Union Meeting House (Burke, Vermont) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Union Meeting House
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2614 Burke Hollow Rd., Burke, Vermont |
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| Area | 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) |
| Built | 1826 |
| Architect | Armington, Ira; Clark, Seth Jr. |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| MPS | Religious Buildings, Sites and Structures in Vermont MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 07001345 |
| Added to NRHP | January 4, 2008 |
The Union Meeting House is an old and important church building located at 2614 Burke Hollow Road in Burke, Vermont. It was finished in 1826. This building was special because it was used by four different church groups at the same time. It's a great example of a style called Federal architecture, which was popular back then. Because of its history and unique design, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.
Contents
What Does the Meeting House Look Like?
The Union Meeting House is found on the east side of Burke Hollow, a quiet village. It's a wooden building with one and a half stories. It has a pointed roof and its outside walls are covered with overlapping boards called clapboards.
Special Features of the Building
A tall, square tower rises from the front part of the roof. This tower has three sections. The middle section is like a bell tower, with columns around it. On top of the tower is a narrow, pointed spire.
The front of the building has three main sections. There are two doors, one on each side. In the middle, there's a large, fancy window called a Palladian window. This window is raised up a bit. Each door has columns on its sides and a decorative top. Above each door, there are half-round windows that look like fans. These fan windows are at the same height as the top part of the central Palladian window.
Inside the building, many original parts from the 1800s are still there. This includes special seating areas called box pews. Also, the pulpit, where the speaker stands, is at the front of the building. This was different from most churches back then, where the pulpit was usually at the back.
A Look Back in Time: History of the Meeting House
The town of Burke was officially started in 1782. People began to settle there in the 1790s. In the early days, church meetings were often held in people's homes or barns. Traveling ministers would lead these services. There were often disagreements about which church group a permanent minister should belong to.
Church and State Separation
In Vermont, the idea of keeping church and government separate became official in 1806. This meant that the government would not favor one church over another.
In 1825, different church groups in Burke decided to work together. These groups included Baptists, Congregationalists, Methodists, and Universalists. They formed a committee to build a shared meeting house. This building, the Union Meeting House, was finished in 1826.
Over time, by 1870, all the original church groups either stopped meeting or no longer used the building. The Union Meeting House is a great example of the simple, traditional Federal architecture style. A famous book called Old Vermont Houses by Herbert Wheaton Congdon even featured it. This book talked about how meeting houses changed over time in rural Vermont.
Preserving History
Later, a kind person named Elmer Darling set up a special fund. This fund was created on the 100th anniversary of the building's construction. It helps pay for the restoration and upkeep of the Union Meeting House, making sure it stays in good condition for future generations.
See also
