USA > New York > Dutchess County > Poughkeepsie > Anniversary discourse and history of the First Reformed church of Poughkeepsie > Part 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8
The plan shows that on the ground floor there were three aisles and 36 pews, exclusive of the two reserved
93
Church Edifices.
PLAN OF GROUND FLOOR AND GALLERY OF THE SECOND EDIFICE.
94
History.
for the elders and deacons, and in the gallery, 18 pews, making 56 pews in all. Notes in the book, accompanying the plan, show that the pews contained 386 sittings, and that one of the pews was reserved for the " Magistrates."
This second edifice remained standing until 1822, when it was taken down, partly because it had become much out of repair, and partly because it was inadequate to the wants of the growing congregation.
THIRD EDIFICE. 1822-1857.
On the 9th of January, 1822, the consistory earnestly recommended to the congregation to cooperate with them in building a new church, and requested the congrega- tion to convene at the church on Monday, January 28th, for the purpose of taking the same into serious con- sideration.
The congregation met on the day appointed, and adopted the following resolutions :-
" Resolved, Unanimously, that this meeting agree that it is necessary to build a new church."
" Resolved, That this building committee consist of five persons."
" Resolved, That this committee consist of Robert Forrest, Abraham G. Storm, Henry A. Livingston, Joseph Parmalee, and John V. B. Varick."
It was also " Resolved, That the new church be located on the ground occupied by the Church now standing" ; but at a subsequent meeting of the congre- gation, held two months later, (March 6th, 1822,) this resolution was reconsidered, and it was " Resolved, un- animously, that the New Church be erected on the east side of the parsonage lot."
In the two months intervening the old church must have been so far taken down as to be unfit for occupancy,
95
Church Edifices.
for at the meeting held March 6, 1822, the consistory appointed a committee to make application to the supervisors for permission to use the court room "for the performing of public worship." The permission was granted, and without compensation.
The corner stone of the new edifice was laid May 6th, 1822, on which occasion an address was delivered by Rev. Cornelius C. Cuyler, who was then the pastor of the church.
At a meeting of consistory, held December 16, 1822, Col. Henry A. Livingston, in behalf of the building committee, reported that they had finally completed the new church and delivered the keys for the church ;- whereupon the consistory, on the part of themselves and of the congregation, returned their most cordial thanks to the building committee "for the intelligent, un- wearied, and economical manner in which they had fulfilled their duties," and also to the supervisors of Dutchess county "for their kindness in granting to the congregation, free of rent or charge, the use of the court room for holding public worship."
The dedication took place December 24, 1822. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Cuyler, from the text, Exodus 20 : 24, "In all places where I record my name, I will come unto thee and I will bless thee." Both the sermon, and the address at the laying of the corner-stone, were published by request of the consistory, and copies of the pamphlet are still extant, bearing the imprint of P. Potter, Poughkeepsie, and the date, 1823.
This third edifice was of brick, stood where the pres- ent edifice stands, and resembled it much in size and architecture, except that the tower was in the center of the north end, instead of on the corner. This appears from a photograph, taken soon after the building was
96
History.
burned, and while the walls and tower were still stand- ing.
As originally constructed, the pulpit had over it a sounding board, and was at the north end of the church, where, also, were the main entrances, so that late comers, on entering, faced the congregation.
In 1854 the interior was renovated and, as part of the renovation, a new pulpit was built, at the rear end of the church, and without the sounding board.
This edifice was occupied until Sunday, January 18, 1857, when it was destroyed by fire. The fire was dis- covered soon after the conclusion of the morning service. The following contemporaneous description is taken from the Weekly Eagle of January 24, 1857.
FEARFUL FIRE.
On Sunday last, at about half past twelve o'clock, in the midst of a strong north wind and cold almost unendurable, our citi- zens were alarmed by the ring of an alarm of FIRE ! As it is difficult to conceive of circumstances more fearful, there was a prompt rally from all quarters, when it was found that the roof of the First Dutch Reformed church was on fire. The firemen rushed to the rescue with their machines, but, as the hydrants were partially frozen, there was some delay before water could be obtained. In the meantime the flames were increasing with fearful rapidity in the roof of the church, fanned to a fury by the continuous blasts of wind.
When things were ready, one heroic fireman started up the long ladder planted on the east side, to take up the pipe to the roof, and thus play on the fire, but the cold was so intense it was doubtful if he could live there twenty minutes, and the hose was so slippery with ice it was impossible for the assistants to hold it up. So efforts to save the church had to be aban- doned, and attention directed to the buildings around that were in great danger from the sparks of fire and burning shingles that were flying in all directions. Fortunately, all the roofs had more or less snow on them, which greatly aided in saving, so that they were soon rendered practically secure from the imminent danger that first threatened them.
97
Church Edifices.
As the fire progressed, the sight became fearful and sublime, if not terrible in the extreme. The entire roof, being composed of wood, cedar shingles laid on pine backing, sent up a mass of red flames, crackling and roaring in the wind, the extent and grandeur of which can hardly be imagined. But the greatest sight of all was the burning steeple. As the flames got hold of that they ascended with a rapidity that occupied but a few minutes until the red volume shot up beyond the ball and vane at the summit, presenting a fearful column of fire ascend- ing far up towards the clouds. Above and below, all was flame and smoke for a short time ; but soon the lower timbers that supported the steeple were burnt away, and then down came the lofty spire with a tremendous crash, carrying what re- mained of the burning roof with it down to the interior of the church. There the mass of burning material was so great that the entire space inside the walls which fortunately stood, seemed filled with flames until ten at night, although several streams of water were steadily poured in by the engines.
Although the loss in this instance falls on those well able to bear it, it was a sad sight to see the noble edifice burn. It had been thoroughly repaired and renovated but little more than a year ago, at an expense of between four and five thousand dol- lars, making the loss some $18,000. As the flames consumed the steeple, we almost fancied we could see the venerable Dr. Cuyler and his friends, and others, who were prominent among us in 1822, gathered around us to witness the destruction.
The old bell and clock perished with the rest. The insurance was but $6,000.
The firemen exerted themselves with a heroism that was worthy of all praise. Several of them were considerably injured by freezing.
The church had been on fire twice before, on the 4th of July, 1832,* and again on the 4th of July, 1843, in both of which instances it narrowly escaped destruction, the roof being fired by crackers thrown from the steeple.
As to the origin of the fire, we have no doubt it proceeded from a defect in the chimney.
With respect to the fire of 1832, the universal and concurrent testimony of local survivors is, that on July 4th of that year, the son of the pastor, Dr. Cuyler, and some other lads, all brimfull of patriotism, contrived to get access to the steeple and gave vent to their patriotism by throwing fire crackers in all directions from the windows in the steeple. Some of the fire crackers lodged on the roof of the church, and thus the fire originated.
98
History.
To add to the fearful events of the day, the alarms of fire were twice renewed, once between four and five P. M. and again at about eight in the evening. But it proved, in both cases, that the alarm was given in consequence of the fearful rekind- ling of the first fire, creating new dangers. When the last alarm was given, the storm had commenced with all its vio- lence, so that, take all the events together, this day is one that will not be forgotten while the present generation of men lasts.
In the same paper it is said, in another column, -
Sunday was probably the coldest day known in this latitude for a century. At daylight, the thermometer stood at 18 de- grees below zero, with a strong cutting wind from the north that was hardly endurable ; at twelve at noon, it stood at 13 below ; at three P. M., at 18 below ; at five P. M., at 20 below, and all this in a clear day.
At between seven and eight, a violent snow storm set in from the northeast, with a stiff breeze, which soon increased to a furious gale or almost hurricane, which continued through the entire night and until near ten o'clock on Monday morning.
The writer has been informed, by some who were present, that on the morning of the fire, Rev. Charles A. Evans, a Presbyterian clergyman, was in the pulpit with the pastor, Rev. Dr. Mann, and had the chief conduct of the services. In his prayer was a petition that the church might become "a burning and a shining light" in the community, and not a few of the congregation, remembering the petition, expressed surprise that it should have been answered so soon, and in such an un- expected manner. The metal of the bell was recast into hand bells which were subsequently sold at a Ladies' Fair, held for the raising of funds for an organ in the new church. This was the first pipe organ owned by the church. The instrument used in the church that was burned was a small reed organ.
FOURTH EDIFICE. 1857.
At the first meeting of the consistory after the fire, held January 23, 1857, communications were received
99
Church Edifices.
from the Second Reformed church, the Presbyterian church, the Lafayette Street Baptist church, and Christ church, kindly tendering the use of their houses of worship to the congregation of the First Reformed church until the edifice of the latter should be rebuilt.
The consistory returned their cordial thanks to each of the said churches for their warm sympathy, and, after some deliberation, it was unanimously resolved that the invitation of the Second Reformed church be accepted. It was furthermore resolved that a new church shall be built on the old lot.
The corner-stone of the new edifice was laid August 25, 1857, with appropriate ceremony, and addresses by Rev. Samuel A. Van Vranken, D.D., and Rev. Cor- nelius Van Cleef, D.D.
In the corner-stone were deposited the three plates taken from the corner-stone of the old church, erected in 1822, and bearing the following inscriptions :
1st Plate .- Names of the persons who compose the consistory of the Reformed Dutch church, Poughkeepsie, April, 1822 :
ELDERS.
DEACONS.
Robert Forrest,
Peter A. Scriver,
Henry Barnes,
Joseph Parmalee,
Simeon De Groff,
George Bloom,
William Bell,
Frederic Phelps,
John V. B. Varick,
Abraham Ver Valen,
Hendrick Wiltsie.
Peter Pells.
Rev. C. C. Cuyler.
2nd Plate .- Rev. C. C. Cuyler, born 15th February, 1783, ordained and installed 2nd January, 1809. This was deposited May 6th, 1822.
3rd Plate .- Names of the committee chosen by the congrega- tion of the Dutch church to build a house for the worship of God :
Poughkeepsie, April, 1822.
100
History.
COMMITTEE.
Robert Forrest, John V. B. Varick, Joseph Parmalee, Henry A. Livingston and Abraham G. Storm.
There were also deposited plates prepared for the occasion, and other articles as follows :
1st Plate .- Rev. C. C. Cuyler, D.D., dismissed December 17, 1833.
Rev. Samuel A. Van Vranken, D.D., installed September, 1834 ; dismissed December 15, 1837.
Rev. Alexander M. Mann, D.D., installed May, 1838 ; dis- missed June 17, 1857.
2nd Plate .- Consistory of the First Reformed Dutch church :
ELDERS.
Cornelius Westervelt,
William Broas, Henry D. Varick,
Herman J. Jewitt.
DEACONS.
Daniel R. Thompson,
Elvy Deyo,
William Simmons,
J. C. McNeil,
John Van Keuren,
David B. Lent, Jr.
3rd Plate .- Building committee :
George Innis, William Simmons,
David C. Foster,
Charles Carman,
Herman J. Jewitt,
Henry D. Varick, William Broas,
James H. Warner.
Architect-L. A. Gouch.
Builder-Samuel W. Hester.
June 1, 1857.
Map of the village of Poughkeepsie.
Poughkeepsie City Directory, 1856-57.
Poughkeepsie Eagle, January 24, 1857, containing an account of the destruction of the old church by fire.
Poughkeepsie Telegraph, August 25, 1857.
Daily City Press, August 25, 1857.
Poughkeepsie Eagle, August 22, 1857.
Poughkeepsie Examiner, August 27, 1857.
Dutchess County Times (Fishkill), August 22, 1857.
Ulster County Gazette, January 4, 1800.
Christian Intelligencer, August 13, and 20, 1857.
101
Parsonages.
By-Laws, Rules and Regulations of Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery.
Charter, Ordinances and By-Laws of the City of Poughkeepsie, 1854.
A sealed deposit by George Van Kleeck.
General Synod's Report on Foreign Mission, adopted June, 1857, with an appeal to the churches.
Specifications for the building of this church.
The church was dedicated on Tuesday, September 7, 1858. The sermon was preached by Rev. George W. Bethune, D.D., then the pastor of the church on Brook- lyn Heights, and the other services were conducted by Rev. C. Van Cleef, D.D., Rev. C. S. Hageman, D. D., and Rev. J. R. Berry, D.D. The Rev. George M. Mc- Eckron was installed as pastor on the evening of the same day. The edifice thus dedicated is the one which is still standing and in use by the congregation. As originally built, it was adorned with a lofty spire, but in 1878 the spire was pronounced unsafe by reason of the decay of some of its frame-work, and was consequently taken down. In 1887 the roof and other portions of the exterior were repaired and the interior was renovated.
PARSONAGES.
FIRST PARSONAGE, 1732-1790.
When the united congregations of Poughkeepsie and Fishkill sent to Holland their first call for a minister (April 13, 1730), the church edifice in Poughkeepsie had already been erected and in use for about eight years. In neither place, however, was there a parsonage. Therefore in the-call was inserted this promise to his Reverence : "He shall reside either in Poughkeepsie, or in Fishkill, or there-about, as shall be found most fit and to his best satisfaction, and in such place both con- gregations shall, at the first opportunity, build for him
102
History.
a suitable dwelling, and from time to time shall keep it in good repair."
On the 4th of October, 1731, four days after the arrival in Poughkeepsie of the first minister, Cornelius Van Schie, the two consistories held a joint meeting in Poughkeepsie, and resolved: "Whenever Dominie Van Schie shall have chosen to reside at Poughkeepsie or at the Fishkill, there, where he chooses to live, both con- gregations together, (each bearing half of the expense,) shall buy six acres, build a house, and make a garden, and plant an orchard, in accordance with the stipula- tions on these points made in the power of attorney call."
Dominie Van Schie selected Poughkeepsie as his place of residence, and there, in fulfillment of their promise, the two congregations bought the land on part of which the present church edifice and parsonage stand, and on it built the first parsonage. It was probably finished in 1732. In a call sent to Holland, and dated April 20, 1734, it is described as "A new and suitable residence, forty-five feet long and twenty-seven broad, having three rooms, and a study upstairs, a large cellar under the house, a well with good water, a garden, and an orchard planted with 100 fruit trees."
It was occupied by Dominie Van Schie until his de- parture to Albany in 1733. Then came an interval of twelve years during which the church was without a pastor, and the records show that for some, and possibly for all, of these years, the parsonage was rented to one John Constable at three pounds a year, from which, how- ever, was to be deducted the amount expended by Con- stable in keeping the house in repair .*
* Juni der eerste dagh Annog domini een duisent seven hondert en vertigh en een, dan heb ick Johannis van Kleek gherecent met John Con-
103
Parsonages.
On the arrival of Dominie Meynema, in 1745, it was occupied by him ; and, in the calls to his successors, Van Nist and Schoonmaker, it is designated as "the house in which Dominie Meynema had lived."
Subsequent to the departure of Mr. Schoonmaker, in 1774, no mention of the first parsonage has been dis- covered in the records. It probably stood until about 1790. Neither do the records give any clear information concerning its precise location on the parsonage lot and the materials of which it was built; with the exception
stable van de huer van dominis huis en Besids de onkosten blift Constable Schuldigh de somma van . £1-17-0
Translation .- June, the first day, Anno Domini one thousand seven hun- dred and forty-one, have I, Johannes Van Kleek, reckoned with John Con- stable for the rent of the Dominie's house and besides the charges, Constable still owes the sum of £1-17-0 On the page opposite to the above entry is the following : De huer van et huis is drie pont jaers.
Juni de 8 dagh, Annog 1741, dan broght John Constable zyn Rekenen wat hy van oncosten had tegen et huis.
to 6 Busals Callick @ 4/6 an riye @ 6 p, £0-5-0
to william herris for majen of an oven, . 0-10-0
an eeten en drenken @ 2/6, . 0-2-6
an Frans Filkin zyn niger voor 2 dagen, . . 0-4-0
an cost nog @ 1/ . 0-1-0
an oven voren betalt @ 6 p., 0-0-6
£1-3-0
Translation .- The rent of the house is three pounds a year.
June 8, 1741. Then John Constable brought his account of his charges against the house.
To 6 bushels lime 4/6 and cartage /6, . £0-5-0
To William Harris for making an oven, . . 0-10-0
To eating and drinking 2/6 . 0-2-6
To Frans Filkin for his negro 2 days, . 0-4-0
To sundries 1/- .
0-1-0
To paid before on oven /6,
. 0-0-6
£1-3-0
104
History.
that there is in existence a paper which shows that, when the second parsonage was built, a new cellar was dug, from which it must be inferred that the location of the second parsonage, (which was also that of the third, ) was different from that of the first. This inference is corroborated by a map in the office of the Secretary of State in Albany, entitled "Map of the lands of Pough- keepsie as they are held under the patent of Saunders and Heermance, surveyed pursuant to a warrant dated January 23, 1770." On this map the parsonage is rep- resented as situated on the south side of what is now Main street and a short distance back from the line of the street. In other words, its location is represented as having been a little south of that of the present parson- age.
SECOND PARSONAGE, 1794-1844.
About 1774 the union of the two churches of Pough- keepsie and Fishkill was dissolved by mutual consent. The original agreement (October 4, 1731) had been that if such dissolution should ever take place, then, inas- much as the glebe and parsonage were the joint property of both congregations, the congregation retaining them in sole possession should pay to the other the just half of their appraised value. The just half was paid by the congregation of Poughkeepsie to the congregation of Fishkill, as appears from a paper in possession of the church, and headed, "An abstract from the subscrip- tion list of the subscribers towards purchasing half of the glebe or parsonage in Poughkeepsie from the con- gregation of Fishkill, dated June 8th, 1790."
The congregation of Poughkeepsie, having thus ac- quired sole possession of the glebe, began to build upon it a new parsonage in 1791, and finished it not later than 1794. In evidence" of this there are ;
105
Parsonages.
First-A contract for work to be done on the "parrich house " dated August 27, 1791 .*
Second-A bill headed "Minister's House Dr. to Myndert Van Kleeck," amounting to 81 pounds, 7 shil- lings and 7 pence, for labor and building materials, and running through the years 1791-3, and ending May 11, 1794.+
Third-A paper dated May 10, 1793, headed " An abstract from the subscription list for building the minister's house belonging to the Dutch church of Poughkeepsie."
Fourth-A subscription list dated April 7, 1794, for " the completing of the parsonage house, and the im- provement of the lot whereon it stands.
Fifth-The minutes of the consistory from 1792 to the end of 1793, in which frequent mention is made of the parsonage as in process of construction. This was dur- ing the pastorate of Rev. Andrew Gray.
In the call made to his successor, Rev. Cornelius Brower, February 1, 1794, the use of the parsonage house is offered as one of the inducements to acceptance. At that date, therefore, it was finished and ready for occupancy. This second parsonage is remembered by not a few still living, for it stood until 1844.
It is described by Dr. Mann, who lived in it during the last seven years of its existence, as being, at that time, a very old and uncouth structure, built of wood, with low ceilings, standing precisely on the location of the
* 1791, August 27. I Isaac Romine Agreed with peter Tappen for the parrich house the Seler To Be 44 By 21 feet 2 Store hye, 1 Shimble at Ech End Each one to Be Dubeld Smok, 2 Romes Below and a gang Below aBove the same to B Seld and plasterd. I am to have, £30-0-0 and find my Self.
+ The first and last items of this bill are :
Aug. 11, 1791. To 2 Gallons of Rum for digging the Seller @ 6/6, 13-0
May 11, 1794. To 1 pair Hinges pr Swartwot for · 7-0
106
History.
present parsonage, but with the gable end to the street, having its front entrance on the east towards the church, and a hall running from east to west, and an entrance to the yard, from the street, of seven or eight stone steps.
THIRD PARSONAGE, 1844.
At a meeting of consistory, held April 15, 1844, there was presented a petition, signed by 113 names, re- questing that the consistory take into consideration the expediency, propriety, and necessity of building a new parsonage. An adjourned meeting of consistory was held on the next day, for the purpose of considering the petition, and it was then
" Resolved, that the consistory deem it necessary, either to erect a new parsonage, or to repair and refit the present one ; but the consistory do not feel them- selves warranted in assuming the responsibility of doing either, until they have a free expression of the members of the congregation."
" Resolved, that a meeting of the male members of the church be called on Monday next, at 10 o'clock A. M., in the lecture room, for the purpose of obtaining their views with respect to a new parsonage."
At the meeting of the male members of the congre- gation thus called, and held at the time appointed, (April 15, 1844, ) it was "Resolved, that, in the opinion of this meeting, a new parsonage, suitable for the accommo- dation of our pastor and his family, is absolutely neces- sary, and ought to be erected as speedily as possible."
On May 21, 1844, proposals were presented, and on the day following it was " Resolved, that the proposal of Mr. Henry Tittamer, of twenty-nine hundred and fifty dollars for building a parsonage house, agreeably to the plan and specifications estimated upon, (it being the lowest estimate handed in,) be accepted ; and that the
107
Language.
building committee be authorized to enter into a con- tract with him to do the work, as therein set forth and specified, for the above amount."
The building committee appointed consisted of five members ; three from the congregation, and two from the consistory. The three from the congregation were John B. Forbus, David H. Barnes, and James H. Allen. The two from the consistory were Isaac H. Coller, and David C. Foster.
Just six months after their appointment, (Nov. 22, 1844,) this committee met at the parsonage house, then completed, and unanimously agreed to receive said house, and pay for the same, agreeably to contract, and their report to that effect was presented to the consis- tory and approved December 2, 1844.
The house thus received is the brick parsonage now standing on Main Street west of the church.
LANGUAGE.
At the time of the organization of the church the mother tongue of nearly all the inhabitants of the region was the Dutch, and therefore in that language the first ministers preached, and the earliest records of the church were written. But, from the final end of Dutch rule, and the beginning of English supremacy in 1674, the language of the law and the government had been the English, and there is evidence that, even in the earliest years of the existence of the church, at least some of its members were not unacquainted with that language. Some of the earliest of the receipts preserved are in English, and there is a record in English of at least one instance of English preaching, as far back as 1740 .*
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.