Winter Street Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Winter Street Church
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Corner of Washington and Winter Sts., Bath, Maine |
|---|---|
| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1843 |
| Architect | Anthony Raymond |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000044 |
| Added to NRHP | July 27, 1971 |
The Winter Street Church is a very old and beautiful building in Bath, Maine. It was once a church, known as the Winter Street Congregational Church. This special building is located at 880 Washington Street, right on the corner of Winter Street.
It was built a long time ago, between 1843 and 1844. The church is a great example of a building style called Gothic Revival. A talented local builder named Anthony Raymond designed and constructed it.
This historic church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 27, 1971. This means it's an important landmark worth protecting. In fact, a group called Sagadahoc Preservation Inc. saved the building from being torn down in 1971. Today, it's known as the Winter Street Center and serves the community.
What the Church Looks Like
The old Winter Street Church is just north of downtown Bath. It faces Library Park, right where Washington and Winter Streets meet. It is a single-story building made of wood.
The roof has a pointed shape, called a gable roof. On top of the roof is a tall, square tower with several levels. The front of the building has three main sections. These sections are separated by flat columns called pilasters.
These pilasters have cool Gothic arched designs. The ones at the corners even have small, pointed towers on top, called pinnacles. The two outer sections of the front have entrances. These doorways also have Gothic arches above them.
The middle section of the front has two tall, Gothic-style windows. The tower itself has four levels. Each level has pinnacles and decorated pilasters at its corners. The very top part of the tower, called the belfry, is open. A tall, pointed steeple sits on top of the whole structure.
History of the Building
The Winter Street Church was built in 1843 and 1844. It was constructed by Anthony Raymond, a skilled builder from the local area. This church is a very important early example of the Gothic Revival style in New England.
The Gothic Revival style was popular in the 1800s. It brought back ideas from medieval Gothic cathedrals, like pointed arches and tall spires.
In 1848, the church needed more space because many people were attending. So, the main worship area was made larger. This was done by making the entrance hall, called the vestibule, a bit smaller.
Later, in 1898, the inside of the church was updated. A famous architect from Portland, Maine named John Calvin Stevens redesigned the interior.
The building faced a threat of being torn down in 1971. However, a group called Sagadahoc Preservation Inc. stepped in to save it. This group bought the building in 1986. Now, they run it as the Winter Street Center, a place for community events and activities.
See also
