In Time and Eternity: Shakers in the Industrial Age


Stone Dwelling House, Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, ca. 1915

Stone Dwelling House, Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, ca. 1915
Item 6740   info
United Society of Shakers

When the third Maine Shaker community located at Gorham closed in 1819, the remaining members moved to Poland Hill. Serving as the Novitiate Order of the Sabbathday Lake Shaker community, the Poland Hill Family took in potential converts. By 1887 there was insufficient membership to warrant the maintenance of two families.

Therefore, members of the Poland Hill Family moved down the road to the Church family. In 1899 the property was sold to the Rickers, proprietors of the Poland Spring Hotel and bottling works.

In the background is the Brethren's Shop, which had originally served as the first Dwelling House at Poland Hill. In 1853 work was begun on the new stone dwelling. It proved to be a monumental project and was not dedicated until May 25, 1879. The resulting financial burden was one of the factors leading to the closing of the Poland Hill Family.

The dwelling House was gutted by fire in 1955. Today, a cemetery is the last evidence of this once-thriving Shaker family.

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