Union Church (Columbia Falls, Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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(Former) Union Church
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Main St., 0.1 mi NE of jct. with Addison Rd., Columbia Falls, Maine |
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| Built | 1840 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000759 |
| Added to NRHP | July 05, 2000 |
The Union Church is a very old and important building in Columbia Falls, Maine. It was built in 1849 and shows off a special style called Greek Revival architecture. This building has had many uses over the years. It started as a church and then became the town hall. It even had a part that was used as a gym! Today, it is home to the town's library and historical records. Because of its history and unique design, the Union Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 5, 2000.
Contents
Discovering the Union Church
The former Union Church is located right in the middle of Columbia Falls. You can find it on the north side of Main Street. It stands between Addison Street and the Pleasant River. This building is a great example of old-style architecture.
What Does It Look Like?
The church is a tall, single-story building made of wood. It has a pointed roof and sits on a strong granite foundation. The front of the building has a special finish called matchboard. The other sides are covered with clapboard. The corners of the building have decorative flat columns called pilasters. A decorative band, called an entablature, runs across the top of the front and sides.
The front entrance is set back a bit. It has two tall, round columns in front, like those you might see on an ancient Greek temple. There are also tall windows on either side of the entrance. The triangular part above the entrance, called a pediment, is fully decorated. It has a small arched opening in the center. A tower rises above the roof. This tower holds both a bell and a clock. It is topped with a small crown and a weathervane.
Inside the Building
The inside of the church looks different today than it did long ago. In 1949 and 1950, the building was changed to be used as a gymnasium. Because of this, much of the original inside was updated. However, you can still see some of the original Greek Revival window frames. These frames give a hint of how the building looked when it was first built.
A Look at Its History
The early days of the Union Church are a bit of a mystery. We know it was officially opened in January 1841. But no one knows for sure who designed or built it. The bell in the tower is the original one from when the church was new. A clock was added to the tower later, in 1889.
Changing Roles Over Time
By the early 1900s, fewer people were using the building for church services. So, it was given to the town. It seems there was a rule that the outside of the building had to stay the same. The building then became the town hall. It served the community in this way until 1987.
In 1949 and 1950, local schools also started using the building. They changed part of it into a gymnasium. This meant the building was used for both town meetings and school sports! In 1987, the town hall and gym moved to a new, modern building. Since then, the old Union Church has been home to the town's library and its important historical records.
See also
