Maine Owl

Abyssinian Church in Portland: after six years living in Portland and walking past it many times, I never knew the history of this building

My father-in-law became very interested in a recent project to trace, permanently mark, and commemorate the 19th-century anti-slavery movement in Maine. So, while down visiting last August, we walked the markers starting at Franklin and Commercial and snapping photos along the way. This old, decaying building is on Newbury Street, pretty near some trendy eateries:


Abyssinian Church, Portland. Maine, 1828 (Maine Owl photo)

From the walking tour brochure (pdf):

Abyssinian Church/Meetinghouse located at 73-75 Newbury Street served as the major hub of the Underground Railroad in Maine and became the social center for Portland’s African American community. Reuben Ruby, the foremost African American antislavery activist and Underground Railroad conductor in Portland, purchased the land for the church and the funds for the building came from the black community. When it was built in 1829, it became the first black congregation in Maine. In 1841, the pace of the anti-slavery movement increased in Maine with the arrival of Reverend Amos N. Freeman who became the first full-time minister of the church. He served for ten years and became the most well-known African American in the State. He was an inspirational leader who promoted education – serving as principal of the school sponsored by the Abyssinian - employment, temperance, and offered many fugitive slaves refuge at both the church and his home. The Abyssinian was one of the few buildings to survive the Great Fire of 1866 as a result of firefighter William Wilberforce Ruby, son of Reuben Ruby, wetting it down. The church is currently the third oldest African American church still standing in the United States and in the process of being restored. [emphasis added]

Wow.

I also definitely recommend the MPBN Maine Experience program's segment on Maine's role in the slave trade and the Underground Railroad:

Slavery is not usually associated with Maine. But the state played a role in both perpetuating this terrible institution and fighting it. This complicated tale describes the conflict between commerce and morality as it played out in mid-19th century Maine.

When public broadcasting decides to do something well, they certainly come up with some great stuff.