(Video COMING SOON!)
We’re revitalizing a piece of history in the heart of Maine. With your help, we’ll rescue a charming antique church and turn it into a unique space for nonprofit events, private functions, and community engagement - Winterport's own Crooked Steeple Hall.
Meet The Women Behind Crooked Steeple Hall
Founder Katrina Petersen bought Crooked Steeple because she fell in love with Winterport and couldn’t bear to see such an iconic feature of its skyline disappear. Katrina had limited time and funds, but she has a vision, creativity, restoration experience and willingness to get dirty! Since buying the building 6 years ago, she's built a rockstar team of women to help bring Crooked Steeple Hall to its full potential.
Our Team:
Our Vision
We see brides entering for their wedding reception after getting married in the Winterport Union Meeting House across the street. We imagine silent auctions raising thousands to support local charities and nonprofits. We also envision political debates and community town halls that facilitate free speech to help people find common ground.
Although functional for basic events, Crooked Steeple Hall needs work to achieve its true potential. A lot of work. Restoring it and keeping it in good condition takes time, effort, and money. The stamped tin walls and ceilings are hungry for primer and paint to preserve their historic character. The steeple is a unique architectural structure requiring the work of a highly specialized steeplejack. Katrina’s already invested close $200,000 of her own money, doing much of the work herself with the help of town residents, friends, and calling in Winterport businesses to do the specialized work. Now we are asking for your help!
Once it’s fully functional, Crooked Steeple Hall will generate revenue to keep the building up-to-date, enabling us to offer the space free of charge for non-profit groups while maintaining the iconic building.
Inside Crooked Steeple Hall many original details are preserved including tin walls and stained glass windows.
Preserving the Past
Crooked Steeple Hall in 1911
Crooked Steeple Hall was built in 1850 to house the town's growing Methodist population. Winterport was the home of choice for sea captains who sailed the eastern seaboard and beyond. Sailors chose the spot because it was the last unfrozen inland harbor on the Penobscot River. Goods shipped from nearby Bangor could reach the world via Winterport.
Blake & Co Original Church Bell, Cast 1872
In the 1870’s the congregation bought a bell cast by Blake and Co., the foundry in Massachusetts that was originally owned by Paul Revere. They hung it inside the quintessential New England white steeple. That steeple is now the namesake of this historic building, giving the Winterport skyline its distinctive New England charm.
Katrina has put hours of sweat equity into Crooked Steeple Hall with the help of local townspeople and business owners.
Crooked Steeple Today
Katrina bought Crooked Steeple Hall with an audacious goal in mind. She wanted to completely restore this historic building. The vaulted space with its stained glass windows is the perfect location for weddings, non-profit events, and political debates.
The idea isn’t as crazy as it sounds. Just 1 hour from Acadia National Park, Crooked Steeple Hall maintains the quaint New England charm without the commercialization that has changed the face of more tourist-focused areas. Winterport is a haven for vacationers and locals alike who want the authentic Maine experience.
The Master Suite at 1812 Pierce House
With a suite located inside the hall and additional lodging at the nearby 1812 Pierce House, visitors to Winterport are within easy driving distance to some of Maine’s most iconic destinations including Bar Harbor, Acadia National Park, Downtown Bucksport, Fort Knox, and the Penobscot Narrows Observatory.
Help Us Save the Steeple!
We need your help. The hall is a priceless piece of Winterport’s history, but rescuing it is going to take resources. $100,000 will help us create a beautiful space for visitors and community members to connect, work, gather and learn in historic Winterport. Your support also helps local Winterport businesses, as our rewards are all Winterport-made. Select an investment level and help us save the steeple!
