Northborough in Worcester County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
First Baptist Church of Northborough
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 30, 2024
1. First Baptist Church of Northborough Marker
Erected 2019 by William G. Pomeroy Foundation.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and the William G. Pomeroy Foundation series lists.
Location. 42° 19.181′ N, 71° 38.324′ W. Marker is in Northborough, Massachusetts, in Worcester County. It is at the intersection of Main Street (U.S. 20) and School Street, on the right when traveling east on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 52 Main St, Northborough MA 01532, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Quiet Corner and in Greater Worcester. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Minuteman (within shouting distance of this marker); Cyrus Gale's General Store (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Gen. Henry Knox Trail (about 300 feet away); Gale Library Building (about 400 feet away); Assabetville (approx. 0.2 miles away); Northborough Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Boston Post Road
this page online
Regarding First Baptist Church of Northborough. Excerpts from the National Register nomination:
The church was dedicated on November 28, 1860, eight months after its approval for construction, and is among the more prominent buildings with Italianate-style features in Northborough.
In 1905, during the pastorate of the Rev. Charles Stanley Pease, the First Baptist Church built a rear addition 28 feet wide, twelve feet deep, and two stories high to provide for a baptistery at the auditorium level.
During the Hurricane of September 1938, the church lost about two-thirds of its 125-foot-high steeple when the spire, belfry, and upper part of the tower toppled to the ground. The steeple was never replaced, and what remained of the tower was capped with a gabled roof.
In 1948, facing declining membership and financial support, the First Baptist Church merged with the Evangelical Congregational Church to form Northborough's Trinity Church. The vestry in this building served as the chapel for Trinity Church until improvements were made to accommodate the consolidatedchurches at the former Evangelical Congregational Church An early occupant of the vacated vestry space was the Northborough Historical Society, then housed nearby in the crowded basement room of the Gale Library The historical society purchased the First Baptist Church building, along with the organ, late in 1959, at which time the baptistery was removed.Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 30, 20242. First Baptist Church of Northborough Marker
Also see . . .
1. First Baptist Church of Northborough (PDF). National Register nomination for the former church, which was listed in 2016. (Prepared by Forest P. Lyford, Kathleen Kelly Broomer, and Betsy Friedberg; via National Archives) (Submitted on November 7, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
2. Northborough Historical Society. Homepage for the organization, which has owned the former church building since 1959 and has a museum inside it. (Submitted on November 7, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 30, 2024
3. Former First Baptist Church of Northborough
It now is the home and museum of the Northborough Historical Society.
from Northborough History, Josiah Coleman Kent (1921); via Google Books (Public Domain)
4. First Baptist Church of Northborough
The former church when it had its bell tower and steeple, which was partially knocked down and destroyed in a 1938 storm. It was never replaced.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 7, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 7, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 160 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 7, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
