Photo / Courtesy Bridgton Historical Society
The Bridgton Historical Society has a preservation and renovation project underway of the former United Methodist Church building to serve as its new headquarters.
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March 24, 2025
Bridgton Historical Society rehabs 19th century church for new HQ
Photo / Courtesy Bridgton Historical Society
A protective slurry helps to strengthen century-old leading on the stained-glass windows.
Revitalization activity is trending up in the Cumberland County town of Bridgton.
A group of community volunteers has been leading an extensive rehabilitation of the historic Walker Memorial Hall — an example of Queen Anne architecture dating back to 1892 and including a three-story tower and belfry.
Another project underway in the Lakes Region town, home to the Pleasant Mountain Ski Area, is the Bridgton Historical Society’s preservation and renovation of the United Methodist Church building at 214 Main St. to serve as its new headquarters.
The building, which was dedicated in 1872, will feature a gallery and exhibit space on the main floor, a museum shop and lobby in the entrance, and educational areas in the basement.
Upgrades include the electrical system and alarm system. A priority was the stabilization and preservation of the building’s stained-glass windows.
“This project is finding a new purpose and writing a new chapter for one of Bridgton’s most historical buildings while providing a new space for BHS to tell the stories of Bridgton residents from settlement through the 21st century,” said Kerry Cushing, the historical society’s executive director.
Norway Savings Bank recently donated $5,000 to the project.
“I’m continually amazed at the important work Bridgton Historical Society does in collecting, interpreting and presenting historically significant material that celebrates and promotes the indelible moments and traditions of the area,” said Dan Walsh, the bank’s president and CEO.
Currently, the society has a museum and archives at a former firehouse at 5 Gibbs Ave. It also oversees a property in South Bridgton, called Narramissic or the Peabody-Fitch Farm, built in 1797.
Founded in 1953, the society collects and preserves historically significant material. In 1976, it acquired the old fire station located on Gibbs Avenue in downtown Bridgton, to serve as a museum and as its headquarters. A wing was added in 1994. Exhibits include Bridgton’s first automobile — a 1911 Sears.
19th century church
Construction on the Methodist Church was completed in 1871 and dedicated in January 1872.
A clock and bell tower were installed in 1886; pipe organ was donated in 1905. Stained glass windows were placed in the church in 1915 to honor local families who had contributed to the building's construction or played important roles in the history of the church.
Photo / Courtesy Bridgton Historical Society
New wood flooring was installed. Cleaning and repairs are underway on the stained-glass windows.
The church remained in operation until 2019 when it was closed for want of membership.
The society acquired it in 2021 for $364,000, Cushing told Mainebiz.
It then began a fundraising campaign to make improvements to the building, which structurally did not have many problems but needed upgrades, she continued.
Stained-glass windows
The first phase of the project is underway to rehabilitate the main floor as a museum. Repairs and stabilization of 12 stained-glass windows was a major piece of the project. The society has nearly completed an “adopt a stained glass window” campaign, with requests for most of the windows going for $10,000 and for the front one for $20,000.
Photo / Courtesy Bridgton Historical Society
Exterior Plexiglas from the 1970s was removed and clear glass installed to protect the stained-glass windows from the elements.
The donations cover the cost of cleaning and repairs of the stained glass and installations of clear exterior glass to protect the windows from the elements. The new glass replaces exterior Plexiglas installed in the 1970s.
Most of the windows have been adopted, with some donors giving the entire gift and others joining together to fulfill the request.
The windows contain acknowledgements from 1915 of families that donated to their creation, Cushing explained. The “adopt” campaign is following suit by installing a plaque next to each window acknowledging today’s donors.
Photo / Courtesy Bridgton Historical Society
he electrical system was replaced throughout the building.
Each stained-glass window is in the process of being removed, cleaned and, if needed, repaired.
“We’re almost done with that,” said Cushing.
Bagala Window Works in Westbrook is carrying out the window project.
First exhibit
New wood flooring has been installed.
“We’re wrapping up the small details now,” Cushing said. That includes installing fire extinguishers and hiring a processional cleaner.
The project cost for the main floor is $325,000, with the windows being the biggest part at $125,000. Almost all of the money has been raised, said Cushing.
Design was provided by Ross Holden, who serves on the steering committee of the society’s board of directors. Ed Somers Woodworking in North Bridgton is the general contractor. Criterium Engineers in Freeport provided engineering services.
The main floor is slated to open April 12 for an American Revolution Experience Traveling Exhibit provided by the Molly Ockett Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.
“It will be people’s first chance to see the first floor,” said Cushing.
The main floor’s gallery and exhibit space will continue to be built out through the spring and summer, with a grand opening expected by late summer, she added.
Phase two will be the basement, which will be turned into an education center. It doesn’t require much work other than things like putting up moveable partition walls.
Fundraising for the basement, with the budget still to be determined, is expected to begin after the main floor’s grand opening.
Better visibility
The new headquarters will provide better visibility for the society’s collections, said Cushing.
The current home base, a 1930's firehouse, is a nondescript industrial building located away from Main Street, she noted.
“This gives us a presence right on Main Street,” she said of the new digs. “We can put out items all summer. We can have an education series, which we don’t have a space to do right now. This is going to be beneficial for the historical society because of its visibility.”
Photo / Courtesy Norway Savings Bank
Kristina Karlson and Jon Evans with the Bridgton Historical Society flank, from left, James Oberg with Oberg Insurance & Real Estate and Brian Siebert, Karie Anderson and Kristina Morton with Norway Savings Bank.
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