Maine Spirit Quest #35 – Fort Fairfield Friends Traditional Cache
MainePublisher: This cache page has been archived. If the owner would like to replace the cache and have it reinstated, please submit a new cache page.
Please note that the new cache page places it through the same review process as any other newly proposed cache, using the cache placement guidelines currently in effect.
MainePublisher
geocaching.com volunteer reviewer
Maine Spirit Quest #35 – Fort Fairfield Friends
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(not chosen)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
This Friends Church is the oldest still-standing church in Fort Fairfield. It was built in 1859-1863 by the Haines family with some of their Quaker friends and was part of the Underground Railroad before and during the Civil War.
There were 130 Underground Railroad stations in Maine that led the run always to New Brunswick. Friends Church in Maple Grove, Maine (near Fort Fairfield, Maine, and Perth Andover, New Brunswick), a programmed Meeting, was build in 1859-63 by Quaker settlers who followed Joseph Wingate Haines and Mary Briggs Haines' arrival in 1844. You will notice there are no religious symbols in this church. The Quakers’ faith came from their hearts, not symbols. There are no religious symbols in the stained glass window, or ornaments on the walls. While called “church” today, the Quakers refer to the buildings they assemble spiritually as “Meeting Houses.” A normal service featured the Quakers sitting quietly until the “Spirit called them” at which time they would speak to the group. The chief minister did not usually preach since the assembly believed God led those to speak as He wished. The Quakers were a pacifist group and did not condone war in any form. They believed in peace and kindness toward each other and recognized the equality between man and woman. In fact, it took the law-abiding Friends Society about 100 years even to make a stand against slavery. "Stations" on the Underground Railroad "conducted" slaves.
The Haines family was among Quakers who helped conduct escaping slaves to the border. The Haines family was very much against slavery. Even though the Supreme Court and the Congress made slavery legal, the Haines family was so against it, they actually broke the law in order to help slaves get to freedom. Nothing was recorded, because it was against the law to assist the slaves. Quakers were known for obeying civil law, but if they did assist them they certainly didn't want to be discovered breaking the law. In those days it was common for people to air their bed linen and quilts out after sleeping. They would hang them out windows, on clotheslines or fence posts. Some quilts contained special patterns that told the slaves and their guides what to expect; whether it was to come on in, go into hiding, or wait for a day or two. According to history an intriguing feature of the platform in the front of the room is that some of the boards in the platform came from the packing crate the stained glass windows arrived in. What’s interesting is the Haines family had a sawmill and with all that lumber available, why would they use packing crates as part of the riser.
In 1906 Friends Church was renovated, with a stained glass window, steeple, bell tower, oak pews, and organ all repaired. Then in 1972, representatives of New England Yearly Meeting were able to the sale of the church to the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Its pastor, Reverend Charles Stanton then gave it to Frontier Heritage Historical Society in 1995 that currently manages the property.
Maine Spirit Quest #35 in a series used to remember people, places or events and bring you to the location that would have otherwise been forgotten.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)