Meetinghouses of Early New England

Appendix C. Pinnacles, Pyramids, and Spires, 1651–1709

347 A P P E N D I X C Pinnacles, pyramids, and spires, 1651–1709  This information is gathered from New England town and parish records, indentures, contracts, invoices, and contemporary images. 1651 Dedham, Mass., I. Raised 1638. 36 × 20, 12 posts. Daubed, thatched 1651: “[install] one pyramedy at the south end and shingle the penthouse.” 1652 Sudbury, Mass., II. Raised 1653. 40 × 24, 12 posts. “& pinacles both at each end & each gable wth a clear story.” 1658 Roxbury, Mass., I. Raised 1632, repaired 1646, 1656. Gallery, plaster, turret “pinakle[s]” added 1658: “That some pinakle or other ornament be set upon each end of the howse.” 1669 Boston, Mass. (Third Church), I. Raised 1669. 75 × 51. 3 porches. Cupola. Pinnacles seen on 1725 Burgis-Price view of Boston. 1672 Haddam, Conn., I. 28 × 24, 13 posts. Raised 1673. 8 windows. John Clark instructed to put up “tooe pramedyes at each end” of the meetinghouse. 1682 New London, Conn., II. Raised 1697. 40 × 40, 20 posts. 4 gables. Turret. Galleries. Town voted to “set up on all the four gables of the house, pyramides comely and fit for the work upon each end of the house.” 1682 Simsbury, Conn., I. Raised 1683. 28 × 24, 14 posts. From an indenture with Thomas Barber: “put up Flue Boards at each end, and piramides also.” 1694 Northampton, Mass., II. Raised 1661. Joseph Parson’s account for repair: “sawing two stocks for Preamady.” 1704 Hartford, Conn. (First Church), II. Raised 1638. Rev. William Davenport arranged “for setting up the speer & vain” on the turret of the 1638 meetinghouse. 1705 Norwich, Conn., II. Raised 1673, enlarged 1689. Town voted “to mend the pyramid and to close the leanto roofs where they joine to the bodie of the meetinghouse.” 1709 Norwalk, Conn., I. Raised 1659. Samuel Keeler Jr. to build belfry, “and at ye top of ye turret a good sufficient cedar stump to fix a weathercock on, if ye town see cause; or a pinnicle.” ...