53:
1372:
367:
the find are joists which are believed to have been part of the choir loft. During restoration efforts, a clay pipe broke in the basement and a steady stream began to run. In 2011, a project was undertaken to contain the free flowing water and a wooden water pipe was discovered on the site. The pipe was reburied to preserve it. Later excavation revealed that the owners of the swampy property filtered the encroaching through an uncovered system of sand boxes and piped it to the Grand Trunk
Railroad.
92:
67:
267:(1798–1878) played a central role in the beginning of the Abyssinian. He transferred the original land to the Society in March 1831 and performed work on the interior of the building. Throughout the Northeast, he enjoyed a reputation as an unwavering spokesman against slavery and was a major participant in forming the Maine Anti-Slavery Society in 1834. He was self-employed as a hackman and, through his business, transported escaped slaves. Ruby also hosted
336:
231:, it is Maine's oldest African-American church building, and the third oldest in the nation. Throughout the years, the Abyssinian was a place for worship and revivals, abolition and temperance meetings, speakers and concerts, the Female Benevolent Society, the Portland Union Anti-Slavery Society and negro conventions, and the black school in Portland from the mid-1840s through the mid-1850s. The building is the only
1383:
99:
74:
323:
located on
Sheridan Street in Portland. The proceeds of the sale of the building and furnishings went to the Congregational Conferences and Missionary Society of Maine. As stated in the act, any income gained after repayment of loans was to be entered into an Abyssinian Fund. Accurate expense records
366:
In April 2008, an archeological dig was conducted to obtain further information on the
Meeting House. Unearthed were 19th century toys, slate pencils, an inkwell, marbles, dishes, and bits of glass. While removing construction added during the 1920s, original wooden beams were uncovered. Included in
260:
newspaper which condemned the Second
Congregational Church in Portland for treating non-white members as second-class citizens. At the time, church pews were segregated and African-Americans were designated balcony seating or discouraged from attending services at all. Manuel, Ruby and three others
324:
were to be kept in the event of "erection, repair or alteration of any church building for colored people in the City of
Portland, or for the support of any church, or religious work among the people of that race in said city." Direction of the fund is at the discretion of the Missionary Society.
275:
The
Abyssinian housed an active congregation for 86 years, from 1831 to 1917. In 1842, some black parishioners from the Fourth Congregational Church in Portland merged with the Abyssinian Religious Society to form the Abyssinian Congregational Church and Society. It also was known as the Sumner
291:
In 1846, the location of the school for black children moved from the North School to the vestry of the
Abyssinian. In 1851, there were 75 scholars numbered in the school with an average attendance of 55 students. The school was discharged in 1856 and African-American students have attended
287:
agent, he used the building to host and organize anti-slavery speakers, Negro conventions and testimonies from runaway slaves. By 1845, he took on the role of principal of a segregated school for black children where it saw great improvements, including the addition of music education.
1261:
271:
in his home. In 1836, Ruby brought a suit against the
Society for non-payment on the mortgage he held and improvements he had made to the building. Ruby was a defendant in an 1837 case brought against him by Samuel W. Chase, minister the Abyssinian.
1356:
1292:
1276:
370:
In
September 2012, Greater Portland Landmarks named the Abyssianian as one of seven historic sites in peril due to lack of restoration funding. A $ 375,000 (~$ 415,998 in 2023) grant was established in 2021 for the building's restoration.
1447:
1266:
251:
The
Abyssinian was the cultural center for African-Americans in southern Maine. It was formed to meet the demand from African-Americans in Portland to have a place to worship. Christopher Christian Manuel, his brother-in-law
343:
After sitting vacant for six years, the Abyssinian was bought for historic preservation by the Committee to Restore the Abyssinian in 1998. It is the third oldest African-American meeting house in the United States after
1417:
307:
The church's congregation declined in size over the course of the 19th century, due in part to the growing number of churches in the city, and a gradual dispersal of the African-American population. In 1898, when the
1351:
1297:
318:
An act of the Maine Legislature, passed February 24, 1917, dissolved and sold the Abyssinian on July 28, 1917. Most of the parishioners became members of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, now known as the
938:
1318:
1220:
1437:
380:
1251:
1185:
1150:
1225:
1130:
1090:
915:
1190:
1180:
1175:
1155:
1271:
1105:
1020:
1140:
1135:
1010:
1230:
1195:
1100:
1075:
1215:
1165:
1145:
1120:
1110:
1095:
1085:
1070:
1050:
1025:
1015:
1005:
327:
After the sale, the Abyssinian was used as a stable and an antique store, then developed into tenement apartments in 1924. It was seized for unpaid taxes by the City of Portland in 1991.
1235:
1210:
1115:
1055:
1035:
1030:
1000:
990:
1170:
1125:
1065:
1040:
995:
1302:
1200:
1080:
1045:
315:
was shipwrecked, it took with it seventeen male congregants, including two trustees. This was a severe blow to the congregation, which was thereafter reduced to minimal activity.
881:
1256:
1205:
1160:
1060:
968:
953:
283:(1810–93) was the first full-time minister at the Abyssinian. His tenure was from 1841 to 1851 and was focused on employment, temperance, and abolishing slavery. As a known
908:
984:
352:. The Committee purchased the building from the City of Portland for $ 250, the original price for which the Society purchased the land from Reuben Ruby in 1828.
1386:
901:
701:
360:
1427:
1376:
521:
Price, H.H.; Talbot, Gerald E. (2006). "Living and Working". Maine's Visible Black History: The First Chronicle of Its People. Tilbury House. pp. 160-164.
505:
Price, H.H.; Talbot, Gerald E. (2006). "Living and Working". Maine's Visible Black History: The First Chronicle of Its People. Tilbury House. pp. 145-146.
489:
Price, H.H.; Talbot, Gerald E. (2006). "Social Change". Maine's Visible Black History: The First Chronicle of Its People. Tilbury House. pp. 254 and 271.
1412:
133:
772:
261:
petitioned the state of Maine for incorporation of the Abyssinian Religious Society in 1828. The building became the Abyssinian Congregational Church.
91:
654:
Price, H.H.; Talbot, Gerald E. (2006). "Living and Working". Maine's Visible Black History: The First Chronicle of Its People. Tilbury House. p. 146.
575:
Price, H.H.; Talbot, Gerald E. (2006). "Living and Working". Maine's Visible Black History: The First Chronicle of Its People. Tilbury House. p. 147.
537:
Price, H.H.; Talbot, Gerald E. (2006). "Living and Working". Maine's Visible Black History: The First Chronicle of Its People. Tilbury House. p. 164.
948:
882:
https://archive.today/20130223000828/http://www.theforecaster.net/news/print/2012/06/26/internships-expand-support-abyssinian-restoration/128044
473:
Price, H.H.; Talbot, Gerald E. (2006). "Early History". Maine's Visible Black History: The First Chronicle of Its People. Tilbury House. p. 43.
1442:
66:
1422:
924:
420:
356:
240:
39:
1407:
822:
1339:
296:
659:
580:
542:
526:
510:
494:
478:
390:
320:
638:
705:
619:
679:
442:
52:
1344:
1323:
850:
749:
256:, Caleb Jonson, Clement Thomson, Job L. Wentworth, and John Siggs published a letter on September 19, 1826, in the
800:"Seven Portland historic sites are in 'peril,' advocates say - The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram"
349:
958:
727:
385:
268:
963:
943:
425:
345:
236:
799:
1432:
284:
232:
887:
862:
280:
854:
702:"Original timbers uncovered at church | the Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram"
655:
576:
538:
522:
506:
490:
474:
554:
893:
642:
623:
220:
121:
635:
335:
299:. Local folklore includes stories about parishioners fighting to protect the building.
750:"Wood water pipe sheds more light - The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram"
195:
1401:
276:
Street Church and then the Newbury Street Church, as the name of the street changed.
1357:
University and college buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places
671:
593:
309:
264:
253:
216:
773:"Excavation reveals resourceful history at Portland's Abyssinian Meeting House"
616:
228:
728:"A river runs through it - The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram"
449:
148:
135:
1448:
Historically segregated African-American schools in the United States
1352:
List of jails and prisons on the National Register of Historic Places
595:
Acts and Resolves Passed by the ... Legislature of the State of Maine
334:
224:
415:
888:
https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/09/national/09religion.html?_r=0
381:
National Register of Historic Places listings in Portland, Maine
897:
823:"Virtual Portland walk points out city's early ties to slavery"
215:
is a historic church building at 73–75 Newbury Street, in the
1418:
Churches on the National Register of Historic Places in Maine
1438:
National Register of Historic Places in Portland, Maine
866:
636:
http://www.mainepreservation.org/Endangered/02.shtml
359:
in 2006, the year the restoration began, and on the
1332:
1311:
1285:
1244:
977:
954:
History of the National Register of Historic Places
931:
821:Forecaster, Michael KelleyThe (February 24, 2021).
201:
188:
180:
172:
164:
127:
115:
771:
617:Abyssinian Meeting House focus of regional mapping
598:. Vol. 78. Stevens & Sayward. p. 455
985:List of U.S. National Historic Landmarks by state
645:2002 Maine's Most Endangered Historic Properties
361:National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom
98:
73:
1377:National Register of Historic Places portal
555:"NRHP nomination for Abyssinian Meeting House"
448:. abyme.org. February 15, 2008. Archived from
295:It is one of the few buildings to survive the
909:
8:
916:
902:
894:
51:
925:U.S. National Register of Historic Places
851:Abyssinian supporters plan Boston meeting
40:U.S. National Register of Historic Places
437:
435:
402:
18:Historic church in Maine, United States
682:from the original on February 22, 2024
416:"National Register Information System"
410:
408:
406:
23:
802:. pressherald.com. September 20, 2012
626:Portland Daily Sun, February 18, 2010
339:The Abyssinian Meeting House in 2009.
7:
752:. pressherald.com. September 3, 2011
421:National Register of Historic Places
357:National Register of Historic Places
241:National Register of Historic Places
1428:Houses on the Underground Railroad
1340:National Historic Preservation Act
890:, The New York Times, July 9, 2005
297:1866 Great Fire of Portland, Maine
14:
1413:African-American history of Maine
391:Green Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church
321:Green Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church
1382:
1381:
1370:
863:"Abyssinian Restoration Project"
730:. pressherald.com. June 17, 2011
235:site in Maine recognized by the
97:
90:
72:
65:
884:, The Forecaster, June 26, 2012
331:Landmark status and restoration
292:integrated schools ever since.
1293:Federated States of Micronesia
939:Architectural style categories
247:A House of Worship (1828–1917)
190:
1:
1443:Underground Railroad in Maine
106:Show map of the United States
21:United States historic place
1423:Churches in Portland, Maine
865:. abyme.org. Archived from
672:"Archaeology Magazine News"
1464:
1408:Churches completed in 1828
1345:Historic Preservation Fund
1324:American Legation, Morocco
622:December 29, 2010, at the
1365:
1286:Lists by associated state
443:"Official Web Site (PDF)"
189:NRHP reference
59:
50:
46:
37:
30:
26:
1267:Northern Mariana Islands
350:Nantucket, Massachusetts
239:. It was listed on the
213:Abyssinian Meeting House
181:Architectural style
32:Abyssinian Meeting House
676:archive.archaeology.org
557:. National Park Service
1262:Minor Outlying Islands
1245:Lists by insular areas
959:Keeper of the Register
641:July 25, 2008, at the
386:Portland Freedom Trail
340:
269:William Lloyd Garrison
229:free African-Americans
964:National Park Service
944:Contributing property
426:National Park Service
355:It was listed on the
338:
237:National Park Service
227:. Built 1828-1831 by
1319:District of Columbia
303:Mandated dissolution
285:Underground Railroad
233:Underground Railroad
869:on January 17, 2015
858:, February 18, 2011
780:. February 18, 2019
708:on January 31, 2013
678:. August 30, 2011.
455:on February 1, 2015
149:43.6623°N 70.2485°W
145: /
855:Portland Daily Sun
341:
168:less than one acre
119:73–75 Newbury St.,
1395:
1394:
949:Historic district
209:
208:
154:43.6623; -70.2485
81:Show map of Maine
1455:
1385:
1384:
1375:
1374:
1373:
1298:Marshall Islands
918:
911:
904:
895:
878:
876:
874:
838:
837:
835:
833:
818:
812:
811:
809:
807:
796:
790:
789:
787:
785:
775:
768:
762:
761:
759:
757:
746:
740:
739:
737:
735:
724:
718:
717:
715:
713:
704:. Archived from
698:
692:
691:
689:
687:
668:
662:
652:
646:
633:
627:
614:
608:
607:
605:
603:
589:
583:
573:
567:
566:
564:
562:
551:
545:
535:
529:
519:
513:
503:
497:
487:
481:
471:
465:
464:
462:
460:
454:
447:
439:
430:
429:
412:
281:Amos Noé Freeman
219:neighborhood of
205:February 3, 2006
192:
160:
159:
157:
156:
155:
150:
146:
143:
142:
141:
138:
107:
101:
100:
94:
82:
76:
75:
69:
55:
24:
1463:
1462:
1458:
1457:
1456:
1454:
1453:
1452:
1398:
1397:
1396:
1391:
1371:
1369:
1361:
1328:
1307:
1281:
1240:
973:
927:
922:
872:
870:
861:
847:
842:
841:
831:
829:
820:
819:
815:
805:
803:
798:
797:
793:
783:
781:
770:
769:
765:
755:
753:
748:
747:
743:
733:
731:
726:
725:
721:
711:
709:
700:
699:
695:
685:
683:
670:
669:
665:
653:
649:
643:Wayback Machine
634:
630:
624:Wayback Machine
615:
611:
601:
599:
591:
590:
586:
574:
570:
560:
558:
553:
552:
548:
536:
532:
520:
516:
504:
500:
488:
484:
472:
468:
458:
456:
452:
445:
441:
440:
433:
428:. July 9, 2010.
414:
413:
404:
399:
377:
333:
305:
249:
153:
151:
147:
144:
139:
136:
134:
132:
131:
122:Portland, Maine
120:
111:
110:
109:
108:
105:
104:
103:
102:
85:
84:
83:
80:
79:
78:
77:
42:
33:
22:
19:
12:
11:
5:
1461:
1459:
1451:
1450:
1445:
1440:
1435:
1430:
1425:
1420:
1415:
1410:
1400:
1399:
1393:
1392:
1390:
1389:
1379:
1366:
1363:
1362:
1360:
1359:
1354:
1349:
1348:
1347:
1336:
1334:
1330:
1329:
1327:
1326:
1321:
1315:
1313:
1309:
1308:
1306:
1305:
1300:
1295:
1289:
1287:
1283:
1282:
1280:
1279:
1277:Virgin Islands
1274:
1269:
1264:
1259:
1254:
1252:American Samoa
1248:
1246:
1242:
1241:
1239:
1238:
1233:
1228:
1223:
1218:
1213:
1208:
1203:
1198:
1193:
1188:
1186:South Carolina
1183:
1178:
1173:
1168:
1163:
1158:
1153:
1151:North Carolina
1148:
1143:
1138:
1133:
1128:
1123:
1118:
1113:
1108:
1103:
1098:
1093:
1088:
1083:
1078:
1073:
1068:
1063:
1058:
1053:
1048:
1043:
1038:
1033:
1028:
1023:
1018:
1013:
1008:
1003:
998:
993:
988:
981:
979:
978:Lists by state
975:
974:
972:
971:
969:Property types
966:
961:
956:
951:
946:
941:
935:
933:
929:
928:
923:
921:
920:
913:
906:
898:
892:
891:
885:
879:
859:
846:
845:External links
843:
840:
839:
813:
791:
763:
741:
719:
693:
663:
647:
628:
609:
592:Maine (1917).
584:
568:
546:
530:
514:
498:
482:
466:
431:
401:
400:
398:
395:
394:
393:
388:
383:
376:
373:
332:
329:
304:
301:
248:
245:
207:
206:
203:
199:
198:
193:
186:
185:
182:
178:
177:
174:
170:
169:
166:
162:
161:
129:
125:
124:
117:
113:
112:
96:
95:
89:
88:
87:
86:
71:
70:
64:
63:
62:
61:
60:
57:
56:
48:
47:
44:
43:
38:
35:
34:
31:
28:
27:
20:
17:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1460:
1449:
1446:
1444:
1441:
1439:
1436:
1434:
1431:
1429:
1426:
1424:
1421:
1419:
1416:
1414:
1411:
1409:
1406:
1405:
1403:
1388:
1380:
1378:
1368:
1367:
1364:
1358:
1355:
1353:
1350:
1346:
1343:
1342:
1341:
1338:
1337:
1335:
1331:
1325:
1322:
1320:
1317:
1316:
1314:
1310:
1304:
1301:
1299:
1296:
1294:
1291:
1290:
1288:
1284:
1278:
1275:
1273:
1270:
1268:
1265:
1263:
1260:
1258:
1255:
1253:
1250:
1249:
1247:
1243:
1237:
1234:
1232:
1229:
1227:
1226:West Virginia
1224:
1222:
1219:
1217:
1214:
1212:
1209:
1207:
1204:
1202:
1199:
1197:
1194:
1192:
1189:
1187:
1184:
1182:
1179:
1177:
1174:
1172:
1169:
1167:
1164:
1162:
1159:
1157:
1154:
1152:
1149:
1147:
1144:
1142:
1139:
1137:
1134:
1132:
1131:New Hampshire
1129:
1127:
1124:
1122:
1119:
1117:
1114:
1112:
1109:
1107:
1104:
1102:
1099:
1097:
1094:
1092:
1091:Massachusetts
1089:
1087:
1084:
1082:
1079:
1077:
1074:
1072:
1069:
1067:
1064:
1062:
1059:
1057:
1054:
1052:
1049:
1047:
1044:
1042:
1039:
1037:
1034:
1032:
1029:
1027:
1024:
1022:
1019:
1017:
1014:
1012:
1009:
1007:
1004:
1002:
999:
997:
994:
992:
989:
986:
983:
982:
980:
976:
970:
967:
965:
962:
960:
957:
955:
952:
950:
947:
945:
942:
940:
937:
936:
934:
930:
926:
919:
914:
912:
907:
905:
900:
899:
896:
889:
886:
883:
880:
868:
864:
860:
857:
856:
852:
849:
848:
844:
828:
824:
817:
814:
801:
795:
792:
779:
774:
767:
764:
751:
745:
742:
729:
723:
720:
707:
703:
697:
694:
681:
677:
673:
667:
664:
661:
660:0-88448-275-8
657:
651:
648:
644:
640:
637:
632:
629:
625:
621:
618:
613:
610:
597:
596:
588:
585:
582:
581:0-88448-275-8
578:
572:
569:
556:
550:
547:
544:
543:0-88448-275-8
540:
534:
531:
528:
527:0-88448-275-8
524:
518:
515:
512:
511:0-88448-275-8
508:
502:
499:
496:
495:0-88448-275-8
492:
486:
483:
480:
479:0-88448-275-8
476:
470:
467:
451:
444:
438:
436:
432:
427:
423:
422:
417:
411:
409:
407:
403:
396:
392:
389:
387:
384:
382:
379:
378:
374:
372:
368:
364:
362:
358:
353:
351:
347:
337:
330:
328:
325:
322:
316:
314:
313:
302:
300:
298:
293:
289:
286:
282:
279:The Reverend
277:
273:
270:
266:
262:
259:
258:Eastern Argus
255:
246:
244:
242:
238:
234:
230:
226:
222:
218:
214:
204:
202:Added to NRHP
200:
197:
194:
187:
183:
179:
175:
171:
167:
163:
158:
130:
126:
123:
118:
114:
93:
68:
58:
54:
49:
45:
41:
36:
29:
25:
16:
1191:South Dakota
1181:Rhode Island
1176:Pennsylvania
1156:North Dakota
871:. Retrieved
867:the original
853:
832:September 1,
830:. Retrieved
827:Press Herald
826:
816:
804:. Retrieved
794:
784:February 22,
782:. Retrieved
778:Press Herald
777:
766:
754:. Retrieved
744:
732:. Retrieved
722:
710:. Retrieved
706:the original
696:
686:February 22,
684:. Retrieved
675:
666:
650:
631:
612:
600:. Retrieved
594:
587:
571:
559:. Retrieved
549:
533:
517:
501:
485:
469:
457:. Retrieved
450:the original
419:
369:
365:
354:
342:
326:
317:
311:
306:
294:
290:
278:
274:
263:
257:
250:
212:
210:
15:
1433:Munjoy Hill
1312:Other areas
1272:Puerto Rico
1106:Mississippi
1021:Connecticut
712:October 21,
561:October 28,
265:Reuben Ruby
254:Reuben Ruby
217:Munjoy Hill
152: /
128:Coordinates
1402:Categories
1221:Washington
1141:New Mexico
1136:New Jersey
1011:California
873:January 4,
806:January 4,
756:January 4,
734:January 4,
602:January 4,
459:January 4,
397:References
140:70°14′55″W
137:43°39′44″N
1231:Wisconsin
1196:Tennessee
1101:Minnesota
1076:Louisiana
363:in 2007.
243:in 2006.
1387:Category
1216:Virginia
1166:Oklahoma
1146:New York
1121:Nebraska
1111:Missouri
1096:Michigan
1086:Maryland
1071:Kentucky
1051:Illinois
1026:Delaware
1016:Colorado
1006:Arkansas
680:Archived
639:Archived
620:Archived
375:See also
312:Portland
221:Portland
196:05001612
116:Location
1333:Related
1236:Wyoming
1211:Vermont
1116:Montana
1056:Indiana
1036:Georgia
1031:Florida
1001:Arizona
991:Alabama
184:Federal
1171:Oregon
1126:Nevada
1066:Kansas
1041:Hawaii
996:Alaska
932:Topics
658:
579:
541:
525:
509:
493:
477:
346:Boston
1303:Palau
1201:Texas
1081:Maine
1046:Idaho
453:(PDF)
446:(PDF)
225:Maine
173:Built
1257:Guam
1206:Utah
1161:Ohio
1061:Iowa
875:2015
834:2023
808:2015
786:2024
758:2015
736:2015
714:2012
688:2024
656:ISBN
604:2015
577:ISBN
563:2015
539:ISBN
523:ISBN
507:ISBN
491:ISBN
475:ISBN
461:2015
348:and
211:The
176:1828
165:Area
310:SS
191:No.
1404::
825:.
776:.
674:.
434:^
424:.
418:.
405:^
223:,
987::
917:e
910:t
903:v
877:.
836:.
810:.
788:.
760:.
738:.
716:.
690:.
606:.
565:.
463:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
