Difference between revisions of "Abyssinian Meeting House"

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(Created page with "The '''Abyssinian Meeting House''' was established in 1826 in response to the growing needs of the African American community in Portland. The third oldest meeting house in th...")
 
 
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[[File:Abyssinian Meeting House.jpg|thumb|Abyssinian Meeting House in Portland]]
 
The '''Abyssinian Meeting House''' was established in 1826 in response to the growing needs of the African American community in Portland. The third oldest meeting house in the country, the first is in [[African Meeting House (Boston)|Boston]], the second in [[African Meeting House (Nantucket)|Nantucket]],<ref>Carkhuff, David. [https://web.archive.org/web/20101229151641/http://portlanddailysun.me/node/19091/18808 Abyssinian Meeting House focus of regional mapping.] The Portland Daily Sun February 17, 2010. Retrieved February 1, 2021.</ref> provided a center of support and encouragement for the African-American community that promotes racial equality through anti-slavery activities. The building is one of the few buildings near Newbury Street that survived the Portland Fire of 1866. The church was decommissioned in 1917, and the building was eventually sold and converted into a rental unit. Since 1991, it has been vacant and deteriorated. The Committee to Restore the Abyssinian Meeting House recently funded a professional Historic Structure Report and is gathering strength and seeking funds for its restoration.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080725025330/http://www.mainepreservation.org/Endangered/02.shtml 2002 Maine's Most Endangered Historic Properties.] Maine Preservation. Retrieved February 1, 2021.</ref> The building is the only Underground Railroad site in Maine recognized by the National Park Service. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.
 
The '''Abyssinian Meeting House''' was established in 1826 in response to the growing needs of the African American community in Portland. The third oldest meeting house in the country, the first is in [[African Meeting House (Boston)|Boston]], the second in [[African Meeting House (Nantucket)|Nantucket]],<ref>Carkhuff, David. [https://web.archive.org/web/20101229151641/http://portlanddailysun.me/node/19091/18808 Abyssinian Meeting House focus of regional mapping.] The Portland Daily Sun February 17, 2010. Retrieved February 1, 2021.</ref> provided a center of support and encouragement for the African-American community that promotes racial equality through anti-slavery activities. The building is one of the few buildings near Newbury Street that survived the Portland Fire of 1866. The church was decommissioned in 1917, and the building was eventually sold and converted into a rental unit. Since 1991, it has been vacant and deteriorated. The Committee to Restore the Abyssinian Meeting House recently funded a professional Historic Structure Report and is gathering strength and seeking funds for its restoration.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080725025330/http://www.mainepreservation.org/Endangered/02.shtml 2002 Maine's Most Endangered Historic Properties.] Maine Preservation. Retrieved February 1, 2021.</ref> The building is the only Underground Railroad site in Maine recognized by the National Park Service. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.
  
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In February 1828, 22 black residents took steps to formally organize the Abyssinian Religious Association as an all-African American congregation. By July 2, they had merged the association, appointed a trustee, and started to build their own new meeting house. The congregation became involved in political issues, especially those that affect African Americans.  
 
In February 1828, 22 black residents took steps to formally organize the Abyssinian Religious Association as an all-African American congregation. By July 2, they had merged the association, appointed a trustee, and started to build their own new meeting house. The congregation became involved in political issues, especially those that affect African Americans.  
 
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[[File:Abyssinian Meeting House Memo.jpg|thumb|left]]
 
Later, the Abyssinian Meeting House played a role in the Underground Railroad. Because of its easy access by rail and sea, Portland has developed into one of the northernmost hubs of the Underground Railroad system. Black and white activists in Portland provided safe havens and shelters for slaves and helped organize escape routes to England and Canada. The leaders, Reuben Ruby, and members of the Abyssinian Church actively participated in concealing, supplying, and transporting runaway slaves. Lewis G. Clark, a runaway slave from Kentucky, provided first-hand information on the horror of slavery in a speech at the Abyssinian Meeting House. During the conference, this meeting house also housed the famous abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass also spoke at the forum. Ruby also hosted [[William Lloyd Garrison]] in his home.  
 
Later, the Abyssinian Meeting House played a role in the Underground Railroad. Because of its easy access by rail and sea, Portland has developed into one of the northernmost hubs of the Underground Railroad system. Black and white activists in Portland provided safe havens and shelters for slaves and helped organize escape routes to England and Canada. The leaders, Reuben Ruby, and members of the Abyssinian Church actively participated in concealing, supplying, and transporting runaway slaves. Lewis G. Clark, a runaway slave from Kentucky, provided first-hand information on the horror of slavery in a speech at the Abyssinian Meeting House. During the conference, this meeting house also housed the famous abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass also spoke at the forum. Ruby also hosted [[William Lloyd Garrison]] in his home.  
  
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== References ==
 
== References ==
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[[Category: Anti-Black Racism in Monuments]]

Latest revision as of 16:52, 1 February 2021

Abyssinian Meeting House in Portland

The Abyssinian Meeting House was established in 1826 in response to the growing needs of the African American community in Portland. The third oldest meeting house in the country, the first is in Boston, the second in Nantucket,[1] provided a center of support and encouragement for the African-American community that promotes racial equality through anti-slavery activities. The building is one of the few buildings near Newbury Street that survived the Portland Fire of 1866. The church was decommissioned in 1917, and the building was eventually sold and converted into a rental unit. Since 1991, it has been vacant and deteriorated. The Committee to Restore the Abyssinian Meeting House recently funded a professional Historic Structure Report and is gathering strength and seeking funds for its restoration.[2] The building is the only Underground Railroad site in Maine recognized by the National Park Service. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.

Background

At the time, the Portland Church regarded non-white members as second-class citizens. The church benches were separated, and African Americans were appointed to sit on the balcony or were forbidden to attend the service.[3]

In February 1828, 22 black residents took steps to formally organize the Abyssinian Religious Association as an all-African American congregation. By July 2, they had merged the association, appointed a trustee, and started to build their own new meeting house. The congregation became involved in political issues, especially those that affect African Americans.

Abyssinian Meeting House Memo.jpg

Later, the Abyssinian Meeting House played a role in the Underground Railroad. Because of its easy access by rail and sea, Portland has developed into one of the northernmost hubs of the Underground Railroad system. Black and white activists in Portland provided safe havens and shelters for slaves and helped organize escape routes to England and Canada. The leaders, Reuben Ruby, and members of the Abyssinian Church actively participated in concealing, supplying, and transporting runaway slaves. Lewis G. Clark, a runaway slave from Kentucky, provided first-hand information on the horror of slavery in a speech at the Abyssinian Meeting House. During the conference, this meeting house also housed the famous abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass also spoke at the forum. Ruby also hosted William Lloyd Garrison in his home.

The Abyssinian Meeting House was saved from the 1866 Portland fire, largely through the efforts of a black fireman and Reuben Ruby's son William Wilberforce Ruby. Only two surviving African-American meeting houses in the Northeast are known. The African Meeting House in Boston (1806) and the small, vernacular, African Meeting House in Nantucket (1827) both initially Baptist houses of worship.[4]

Throughout the 19th century, Abyssinians have been the center of social and political life for the African-American community in Portland. The building is both a church and a segregated public school, as well as a concert, dinner and entertainment venue. Its members and missionaries include former enslaved people, leaders of the Underground Railroad movement, and candid advocates for the abolition of slavery in the United States.[5] By the end of the 19th century, the number of members in the conference room had decreased, and the black population had become smaller and more dispersed. Since then, the level of activity at the church was minimal although the congregation as a formal entity survived until 1916.[4] The meeting room closed in 1917. It was converted into a low-cost apartment in 1924, and was finally abandoned by the city of Portland and taken over to pay taxes. In 1998, the Abyssinian Restoration Committee purchased the property and began to restore it.[5]

The Abyssinian Meeting House was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on February 3, 2006.

References

  1. Carkhuff, David. Abyssinian Meeting House focus of regional mapping. The Portland Daily Sun February 17, 2010. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  2. 2002 Maine's Most Endangered Historic Properties. Maine Preservation. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  3. Abyssinian Meeting House. Wikipedia. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Abyssinian Meeting House. National Park Service Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Abyssinian Meetinghouse. The History List. Retrieved February 1, 2021.