Abyssinian Meeting House
Encyclopedia
The Abyssinian Meeting House is an historic house built by free African-Americans
in Portland, Maine
at 73–75 Newbury Street in the Munjoy Hill
and downtown neighborhoods. Established in 1828, the Meeting House was the cultural center for African-Americans in southern Maine from its inception until foreclosure in 1917. It housed Portland's nineteenth century public school for black children. The house was redeveloped into tenement apartments in 1924 before being seized for unpaid taxes by the City of Portland in 1991. After sitting vacant for 6 years, the Meeting House was bought in 1998 for historic preservation by the Committee to Restore the Abyssinian. When established, it was the third African American Meeting House in the United States after Boston and Nantucket, Massachusetts
. It is one the few houses remaining following the 1866 Great Fire of Portland, Maine
. In April 2008, an archeological dig was conducted to obtain further information on the Meeting House.
Free Negro
A free Negro or free black is the term used prior to the abolition of slavery in the United States to describe African Americans who were not slaves. Almost all African Americans came to the United States as slaves, but from the earliest days of American slavery, slaveholders set men and women free...
in Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
at 73–75 Newbury Street in the Munjoy Hill
Munjoy Hill
Munjoy Hill is an historically Irish-American neighborhood and prominent geographical feature of Portland, Maine. It is located east of downtown, and south of East Deering, the neighborhood it is connected to by Tukey's Bridge.-Geography:...
and downtown neighborhoods. Established in 1828, the Meeting House was the cultural center for African-Americans in southern Maine from its inception until foreclosure in 1917. It housed Portland's nineteenth century public school for black children. The house was redeveloped into tenement apartments in 1924 before being seized for unpaid taxes by the City of Portland in 1991. After sitting vacant for 6 years, the Meeting House was bought in 1998 for historic preservation by the Committee to Restore the Abyssinian. When established, it was the third African American Meeting House in the United States after Boston and Nantucket, Massachusetts
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Nantucket is an island south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in the United States. Together with the small islands of Tuckernuck and Muskeget, it constitutes the town of Nantucket, Massachusetts, and the coterminous Nantucket County, which are consolidated. Part of the town is designated the Nantucket...
. It is one the few houses remaining following the 1866 Great Fire of Portland, Maine
1866 Great Fire of Portland, Maine
The Great Fire of Portland, Maine occurred on July 4, 1866 — the first Independence Day after the end of the American Civil War. Five years before the Great Chicago Fire, this was the greatest fire yet seen in an American city. It started in a boat house on Commercial Street, likely caused by...
. In April 2008, an archeological dig was conducted to obtain further information on the Meeting House.
External links
- Abyssinian supporters plan Boston meeting Portland Daily SunPortland Daily SunThe Portland Daily Sun publish daily newspapers Tuesday through Saturday in Portland, Maine. The Portland Daily Sun is a free daily newspaper distributed to retail and business locations throughout the city. The first edition was printed on February 3, 2009. Circulation, which started at 3,000...
, February 18, 2011 - www.abyme.org