The First Congregational Church of Wiscasset was founded 250 years ago on Aug. 6, 1773. As part of the 250th celebration, the church is offering weekly historical snippets about the church and its early years. The celebration will culminate in a weekend of events including an organ concert by Joel Pierce at 2 p.m. Saturday Sept. 9 followed by a tea, and a celebration Sunday church service at 10 a.m. on Sept. 10 followed by a reception. Visitors are welcome at all weekend events. Please visit this historic church any Sunday, at 28 High St., Wiscasset. For more information, phone the church office at 882-7544.  

We hope you enjoy the following historical article.   

Church History – The Weathervane 

According to Fannie Chase’s book, “Wiscasset in Pownalborough,” a weathervane was placed above the church bell tower in 1797. She writes that it was, like the bell, made by Paul Revere. She says it was exactly 5 feet, 1 inch long, which is the identical height of Zebediah Thayer, who traveled here from Boston on the same vessel which brought the weathervane. Chase says he was “a tailor with a bald head and a yellow wig. He was very popular with the boys.”  It is believed that this is the same weathervane which sits atop the church today, having survived the fire of 1907. 

In 2004, however, Jim Skiff appraised the church weathervane and came up with a different history. He reported that the weathervane was not created by Paul Revere, because he dated the vane as being created between 1865 and 1880. Paul Revere’s participation in the Paul Revere & Sons foundry ended in 1811.   

Jim says that the vane’s exterior was painted in a bright yellow coating of unknown origin, which may have been done to simulate gold. This covered a surface of green oxidized copper with traces of gilt, and detracted from the appearance and value of the weathervane. 

Jim believes that the maker of the vane was a skilled metal worker, experienced in the craft for utilitarian purposes, possibly in the marine or carriage trade. He declared that it was a well-constructed weathervane with rich local history, in a style that was appropriate to the community.