Parsonsfield Seminary
Encyclopedia
Parsonsfield Seminary, which operated from 1832-1949, was a well-known Free Will Baptist school in North Parsonsfield, Maine
, in the United States
. Also known as the North Parsonsfield Seminary, its preserved campus of four buildings is located on State Route 160.
and several other Free Baptists founded the school in Parsonsfield. Parsonsfield Seminary was the first Free Will Baptist school in the United States. The seminary's first principal, Hosea Quimby, was active in many other Free Will Baptist organizations. The seminary was deeply involved with the abolitionist movement and was a stop on the Underground Railroad
, while Oren B. Cheney
was principal in the 1840s. From 1840 to 1842, the Free Baptist Biblical School, the first Free Baptist graduate school for training ministers, was located at the seminary (the school was later renamed Cobb Divinity School
and became part of Bates College). Parsonsfield Seminary burned mysteriously in 1854, allegedly by opponents of integration
. Over the next 100 years similar arson incidents occurred at black and interracial schools all over rural New England
, including the Watchman Industrial School in Rhode Island
in the 1920s.
After it burned, Bates College
(the Maine State Seminary) in Lewiston
was founded in 1855 to take its place with a larger and more centrally located Free Baptist school. But in 1857 a smaller seminary building was rebuilt, crested with a cupola
and weathervane, on the same site at Parsonsfield. In 1889, Bartlett Doe, a wealthy San Francisco
businessman originally from Parsonsfield, donated funds to repair and remodel Seminary Hall, adding its rear wing and front bell tower
. His gift provided for the construction of a new dormitory, to which a large annex was added in 1896. He also established a school endowment of $100,000.
Nevertheless, Parsonsfield Seminary closed in 1949. The facility was subsequently used by the Consolidated School District until 1986, at which time it moved to new quarters. To prevent loss of the historic hilltop campus, it was taken over by the Friends of the Parsonsfield Seminary, a non-profit, non-sectarian organization which continues to maintain it. The handsome Victorian
buildings and grounds are used today for weddings, conferences, seminars and graduations.
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Also known as the North Parsonsfield Seminary, its preserved campus of four buildings is located on State Route 160.
History
In 1832 Rev. John BuzzellJohn Buzzell
John Buzzell was an early proponent of the Free Will Baptist Church, a Christian author, and a preacher.John Buzzell was born in Barrington, New Hampshire in 1766. After befriending Benjamin Randall, Buzzell became a Free Will Baptist and was ordained a minister in 1792. He preached extensively...
and several other Free Baptists founded the school in Parsonsfield. Parsonsfield Seminary was the first Free Will Baptist school in the United States. The seminary's first principal, Hosea Quimby, was active in many other Free Will Baptist organizations. The seminary was deeply involved with the abolitionist movement and was a stop on the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
, while Oren B. Cheney
Oren B. Cheney
Oren Burbank Cheney was the founder of Bates College, an abolitionist, and a Free Will Baptist clergyman.-Early life:...
was principal in the 1840s. From 1840 to 1842, the Free Baptist Biblical School, the first Free Baptist graduate school for training ministers, was located at the seminary (the school was later renamed Cobb Divinity School
Cobb Divinity School
Cobb Divinity School, founded in 1840, was a Free Will Baptist graduate school affiliated with several Free Baptist institutions throughout its history...
and became part of Bates College). Parsonsfield Seminary burned mysteriously in 1854, allegedly by opponents of integration
Racial integration
Racial integration, or simply integration includes desegregation . In addition to desegregation, integration includes goals such as leveling barriers to association, creating equal opportunity regardless of race, and the development of a culture that draws on diverse traditions, rather than merely...
. Over the next 100 years similar arson incidents occurred at black and interracial schools all over rural New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, including the Watchman Industrial School in Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
in the 1920s.
Bates College
Bates College is a highly selective, private liberal arts college located in Lewiston, Maine, in the United States. and was most recently ranked 21st in the nation in the 2011 US News Best Liberal Arts Colleges rankings. The college was founded in 1855 by abolitionists...
(the Maine State Seminary) in Lewiston
Lewiston, Maine
Lewiston is a city in Androscoggin County in Maine, and the second-largest city in the state. The population was 41,592 at the 2010 census. It is one of two principal cities of and included within the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England city and town area and the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine...
was founded in 1855 to take its place with a larger and more centrally located Free Baptist school. But in 1857 a smaller seminary building was rebuilt, crested with a cupola
Cupola
In architecture, a cupola is a small, most-often dome-like, structure on top of a building. Often used to provide a lookout or to admit light and air, it usually crowns a larger roof or dome....
and weathervane, on the same site at Parsonsfield. In 1889, Bartlett Doe, a wealthy San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
businessman originally from Parsonsfield, donated funds to repair and remodel Seminary Hall, adding its rear wing and front bell tower
Bell tower
A bell tower is a tower which contains one or more bells, or which is designed to hold bells, even if it has none. In the European tradition, such a tower most commonly serves as part of a church and contains church bells. When attached to a city hall or other civic building, especially in...
. His gift provided for the construction of a new dormitory, to which a large annex was added in 1896. He also established a school endowment of $100,000.
Nevertheless, Parsonsfield Seminary closed in 1949. The facility was subsequently used by the Consolidated School District until 1986, at which time it moved to new quarters. To prevent loss of the historic hilltop campus, it was taken over by the Friends of the Parsonsfield Seminary, a non-profit, non-sectarian organization which continues to maintain it. The handsome Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
buildings and grounds are used today for weddings, conferences, seminars and graduations.
Notable alumni
- Oren B. CheneyOren B. CheneyOren Burbank Cheney was the founder of Bates College, an abolitionist, and a Free Will Baptist clergyman.-Early life:...
, abolitionist, principal of Parsonfield Seminary, founder of Bates CollegeBates CollegeBates College is a highly selective, private liberal arts college located in Lewiston, Maine, in the United States. and was most recently ranked 21st in the nation in the 2011 US News Best Liberal Arts Colleges rankings. The college was founded in 1855 by abolitionists... - Person C. Cheney, senator from New Hampshire
- Samuel W. GouldSamuel W. GouldSamuel Wadsworth Gould was a United States Representative from Maine. He was born in Porter on January 1, 1852. He moved with his parents to Hiram, and attended the public schools and North Parsonsfield Seminary. He graduated from the University of Maine in 1877. Gould studied law, was admitted...
, congressman - Lorenzo De Medici SweatLorenzo De Medici SweatLorenzo De Medici Sweat was a U.S. Representative from Maine.He was born in Parsonsfield, Maine, where he attended Parsonsfield Seminary, a Freewill Baptist school. Sweat then attended Bowdoin College, from where he graduated in 1837. He graduated from Harvard University in 1840, having studied...
, congressman
See also
- Bates CollegeBates CollegeBates College is a highly selective, private liberal arts college located in Lewiston, Maine, in the United States. and was most recently ranked 21st in the nation in the 2011 US News Best Liberal Arts Colleges rankings. The college was founded in 1855 by abolitionists...
- Blazo-Leavitt HouseBlazo-Leavitt HouseThe Blazo-Leavitt House is a large two-story white-clapboard mansion built in Parsonsfield, Maine, in 1812.-History:The Blazo-Leavitt House is a large two-story white-clapboard mansion[1] built in Parsonsfield, Maine, in 1812 by William Blazo, uncle to prominent Parsonsfield lawyer Robert Tibbetts...
- Cobb Divinity SchoolCobb Divinity SchoolCobb Divinity School, founded in 1840, was a Free Will Baptist graduate school affiliated with several Free Baptist institutions throughout its history...
- Lapham InstituteLapham InstituteThe Smithville Seminary was a Freewill Baptist institution established in 1839 on what is now Institute Lane in Smithville-North Scituate, Rhode Island. Renamed the Lapham Institute in 1863, it closed in 1876. The site was then used as the campus of the Pentecostal Collegiate Institute and later...
- Maine Central InstituteMaine Central InstituteThe Maine Central Institute , is an independent high school, founded in 1866, located in Pittsfield, Maine, in the United States. The school enrolls approximately 500 students. MCI is a nonsectarian institution. The school has both boarding students and day students.-History:The Maine Central...
- Storer CollegeStorer CollegeStorer College was a historically black college located in Harpers Ferry in Jefferson County, West Virginia. It operated from 1865 until 1955.-Storer School:...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in York County, MaineNational Register of Historic Places listings in York County, MaineThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in York County, Maine.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in York County, Maine, United States...