Quincy, Mass. Historical and Architectural Survey

175 Albatross Road (Adams Shore Evangelical Church)

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The Adams Shore Evangelical Church began as a prayer group, the result of Billy Sunday's evangelistic campaign in Boston in 1917. The first weekly service was held at Folsom's Hall, the second floor of Folsom's Seafood Market, on January 28, 1917. After the arrival of an energetic pastor, Reverend Clarence W. Smith in 1918, the lot on Albatross and Pelican Roads was purchased for $931.35 and in 1919 church members voted to secure a loan of $2500 to pay for church construction.

Walter J. Belyea is listed on the building permit as both architect and builder. He, along with Chester B. Sabean, was not only a trustee of the church but a carpenter. According to The Daily Ledger of April 26, 1919, "Rev. Mr. Smith suggested building a church edifice themselves, he agreeing to work as hard as any man. The offer was taken up and many a night work has been continued until midnight." The congregation's thrift and practicality is well known in the community: at one time potatoes were grown instead of lawn and an old locomotive bell called the members to worship until the 1960's.

The Adams Community Church was also well known for its generosity to causes outside the parish. Clergy of the church in 1923 began a ministry at Sailor's Snug Harbor in Germantown that continued for 26 years.

BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES
Assessors records.
Building Permit.
Quincy Patriot Ledger, April 15, 1967.
Quincy Patriot Ledger: 100th Anniversary. January 7, 1937, p. F-15.

ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:
This small church structure was built by church members in 1918 as a measure of economy. "Thrift and practicality have been the watchwords of the congregation in parish expenses.." "Quincy Patriot Ledger", April 15, 1967. The architect, Walter Belyea, designed a simple building, reflecting Quincy's early 19th century past. It is a rectangular structure, gable end to the street, with a gabled entrance supported by plain square posts in the center. The short belfry atop the front ridge pole and the central lancet stained glass window in the facade are the only indicators in this residential scaled building that the use is ecclesiastic and not domestic. In 1932, a portable school house was added to the rear. Once sheathed in wood clapboards, it is now covered with vinyl siding. It was listed in the previous Quincy inventory.

Back