Abyssinian Meeting House

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Abyssinian Meeting House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
(U.S. National Historic Landmark)
Location: 73-75 Newbury St., Portland, Maine
Built/Founded: 1828
Architect: Unknown
Designated as NHL: February 3, 2006[1]
Governing body: Committee to Restore the Abyssinian

The Abyssinian Meeting House is an historic house built by free African-Americans in Portland, Maine at 73-75 Newbury St.[2] Established in 1828, the Meeting House was the cultural center for African-Americans in southern Maine from its inception until foreclosure in 1917. The house was redeveloped into tenement apartments in 1924 before being seized by the City of Portland in 1991. After sitting vacant for 6 years, the Meeting House was bought for historic preservation by the Committee to Restore the Abyssinian. When established, it was just the 3rd African American Meeting House in the United States after Boston and Nantucket, Massachusetts.[3][4] It is one the few houses remaining following the 1866 Great Fire of Portland, Maine. In April 2008, a dig was led to further information on the Meeting House.[5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Neal Dow House. National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved on 2008-05-15.
  2. ^ National Historic Registry
  3. ^ Official Web Site (PDF)
  4. ^ http://www.mainepreservation.org/Endangered/02.shtml 2002 Maine's Most Endangered Historic Properties
  5. ^ Volunteers, Archaeologists Dig At Old Abyssinian Meeting House WCSH6.com, April 26, 2008
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