Quaker Meetinghouse

The Quaker Meeting House is located within the Maple Street Cemetery in the western part of the town of Adams. According to town records, it was constructed sometime between 1781 and 1784. The simple two-story clapboard building measures 36% feet by 28% feet and has a ridge roof and brick chimney on the west end. The facade (south) facing Maple Street has double doors for separate entry by men and women. On either side of the doors are single windows with twelve-over-twelve lights and wooden shutters. Directly above these windows are corresponding windows on the second floor, these having nine lights. The frame of the Meeting House is mostly oak and original, but the exterior clapboards have been replaced over the centuries. Photographs taken c. 1900, c. 1955, and c.

1970 indicate that replacement has been an ongoing process. Judging from the type of clap- boards (butt-joined) and nails used, it is likely that some portions date from the mid to late 19th century, while the remainder are of mixed recent dates. The roof is slate and appears to date from the late 19th century or early 20th century. The original roof was probably covered with wood shingles. The foundation of the Meeting House was of field stone and existing evidence indicates that it was shallow, as there is no basement or excavated area beneath the structure. Some time in the 1930's, however, the remains of the stone foundation were removed and a concrete foundation poured around the structure.

, The interior of the building has been essentially untouched, and the interior wooden sur- faces show no major deterioration after 200 years. The plan of the Meeting House is divided for separation of men and women.

/ARCHITECT The Quaker Meeting House in Adams is significant as one of the few remaining examples of eighteenth century Friends meeting house architecture and is important for its associa- tions with the early settlement and history of Adams. The town of Adams (originally East Hoosuc) was settled soon after 1769 by a group of Quakers, most of whom were from Smithfield, Rhode Island and nearby Dartmouth, Massachu- The Friends soon owned nearly all the farms in the valley. They worshipped for a time in their homes, usually in that of Isaac Killey, and in the early 1780's built the present meeting house.

The adjacent cemetery was used by the Friends for a considerable period before the Meeting House was built, and not until 1797 was the land formally deeded by Isaac Killey, John and Patience Lapham, John Russell and James Lapham, to John Lapham and John Wells who held it for a brief period before turning it over to the So- ciety of Friends. The Quaker Meeting House was constructed so that men and women could hold separate meet- ings. There were two outer doors for separate entrances and movable partitions allowed for privacy during the separate meetings. In the religious service the partitions were raised. Women sat on the left (west) side where they received the benefit of the fire- place.

On the elevated seats were seated visiting preachers and leaders, including Hannah Hoxie, a talented preacher who occupied the high seat on the women's side for many years. Since there were no evening meetings, there was no provision for lighting the building. On Sundays, when there were two services, those coming from a distance brought their lunch and stayed to both services.