The following is copied from a clipping from a Portland paper at the time that Viola Coombs was spending the winter in Congress Square Hotel. Miss Coombs died in Portland, April 22, 1934.

Miss Viola Coombs’ extensive property includes an Old School Baptist Church, which she had restored and rededicated. The neat edifice, painted white on the outside, is adjacent to the farm and was built in 1839.

Soloman Eaton who was Miss Coomb’s grand-father, gave the land to the church and the Society, with the written understanding that when it ceased to function as a church, the property would go back to the heirs. This deed, in a frame now hanging within the church, the walls of which are unpainted and without decoration save for the presence of a few pictures of old time pastors.

The little old English Bible used in conducting divine worship nearly a century ago, rests upon the pulpit desk, in front of which on a table is a pewter communion service consisting of a large urn and two cups. There are also pewter candle sticks. The organ in the church is in a good state of preservation.

For the most part, everything has been left as it was in by-gone days, even to the quaint foot soves and wooden cuspidors then in use. There is a wooden lock upon the door. In the vestibule hangs a broom made of brush obtained in the forest and used for sweeping the floor of the church from the time of its original dedication.

The church ceased to function as a church about 30 years ago. The last service was held there about 15 years ago, as recalled by Miss Coombs.

As a matter of fact, the little church has an important place in the history of the Baptist denomination in Maine. The town of Bowdoin was first called Potterstown and was among the first settlements in the county. In that place, and for which is it memorable in the annals of the Baptists in that part of the State, was the first revival religion to introduce the sentiments of the Baptists into the country.

The Rev. James Potter was instrumental in promoting this work. It was in 1788 that the Church of Christ was organized with Elder Potter as pastor. It was denominated “A Regular, Particular Baptist Church.” In the 1798-99 there was a special and extensive revival, which brought large additions to the society. After the revival, the members could no longer be accommodated in barns and private homes. A church edifice therefore was built, which in 1835 was lost by fire, believed to have been incendiary.

The present building was erected five years later. The time of the greatest prosperity of the church was in 1810 with a total of 110 members. In the 1843 the membership had dwindled to 25, and the Society gradually became extinct.

Miss Coombs also naturally takes pride in the possession of the cemetery in which many generations of her family are now sleeping. In order to avert the possibility at any future time of its reverting to the wilderness, which has often been (article cut off that this spot).

“A Regular, Particular, Baptist Church” – Elder James Potter

1788 – congregation organized on August 11, 1788 as a Calvinist Church¹

"It was in 1788 that the Church of Christ was organized with Elder Potter as pastor. It was denominated “A Regular, Particular Baptist Church.” ³

1799 - first church built on Lewis Road

"In the 1798-99 there was a special and extensive revival, which brought large additions to the society. After the revival, the members could no longer be accommodated in barns and private homes. A church edifice therefore was built." ³

1834/6 - first church building was destroyed by an arsonist, May 16, 1836¹

“That building was destroyed by an arsonist in 1834, and the present building was constructed soon afterward.” ²

"In 1835 was lost by fire, believed to have been incendiary." ³

1839 - church built – Federal style, Greek revival building, church maintained a small congregation and eventually reverted back to the Coombs family, whose land the church had been built

25 Dec 1844 – Deed (Bowdoin College Archives)

Bowdoin, Maine. First Baptist Church. Deed, December 25, 1844 (M194 box 1)

1900 – Church underwent restorations including a low stone wall surrounding the cemetery, headed by John and Viola Coombs

“The cemetery which stands behind the church is a family cemetery that belonged to the Eaton and Coombs families. It is surrounded by a low stone wall, added in 1900 when the church underwent restoration.” ²

“John and Viola Coombs in 1900 undertook the restoration of the church and their ancestral cemetery.” ²

The present building was erected five years later. The time of the greatest prosperity of the church was in 1810 with a total of 110 members. In the 1843 the membership had dwindled to 25, and the Society gradually became extinct.

1901 – June 10, 1901 a dedication service was held “with Elders Z.M. Beal and Hiram Campbell preaching an old-time Calvinist service.” ¹

1920s – Cemetery Wall added at the cost of $10,000

1927 – June 20 – Bowdoin College trustees entered an agreement with Viola Coombs for the care of the church

Viola Coombs gave Bowdoin College an endowment for its maintenance.^[2] The college has since transferred the endowment and responsibility for the property's care to the local historical society.” (Wikipedia, 2017)

about 1994 – Bowdoin College transferred responsibility of the Viola Coombs Trust Fund to Bowdoin Historical Society

“after Bowdoin College transferred to the Society the responsibility for administering the Viola Coombs Trust Fund and caring for the Regular and Particular Calvinistic Baptist Church and adjacent cemetery, the Society also elects a Trust Fund Trustee annually for a total of three trustees.”³

1997 – June 20 National Registry of Historic Places designation¹

Current Day - Maintained by the Bowdoin Historical Society

Resources

1 - Re-Dedication Program in 1995, Bowdoin Historical Society

2 - Internet Site, Wikipedia, 2017. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Baptist_Church_of_Bowdoin_and_Coombs_Cemetery

3 - Bowdoin Historical Society, Notes. - Article about Viola Coombs