Name/Title
First Congregational Society (Unitarian) Church, Eastport, Maine | Shackford Street | Burned 1946Description
Classification: Photographs
Circa:
Old Accession Number: 1696
From Earle Shettleworth, Jr., Daniel Low: Eastport's Ingenious Architect (2025):
By 1818 Daniel Low had established himself as an architect-builder in Eastport,
bringing with him two decades of professional experience and a small
but significant library of builders’ guides. Two of his books by Asher Benjamin
would assist him in designing churches in Eastport. The first of these was the
First Congregational Meetinghouse on Shackford Street. The foundation was
laid in the fall of 1818, and the frame was raised in May 1819. On May 15, 1819, the
Eastport Sentinel commented that “the whole work reflects the highest skill and
fidelity of the master workman.” The building was completed by the end of 1819
at a cost of $10,343.25.
Dedicated in January 1820, the First Congregational Meetinghouse was a handsome
two-story frame structure that featured a tower, belfry, and spire. Its Federal
style design was based on Plate 33 of Asher Benjamin’s The Country Builder’s
Assistant, the 1805 edition being owned by Daniel Low. Low also had firsthand
knowledge of this popular church form, having worked for Martin Cushing on
Bath’s North Meetinghouse in 1802. In addition, between 1802 and 1805, Low
would have witnessed the construction of Bath’s South Meetinghouse, a similar
Federal style church that was designed and built by Tileston Cushing.
Eastport’s new Congregational meetinghouse soon became a Unitarian
church, a trend throughout New England at the time. In 1854–55 the building
was extensively remodeled in the Italianate style by the noted Boston architect
Gridley J.F. Bryant. It was destroyed by fire in 1946.
From William Henry Kilby, Eastport and Passamaquoddy (1888):
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL (UNITARIAN) CHURCH.
In a preceding chapter, Mr. Sabine has given an account of the building of the first Congregational meeting-house. When completed and in accordance with the original agreement, a vote was taken to ascertain the preferences of the proprietors ; and, though a minority wished to have a minister from the Andover Theological Seminary, by a decided majority it was voted to send to Cambridge, and President Kirkland engaged Andrew Bigelow, a graduate of the class of 1814, at the time employed in the government of the college, who had not yet been ordained. He was son of Honorable Timothy Bigelow, then speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Arriving at Eastport in midwinter, he preached the sermon at the dedication of the new church, Jan. 13, 1820, Elder Samuel Rand assisting in the other services. Returning to Boston a few weeks later, he was ordained at the university chapel, President Kirkland preaching the sermon, and remained at Eastport a year longer. In those days, " the big meeting house," as it was frequently called, was used quite regularly for Fourth of July celebrations and other public occasions, its floor and deep side galleries giving accommodation for large crowds. A bell paid for by the town with some private contributions was hung in its steeple. During the pastorate of Rev. Edward H. Edes in 1831, the first church organ used in public worship in Eastern Maine was introduced here. The evening and social meetings of the society were held at private houses, at the Masonic Hall on Middle Street, or in
one of the school-houses under Trescott Hall, until the rebuilding of the church during the pastorate of Rev. Henry F. Edes in 1854 and 1855. While this was being done, by the hospitality of the Washington Street Baptist Society, the regular Sunday services were continued in their vestry on Green Street. The expense of the changes in the meeting-house was about the same as the original cost of the building. The high pulpit and side galleries were removed, the floor raised, and space gained for vestry and other rooms beneath. Several years later, a convenient parsonage was built on the adjacent lot, once the parade ground of the Light Infantry and a favorite place for games of ball. A recent bequest of the late Partmon Houghton, for many years a member of the Standing Committee and superintendent of the Sunday-school, gives the parish the sum of $2,000, the income to be devoted to keeping in repair and ornamenting the house and grounds.
Organization in 1888.
Pastor, Rev. H. D. Catlin.
Standing Committee, George F. Wadsworth, Edward E. Shead, Noel B. Nutt, Mrs. William S. Hume, Miss Anna A. Noyes.
Clerk, George F. Wadsworth.
Treasurer, Henry Whelpley.
Sunday-school superintendent. Rev. H. D. Catlin.
