Old Ship Meeting House, Hingham, MA (1681).
This is the best preserved building of the seventeenth-century we can find in New England; although there have been some renovations in the interior.
Old Ship served two purposes:
- A meeting location where political and religious issues were discussed;
- A place of Puritan worship on Sundays.
The structure austere and sturdy shows no decorations. The architectural style reflects the nature of a culture focused on ethics and the moral values of the society. Clothing and food were drained of tactile and visual pleasure. Only the necessity of food and clothing were accepted. The Puritans extended their attitudes to art. The simplicity of the building was a didactic tool to educate people to form a strong character.
Maria Conte Programs 