National Register of Historic Places

Third Meetinghouse

Mattapoisett, Plymouth County, Massachusetts
Listed
January 2, 1976
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
76000956

About this property

The Third Meetinghouse is an historic church, community meeting house and Grange Hall at 1 Fairhaven Road in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts. Built in 1816, it is the town's oldest surviving public building, and the one in which the meeting leading to its separation from Rochester took place. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. The Third Meetinghouse occupies a prominent place in Mattapoisett's town center, at the northwest corner of Main and Fairhaven Streets. It is a two-story wood frame structure, with a gabled roof and clapboarded exterior. It has a projecting gabled section at the center of its front facade, with entrances flanking it on either side. Rising above the main roof and this section is an octagonal tower, whose second stage features round-arch louvers, and whose top is in a bellcast shape. The building corners have paneled pilasters, and the gables and eaves are adorned with modillion blocks. Many of the windows are topped by rounded arches in the Italianate style. The Third Meetinghouse was built in 1816 for the Second Parish of Rochester (established 1736), after its second meetinghouse had its roof blown off by a hurricane. In 1837 the parish population held a meeting in which it was decided to seek separation from Rochester, resulting in Mattapoisett's eventual incorporation in 1857. The building was at first used for both civic and religious purposes, with the congregation moving out after 28 years because it outgrew the space. In 1854, the building was adapted for use as a secondary school, which operated until 1862. After 1870 the meeting house became the Barstow School. The building was acquired by the local Grange chapter in 1915. National Register of Historic Places listings in Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Location

1 Fairhaven Rd.
Mattapoisett, Plymouth County, Massachusetts
41.66204, -70.81984

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Third Meetinghouse

This page lists Third Meetinghouse. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Third Meetinghouse report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Ned Point Light
Industrial
2.7 mi
Reed, H.R., House
Industrial
3.8 mi
Millicent Library
Industrial
4.5 mi
Oxford School
Industrial
4.6 mi
Fairhaven High School and Academy
Industrial
4.6 mi

Nearby Battles

British Raid on New Bedford and Fairhaven
1778Revolutionary War
6.2 mi
British Raid on Bedford and Fairhaven
1778Revolutionary War
6.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Third Meetinghouse listed on the National Register?

Third Meetinghouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 2, 1976.

What type of historic resource is Third Meetinghouse?

Third Meetinghouse is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Third Meetinghouse?

The period of significance for Third Meetinghouse is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Third Meetinghouse?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Third Meetinghouse will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Plymouth County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Plymouth County.

Explore PlymouthCounty ›

More historic places in Massachusetts

Browse all historic places in Massachusetts.

View Massachusettshistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Massachusetts history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Massachusettshistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Third Meetinghouse will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report