The Universalist Church, Middle and Fair Streets, Courtesy of the Newburyport Public Library Archival Center
29-31 Fair Street, with the Universalist Church on the left, Courtesy of Charles and Vincent Gallucci Smith
There once was a church at the corner of Middle and Fair Streets where 26 and 28 Fair Street now exist.
In 1834 a group of individuals who wanted a church with a liberal doctrine met.** In 1840 they purchased land on the corner of Middle and Fair Streets.* Rufus Sargent, who was then 28 and went on to become a famous and prolific architect (Please put Rufus Sargent in the Search Box on the Interactive Map to see his many contributions to Newburyport), “furnished the plans” for the Universalist Church.^* Services were held in the church until 1878. The members of the church had taken out a mortgage and had trouble paying it.* The church was sold at a public auction in 1879 to Rev. Daniel P. Pike.* Rev. Pike was a trustee for the Christian (Baptist) Society of Newburyport and services were held at the church until his death in 1887.**
1880 Birdseye Map of the Universalist Church
In 1888 Edward Payson Shaw (Please put Edward Payson Shaw in the Search function on the Interactive Map, he appears in several places, to read all about him, a fascinating story) bought the Universalist Church. It was used for all sorts of things, a bowling alley,^^ a shoe shop, and a factory for the manufacture of patent shoe dressing.** It burnt down in 1899.*^ Today there are two buildings containing either condominiums or apartments, 26 and 28 Fair Street, on the location of the original church.
The Angel Gabriel weathervane, from the American Folk Art Museum exhibition
A weathervane of the Angel Gabriel was once was on top of the church. After the church closed, the angel came into the possession of one Moses Jackman, whose widow gave it to the People’s United Methodist Church on Purchase Street.^^* Luckily when the church building burned down in 1899 the weathervane was not destroyed.^*^ It was taken down from the Purchase Street church in the 1980s after a series of thefts of weathervanes by helicopters and was eventually sold to a private collector in 2001.**^
Edward Payson Shaw, Courtesy of Susan Shefte
The glimpse of the church from 29-31 Fair Street is courtesy of Charles and Vincent Gallucci Smith, that story of that house is on the Interactive Map (also really fascinating). The photos of the church are courtesy of the Newburyport Public Library Archival Center.
The Universalist Church, Middle and Fair Streets, Courtesy of the Newburyport Public Library Archival Center
A huge “Thank you” to Sharon Spieldenner, the head archivist at the Newburyport Public Library Archival Center, for her determination and help in finding out about this story.
History on Edward Payson Shaw was compiled by Susan Shefte and can be found at 36 Woodland Street and 6 Payson Street on the Interactive Map (please use the Search function to find out about Edward Payson Shaw).
29-31 Fair Street, 2017
29-31 Fair Street, the Newburyport Interactive History Map
~ History compiled by Mary Baker Eaton
Footnotes and References:
* Salem Deeds
** History of Newburyport, Mass, 1764-1905, by John J. Currier
^* Newburyport Daily Herald, November 2, 1886
^^ 1894 Sanborn Fire Map, the Library of Congress
*^ Newburyport Daily News, August 7, 1899
^*^ The Way to Joppa and Flatiron Point, People’s United Methodist Church, Clipper Heritage Trail, Ghlee Woodworth
**^ The Eagle Tribune, A steeple for Angel Gabriel, By Jim Sullivan, Jan 3, 2017
^^* Angel Gabriel Weathervane Comes Home, Museum of Old Newbury, January 7, 2022
