Abyssinian Meeting House, 2001

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Creator

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.

Recommended Citation

"Abyssinian Meeting House, 2001" (2001). Businesses & Buildings - Portland Press Herald Still Film Negatives. 426.
https://digitalcommons.portlandlibrary.com/pphnegs_images_business/426