The Abyssinian Church at 73 Newbury Street was the major hub of the underground railroad in Maine and became the social center for Portland's African American community. Built in 1828, the church is the third oldest African American church still standing in the U.S. and the first Black congregation in Maine. It became the fourth congregational church in Portland. Reuben Ruby purchased the land for the church, and his son, firefighter William Wilberforce Ruby, saved the building in the fire of 1886 by wetting it down.