1857
EXPLORE
In the late 1770's when American Colonists were being chased out by the British, many sought safety and livelihood in the western reaches of Massachusetts forming settlements as far as the Berkshires. Many of them were fishermen, including a group that settled in Lee where they established a congregation, built a meeting house, and thus established the town of Lee according to Massachusetts colonial law.
1780
Church of 1857 built in less than a year when the church of 1800 was destroyed by embers from a fire on Main Street.
1800
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Ceiling showing the original gas-lit chandelier later converted to electric, hanging from the ceiling finished in "fool the eye" artwork.
Itinerant French and German artists painted the walls and ceilings in "Trompe l'oeil" style making flat appear as elegant features such as columns and arches. This is considered one of the finest surviving examples of that craft.
History and a virtual tour of The First Congregational Church of Lee is availble on the church website at www.ucc-lee.org.
