National Register of Historic Places

Union Church, (former)

Columbia Falls, Washington County, Maine
Listed
July 4, 2000
Type
Building
Period
Civil War
Ref No.
00000759

About this property

The former Union Church is a historic building on Main Street in Columbia Falls, Maine. Built in 1849, it is an important local example of Greek Revival architecture. It served as a church until 1902, and as town hall until 1987. In the 1940s its interior was also adapted for use as a gymnasium. The building now houses the town library and archives. On July 5, 2000, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The former Union Church stands in the village center of Columbia Falls, on the north side of Main Street, between Addison Street and the Pleasant River. It is a tall single-story wood frame structure, with a gabled roof and a granite foundation. Its front facade is finished in matchboard, while the other sides are clapboarded. The building corners are pilastered, with an entablature extending across the top of the front and sides. The front has a centered entrance set in a three-bay recess with two tall Doric columns in front, and tall sash windows in the flanking bays, with pilasters at the corners of the recess. The gable above is fully pedimented, with a small arched louver at the center. A tower rises above, with a combination belfry and clock stage topped by a low crown and weathervane. The interior is largely the product of the buildings 1949-50 conversion into gymnasium, although some original Greek Revival window framing remains. The early history of the church is shrouded in mystery; it was dedicated in January 1841, and its designer and builder are not known. The bell in the tower is original, and the clock was added in 1889. Use of the building for religious purposes had declined by the early 20th century to the point that it was deeded to the town, apparently with the stipulation that its exterior remain unaltered. It served as the community's town hall until 1987, and was further adapted for use as a gymnasium by the local schools in 1949-50. These functions were moved to a modern facility in 1987. The building has since housed the town library and archives. National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, Maine

Location

Columbia Falls, Washington County, Maine
44.65332, -67.72882

Categories

ARCHITECTUREENTERTAINMENT/RECREATIONPOLITICS/GOVERNMENT
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 Union Church, (former)

This page lists Union Church, (former). 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 Union Church, (former) report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Bucknam, Samuel, House
Industrial
0 mi
Columbia House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Ruggles House
Early Republic
0.1 mi
Bucknam House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Plummer, Capt. John, House
Industrial
2.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Union Church, (former) listed on the National Register?

Union Church, (former) was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 4, 2000.

What type of historic resource is Union Church, (former)?

Union Church, (former) is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Union Church, (former)?

The period of significance for Union Church, (former) is recorded as the civil_war era.

Can I research the history near Union Church, (former)?

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 Union Church, (former) will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Washington County

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

Explore WashingtonCounty ›

More historic places in Maine

Browse all historic places in Maine.

View Mainehistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Maine history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Mainehistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Union Church, (former) will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report