The South Solon Meeting House in Solon, Maine, conceals a remarkable artistic secret behind its traditional New England church facade. While its exterior resembles many other white, steepled church buildings surrounded by stone walls and pine forests, inside, the walls are adorned with fresco murals that have earned the building the nickname “Maine’s Sistine Chapel.” These artworks, created in the 1950s, are now gaining renewed attention, partly due to a website established by Colby College students in Waterville, Maine.
The building, originally constructed in 1842, served as a place of worship until the 1940s, with its usage intermittently disrupted by war. It was rediscovered in the 1950s by Margaret Day Blake, who had studied at the nearby Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. Blake invited young artists to decorate the interior with frescoes under the school’s guidance starting in 1951. The artists were granted artistic freedom, prompting them to explore various themes, though biblical scenes were encouraged for their rich imagery.
Between 1952 and 1956, the interior walls came alive with vibrant frescoes, including depictions of famous religious stories like Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” and the binding of Isaac. The artwork also features scenes reminiscent of Michelangelo’s portrayal of the Great Flood in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel. Among the original artists, Sigmund Abeles and Sidney Hurwitz, both still alive in their 90s, fondly recall their experiences painting in the meeting house.
Currently, the meeting house, open to the public without locked doors, functions as a community gathering and performance venue, maintaining its historical features like the box pews. Véronique Plesch, a Colby art professor and member of the historical society overseeing the site, advocates for greater appreciation of frescoes, emphasizing their cultural significance.
During a recent event, Plesch addressed a group from the Maine Art Education Association, discussing the frescoes as part of their spring conference. The meeting house, once a setting for Easter services, now captivates art educators, such as Suzanne Goulet, who expressed enthusiasm for sharing this inspiration with her students.
