The Temple (Old Orchard Beach, Maine) facts for kids
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The Temple
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Free Baptist Tabernacle in Ocean Park
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Old Orchard Beach, Maine |
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| Built | 1881 |
| Built by | James Bickford |
| Architect | Dow & Wheeler |
| Architectural style | Octagon Mode |
| Part of | Ocean Park Historic Buildings (ID82000796) |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000119 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 28, 1975 |
| Designated CP | March 2, 1982 |
The Temple is a special church building in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. It has a unique octagon (eight-sided) shape. This church was built in 1881. It is the main building of a summer camp meeting that started in 1880. This camp was created by a group called Free Will Baptists. Their leader was Oren Cheney, who was also the president of Bates College. The Temple is the only church in Maine that is shaped like an octagon and is still used today. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. Later, in 1982, it became part of the Ocean Park Historic Buildings district.
What Does The Temple Look Like?
The Temple is located on the north side of Temple Avenue. It is in an area called Temple Square. Two other important buildings are next to it. These are Porter Hall and B.C. Jordan Memorial Hall. All three buildings are part of the summer camp meeting area.
The Temple is a two-story building made of wood. It has a special octagonal hip roof. This means the roof has eight sides that meet at a central point. At the very top, there is a small cupola. The outside of the building is covered with wooden clapboards. It sits on a base made of brick piers.
The front of the building faces south. It has three sections. The middle section sticks out a bit. It has a double door at the bottom. Above the doors, there is a double window. This section has a double gable roof. The sides of the building (east and west) look similar. They have single windows and a single gable roof. The back wall on the north side has a small storage area.
Inside, The Temple is one large open room. The speaker's platform is on the north wall. The seats face this platform. Many of these seats are the original ones from when the church was built.
History of The Temple
The idea for a summer camp meeting by the ocean started in 1880. A group of Free Will Baptists met in Weirs Beach, New Hampshire. They decided to create a community where people could gather in the summer.
They bought land in northern Saco. At that time, Old Orchard Beach was still part of Saco. Soon after, summer cottages were built for people to stay in.
The Temple building was constructed in 1881. A builder named James Bickford built it. The design came from a company called Dow & Wheeler. They were inspired by the popular idea of octagon houses. These unique eight-sided homes were made popular by Orson Squire Fowler in the 1840s and 1850s.
Today, The Temple is still a very important part of the summer community in Ocean Park. It continues to be a central place for gatherings.
See also
