Manset Meetinghouse

It’s come full circle...

Now the home of the Southwest Harbor Historical Society, the Manset Meetinghouse is the oldest church on Mount Desert Island. Originally, the building was started down the road on the old Bass Harbor Road around 1800.

When the location of the road changed, the partially completed building was taken down and erected in its present location around 1828. The funds for construction were mostly raised by a vote of the town and the sale of pews. The settlers wanted a church and everybody united in building one.

In these days, Manset was the center of activity.

“For many years Southwest Harbor meant what is now called Manset...”- Thornton, Mrs. Seth S., Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine, p.49

The Meetinghouse overlooked the working waterfront below. Parishioners would travel from Bass Harbor, South Norwood Cove, the Cranberry Isles and other areas between Manset and Seal Cove to attend services. They rowed, walked or came by horseback. Ralph Stanley said there are many stories passed down telling of the all-day Sunday affairs. Ralph said during the mid-day break, the men would move to the hearse shed out back and the women would prepare a meal and clean up before resuming services for the afternoon.

The Church served many purposes. Town meetings and court sessions used this space.

“The Town appropriated $250 to pay Ebenezer Eaton, as the full time minister in 1801.” -Cousins, Edgar M. 1895 The Mt. Desert Congregational Church, Tremont, Maine, 1792-1895: Historical Sermons and Notes, p.12

“Let us remember that the town at this time was the parish and all parish matters relating to the support of the ministry and provision for places of worship were a part of the regular action of the town meeting.” (Cousins, 12)

Ebenezer Eaton’s grandson, Herrick M. Eaton remarked in a letter dated Sept. 18, 1893, “He preached two very long sermons every Sunday... I think he was pastor of the Congregational Church in Mt. Desert about 50 years...He preached in different parts of the Island but principally at S.W. Harbor.” (Cousins, 11)

People gathered at the Church whether it was the Sabbath, a Town Meeting or a court proceeding. As the Church’s membership grew, improvements were made. From 1860-1870, a central front door replaced two side doors. A steeple was added and a bell installed. The Ladies Aid Society paid $193.42 for the bell in honor of the nation’s Centennial Celebration. The bell rang on many occasions and added to the stature of the Church in its community.

This historic building has served many denominations. According to the Manset Union Church Weekly Bulletin dated August 10, 1986,“It was changed from a Public Meeting House to the Manset Union Church in 1954 and joined the United Church of Christ in 1961.”

Neighbors with no religious affiliation gathered here too. Why? It was a social hub within easy walking distance for children living in the area.

Aimee Williams, SWHHS Board President, recently wrote, “I grew up just a few houses down from the Church. Many children lived in the neighborhood. If you got to church early on Sunday, you might get picked to ring the bell that announced the morning service. There was a rope attached to the bell in the belfry that came down through the second floor into the vestibule. The fun part was once you got the bell swaying, if you hung onto the rope, it would lift you off the floor. Looking back, it was a good way to get us to come to church.”

After a period of dormancy and financial hardship, the building was put up for sale. Fortunately, interested community members and neighbors, many with memorable connections to the property, came together with a ‘win-win’ idea: Save the building and create a permanent home for the Southwest Harbor Historical Society.

Since its conception, the Historical Society has used borrowed spaces in Southwest Harbor to house a fraction of their large collection, and to host forums dedicated to educating the public to the character and culture of its community. A desire for a permanent home and a commitment to saving this historic building gave birth to the initiative to revitalize the Meetinghouse. Through the generosity of many people, the Society’s new home has become a reality. Restoration work is bringing the building back to life to house the Society’s collection, and serve as a gathering place for educational programs, thematic exhibits, public events and more.

Check out a full timeline of the Manset Meetinghouse (PDF).

The Steeple and Bell

In 2021, a loving Southwest Harbor community donated their services and support to conserve and display a bell that had hung in the Manset Meetinghouse belfry for 155 years.

The Mutual Benevolent Society of Southwest Harbor purchased the bell from Naylor Company of Boston on November 7, 1866, for $193.42. That same year the bell was mounted in the belfry and remained there until 2021. Major repairs were done to the steeple and belfry over the life of the church building, including during the 1880’s, 1919, and 1922.

During the April 2021 renovation, Belden Morse–owner of The Steeple People of Machias, Maine–was commissioned to repair the steeple framework and secure the belfry. Sadly, the 1200-pound bell could not be safely returned to its high perch due to its weight. So, Chet Lewis and Sharon Lawson laid a granite stone in front of the Meetinghouse on which to mount and display the bell. John Goodwin, Jr. Company lifted the bell, cradle, and wheel assembly and transported it to and from Clayton Strout’s home in Manset, where Strout glass-blasted the rust and applied a conservation treatment.

The bell now sits on her new granite base. Thanks to community caring and cooperation our bell will continue ringing her tune for generations!

Parts of this article originally appeared (with additional photographs) on the History Trust blog.