ortland, Maine, is known as the “beautiful city by the sea.” In 1982, it was listed on the National Register of His-
toric Places because of its resi- dents’ willingness to embrace
Portland’s long history of beautiful architecture. Among the most popular architectural styles are Victorian and Gothic, which were followed by several
A Restaurateur Saves a
locally renowned architects, including Charles A. Alexander. One of Alexander’s beloved creations
is a circa 1856 10,000-square-foot Gothic Revival church that stands next to City Hall. It withstood Portland’s great fire of 1866 while half the city’s churches and commercial buildings, as well as hundreds of homes, were destroyed. Despite the love the Methodist congre-
WRITTEN BY | CHRISTINA KOCH
gation had for its church, membership dwindled until the congregation could no longer afford the upkeep. The church was abandoned in 2005 and stood va- cant for several years until a real-estate agent showed it to Anne Verrill. Verrill already owned the successful
Foreside Tavern, a family-friendly restau- rant in Falmouth, Maine. Her concept for a second restaurant included serving
Owner Anne Verrill's
goal was to restore the circa 1856 church to its original beauty while
upgrading it with modern amenities suited to a high-end restaurant.