Union Church (Durham, 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 | 744 Royalsborough Rd., Durham, Maine |
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| Built | 1835 |
| Architectural style | Federal, Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 01000810 |
| Added to NRHP | August 2, 2001 |
The Union Church, which was also once the Durham Town Hall, is a historic building in Durham, Maine. It was built in 1835 as a church for different religious groups to share. This building is a great example of a style called Federal architecture, with some Greek and Gothic Revival touches. From 1922 until 1986, it served as the town's main office. Today, it is home to the local historical society. The Union Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001 because of its importance.
Contents
What is the Union Church?
The old Union Church building is found in the spread-out countryside village of Durham. It sits on the north side of Royalsborough Road (Maine State Route 136). This is about 0.2 miles (0.32 km) west of where it meets Maine State Route 9.
Building Materials and Shape
The church is a single-story building made of wood. It has a roof that slopes down on two sides, called a gabled roof. The outside walls are covered with overlapping wooden boards called clapboard siding. The building rests on a strong foundation made of granite stone.
Architectural Styles Explained
The Union Church shows off a mix of old building styles.
- Federal architecture was popular in the United States from about 1780 to 1830. It often looks simple and balanced.
- Greek Revival became popular a bit later, from the 1820s to 1860s. It copied ideas from ancient Greek temples, like columns and grand entrances.
- Gothic Revival was also popular around the same time. This style looked back to medieval churches. It often featured pointed arches and tall, narrow windows.
A Look at the Building's Design
A section sticks out from the front of the church, which is called a vestibule. This part also has a gabled roof. A porch with a sloped roof covers the main entrance, which is now in the middle of this front section.
The Tower and Bell
A two-part tower rises above the building. It sits where the main roof meets the vestibule roof. The lower part of the tower is an open belfry, which is where the bell is kept. This bell was made by Paul Revere, a famous American patriot. Above the belfry is an eight-sided top part called an octagonal cupola.
Windows and Entrances
The front vestibule has three sections. There are sash windows on either side of the main entrance. Sash windows have two panels that can slide up and down. The main part of the building used to have entrances on both sides of the vestibule. These old doorways are now covered up. They were shaped like pointed arches, which is a feature often seen in Gothic style buildings. Inside, even though some changes have been made, you can still see some of the original Greek Revival decorations.
A Building with Many Lives
The Union Church was built in 1835 by a group of Baptists. They were kind enough to let other religious groups use the building for their services too. Over time, the Baptist group became smaller. Their services stopped in 1887. Other groups continued to use the church into the early 1900s.
From Church to Town Hall
By 1922, the building was no longer being used. It was then given to the town of Durham. The town changed the building to become its town hall, which is where local government business happens. They changed the entrances to fit its new purpose. The building served as the town hall until 1986.
Current Use of the Building
The town still owns the Union Church building today. It is now used by the local historical society. This group helps to preserve and share the history of the Durham area.
See also
 | John T. Biggers |
 | Thomas Blackshear |
 | Mark Bradford |
 | Beverly Buchanan |
