group called the Areopagus II America Institute (AIIA). They use it as a study center for Christian apologetics, which means they study how to explain and defend Christian beliefs.
What the Church Looks Like
The old church building is found in Monson, Maine. It sits at the corner of Hebron and Wilkins Streets. This building is made of wood and has a pointed roof. It looks like it has a Gothic style, which means it has tall, pointed arches and fancy details.
A small entrance area sticks out from the main building. On top of this entrance is a two-part square tower. The front door has pointed windows on each side. Above the door, there's a small round window.
The tower has two main parts. The bottom part is plain, but the top part holds the church bell. This top part has two pointed arch openings on each side. The very top of the tower is shaped like an octagon, which is an eight-sided shape. The windows on the sides of the church are also pointed, with small gables above them.
A Home for Immigrants
In the mid-1870s, many people moved to the Monson area. Most of these new people were from Sweden. They came to work in the nearby slate quarries, which are places where slate rock is dug out of the ground.
These Swedish immigrants built this church in 1890. It was a place for all the different Christian groups among them to worship. After 1892, a group called the Methodists started their own church. From then on, only Swedish Lutheran church members used this building.
The Church's Many Lives
Over the years, the Swedish Lutheran Church building has been used for many different things.
- From 1946 to 1970, it was the meeting place for the local American Legion. This group is for people who have served in the United States military.
- After that, it became a hostel for a while. A hostel is a place where travelers can stay, often for a low cost. This hostel helped hikers who were walking on the long Appalachian Trail.
- Since 1991, the building has been the study center for the Areopagus II America Institute (AIIA). This group teaches about Christian apologetics. This means they study how to explain and defend Christian beliefs using reason and evidence.
See also
