Readfield Union Meeting House

The Readfield Union Meeting House is a historic brick meeting house at 22 Church Road in Readfield, Maine. Built in 1828, it is a particularly fine example of Federal period architecture for a rural context. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.[1]

Readfield Union Meeting House
Location22 Church Rd., Readfield, Maine
Coordinates44°23′22″N 69°58′1″W
Area0.3 acres (0.12 ha)
Built1828 (1828)
ArchitectMultiple
Architectural styleFederal
NRHP reference No.82000756[1]
Added to NRHPJuly 08, 1982

Description and history

The Readfield Union Meeting House stands in Readfield's main village, on the west side of Church Road, a short way north of its junction with Maine State Route 41. It is a single-story brick building, with a gable roof topped by a frame tower. The tower projects slightly from the front facade, and has a single tall round-arch window at the center of first level, with a low pedimented gable separating the brick base from the upper stages. The tall second stage is square, with a clock in the upper section; it is topped by an octagonal belfry with louvered openings flanked by Doric pilasters. It is covered by a bell-cast roof. Flanking the tower on the front facade are bays with building entrances at the ground level, with round-arch windows above. The side walls have tall round-arch windows set in recessed openings.[2]

Originally built in 1828, the church is an unusually fine example of Federal period church architecture in rural interior Maine.[2] The building was remodeled in 1866-1868 by Hubbard Lovejoy, an architect and builder of central Maine.[3] Part of this renovation included the painting of the walls and ceiling in the trompe-l'œil style, claimed to be the work of artist Charles J. Schumacher of Portland, Maine.[2][3]

More information is available on the Readfield Union Meeting House Official Website: https://www.unionmeetinghouse.org.

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. "Readfield Union Meeting House". National Park Service. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
  3. John Hale (August 1, 2014). "Fundraiser for Readfield Union Meeting House set". Retrieved 2015-05-05.
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