Preview

image preview

    Collection

    Portland Press Herald Still-Film Negatives Collection

    Document Type

    Still Image

    Call number of Original

    PH 15 JAN 2001

    Contributing Institution

    Portland Public Library Special Collections & Archives

    Location

    Portland, Cumberland, Maine, USA

    Creation Date

    1-15-2001

    Format of Original

    35mm color negative

    Description

    Exterior view of the Abyssinian Meeting House (also known as the Abyssinian Church), 75 Newbury Street, from southeast.

    At the time of this photograph, the renovation of church building had begun. Built in 1828, the Abyssinian Church was the center of Portland's African-American community throughout the 19th century. Along with the Quaker Meeting House (at the time on Federal Street at Pearl Street), the Abyssinian was a major site for Abolitionist speeches.
    Supplanted by the nearby Green Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church (photo at this link), built in 1914, the Abyssinian closed in 1917.

    The building had various purposes, including that of an apartment house, until the restoration work began through the Committee to Save the Abyssinian.
    (Click this link to see how the Abyssinian Church appeared in 1998.)


    Photo published in the Portland Press Herald, on 15 January 2001


    More about the Abyssinian Church and its context, at this link from the National Parks Service.

    Download Medium Thumbnail

    Keywords

    Portland, Me., East End, Munjoy Hill, Houses of worship, Churches, African-American community

    Share

    Image Location

     
    COinS
     

    Rights Statement

    In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted.