Union Church (Buckfield, Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Union Church
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Off ME 140, Buckfield, Maine |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1832 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000245 |
| Added to NRHP | June 22, 1980 |
The Union Church is a really old and special building in Buckfield, Maine. It's located on High Street, just north of the town center. This church was built a long time ago, between 1831 and 1832. It has a beautiful design that mixes two old styles: Federal and Gothic Revival. For a while, it even served as Buckfield's town hall! Today, the Town of Buckfield takes care of it. Because of its history and unique look, the Union Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Contents
What Makes the Union Church Special?
The Union Church is a one-story building made of wood. It has a pointed roof and sits on a strong granite foundation. A tall, two-part tower with a steeple rises from the front.
Looking at the Front of the Church
The front of the church faces south and has a balanced design. There are three main sections. The middle part sticks out a bit and holds the tower. On each side of the middle, you'll find matching entrances. Each doorway has fancy columns and a flat top, typical of the Federal style. Right above each door is a window shaped like a pointed arch, which is a Gothic style.
The center section has a tall, pointed-arch window. Above this window, the roofline forms a triangle shape. From here, the tall, square first part of the tower begins. It also has a pointed-arch window on its front. A decorative edge at the top of this section leads to the next part of the tower.
The Tower and Other Features
The second part of the tower is shaped like an octagon, which is an eight-sided shape. This part is called the belfry, and it has arched openings where the church bell hangs. Above the belfry, a steeple rises, starting with a smaller, eight-sided section that has slats for air. The sides and back of the church each have three more of those cool pointed-arch windows.
A Look Back at the Church's History
The Union Church was built between 1831 and 1832. When it was first built, different religious groups used it for their services. Over time, fewer people used the church, and it started to fall apart.
How the Church Was Saved
Luckily, a person from Buckfield named John Davis Long stepped in to help. He was a very important person who later became the Governor of Massachusetts and even the Secretary of the Navy for the United States. John Davis Long gave money to fix up the church. He said he would help if the town bought the building to use as their town hall. He also paid for the bell that is still in the tower today!
After being used as a town hall, the building again started to need repairs. In the late 1970s, a local group that helps the community took over its care. They did a big project to fix up the church, making sure it would last for many more years.
Images for kids
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The Union Church in Buckfield, Maine.
See also
