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The photograph presents a close architectural view of the weathered wooden meetinghouse beneath mature trees. Visible details include its shingled exterior, shuttered multi-pane windows, pedimented entrance and substantial two-story Colonial form. A photographic caption along the lower edge identifies the building as the Old Walpole Meeting House, although part of the caption has been lost through edge damage.
The Old Walpole Meetinghouse was constructed in 1772 on land donated by John Thomas. Its builder is believed to have been Samuel Woodward, a shipwright originally from Scituate, Massachusetts. The building remains remarkably close to its original Colonial appearance and reportedly retains hand-shaved exterior shingles, handmade hardware and early window glass imported from England.
Located near the head of the South Bristol Peninsula, the meetinghouse originally served a largely Presbyterian congregation and later became Congregationalist. It remains one of Maine’s oldest surviving meetinghouses and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
The reverse has an AZO stamp box with square corner markings, helping date the postcard to approximately the late 1920s through 1930s. The card was never mailed and has no address, stamp or postal cancellation.
CONDITION
Fair vintage condition with substantial edge and handling wear. The lower edge has irregular chipping, small tears and paper loss that partially obscure the photographic caption. Additional corner wear, edge wear, scratches, surface marks, scattered spotting and age toning are present. A circular brown stain and handwritten “P” appear near the upper-left portion of the photograph. The reverse has pencil and blue-ink dealer notations in the stamp-box area, along with light stains and general age discoloration. Despite these faults, the meetinghouse image remains clear and historically appealing. Please examine both scans carefully for the complete condition.
ITEM SPECIFICS
- Type: Real photo postcard
- Subject: Old Walpole Meetinghouse
- Location: Walpole, South Bristol, Maine
- County: Lincoln County
- Building date: 1772
- Approximate postcard date: Late 1920s–1930s
- Photographic paper: AZO
- AZO stamp-box design: Four square corner markings
- Architectural style: Colonial meetinghouse
- Exterior: Wooden shingles and shuttered windows
- Historic use: Presbyterian and Congregational meetinghouse
- Historic designation: National Register of Historic Places
- NRHP listing date: 1976
- Postage condition: Unposted
- Writing: Dealer notations only
- Color: Black and white
- Country: United States
- State: Maine
KEYWORDS
Old Walpole Meetinghouse, Walpole Maine RPPC, South Bristol Maine, Lincoln County Maine, 1772 meetinghouse, Colonial church, Maine religious history, historic Maine architecture, early American meetinghouse, AZO real photo postcard, 1930s Maine postcard, wooden shingle church, Presbyterian meetinghouse, Congregational church, National Register historic place, vintage Maine photography and New England architecture
