Last year a friend of mine told me about the story of Shiloh in Durham, Maine, took me past the last remaining building from a strange period of Maine’s history more than a century ago and gave me the book Fair Clear and Terrible: The Story of Shiloh, Maine.
Ever since that time, I’ve been trying to tell the story here on my blog, but kept getting writer’s block when I thought about how to cover the scope of a real life story that reads far more like fiction. It starts with the conversion of a charismatic minister in 1880, and ends 40 years later when the members were finally told by their leader to go out and work. In between those years are blind faith, perceived miracles, starvation, disease, a manslaughter trial, a doomed voyage on the schooner Coronet, hardship and absolute control over his flock.
When we approached the bottom of the hill leading up to Shiloh I seriously felt an Alfred Hitchcock moment of chill when looking up at the Chapel. Even though it is a beautiful building built with the best of intentions at the time, there is an eerie feeling in its aspect. My photos show the only portion left standing of the campus, but there are some wonderful old photos of the full complex from more than 100 years ago.
When reading the book, I was also surprised to realize that even after the Scattering, many remained a part of the movement, and were buried in the Shiloh Cemetary decades later.
A summary of the story can be read here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Sandford. To really get the inside story though I recommend reading the book written by a descendant of the Shiloh family. Your best bet may be to get it at your local library, or you may find a well priced used copy through Amazon. A new copy will cost you quite a bit more. The book is Fair, Clear and Terrible by Shirley Nelson.
Wow, these photos are definite Hitchcockian images. The top photo particularly. The building looks well kept up, who owns it now? Is it still used as a chapel?
Great story. Thanks.
The chapel is still in use, although the current group is, I think, in the process of separating from the original group. Far more information can be found here: http://www.fwselijah.com/