USA > New York > Rockland County > The history of Rockland County > Part 29
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THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AT SUFFERN-ST. ROSE OF LIMA.
Previous to 1868, the Catholics of Suffern could only attend service by a long journey to either Paterson, N. J., Greenwood, in Orange County, or Piermont, save that occasionally Rev. John Quinn held service at the house of William Cannon. At length in 1868, a site for the present edi- fice was given by George W. Suffern and the church building erected. The first pastor of this church was Rev. John Brogan who was succeeded in 1870, by the present pastor, Rev. James Quinn.
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AT BLAUVELTVILLE-ST. CATHERINES
As early as 1853, a colony of Germans was established at Blauveltville to which, as the years passed, constant accessions were made. Most of these new comers were worshippers according to the Ro- man Catholic faith, and the distance from the church at Piermont together with their slight acquaintance with the English language, led them to de- termine first, on a church in their midst and next, on a church in which service should be held in their native tongue. By 1868, this society felt strong enough to begin the building of a house for worship. Four acres of land was donated for church purposes by George M. Lediger, and on January 17th, 1869, the completed edifice, a building thirty by sixty-five feet, was dedicated.
Until 1870, the pulpit of the church was supplied from St. Nicholas in New York, then Rev. Joseph Bruhy became pastor, and remained in charge of the congregation till his death, May Ist, 1874. From August 1874 to October 1876, Rev. Emil Stenzel was pastor. After his resigna- tion, the congregation was cared for by Rev. W. L. Penny and Rev. P. J. O'Meara for some time. From February 1877 to March 1879, Rev. Nicholas Sorg was pastor, and he was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev M. Kuhnen. During the charge of Rev. Joseph Bruhy a parochial
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school was commenced under the supervision of A. Germersdorf. The pastoral residence was built in 1872.
TIIE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHI AT SPRING VALLEY-ST AGNES.
The foundation of this church edifice was laid by Rev. John Quinn in 1868. The congregation, however, was not a largeoneand means for the completion of the work not coming in, it was discontinued for a time. Little by little the building was advanced, and finally in 1880, the struc- ture was completed. The congregation is under the parochial care of the pastor at Piermont.
THE PROTESTANT-EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN ROCKLAND COUNTY.
The first service of the Episcopal Church held in our County, was probably that conducted in the Methodist Church edifice at Haverstraw, in 1846, by Rev. W. F. Walker. In a short time a room over a dry- goods store on Main street was hired for the services of this society, and then the edifice belonging to the Protestant Methodist Society-now owned by the German Lutheran Society-was leased for three years. A vestry was soon organized, and in 1847, the church became a member of the l'. E. Church in the diocese of New York.
After this beginning but little seems to have been done, and services were discontinued for a long time. In 1850, Rev. G. S. Hitchcock, who had assumed charge of the society at Piermont during the preceding year, occasionally held services, according to the forms of the P. E. Church, in Haverstraw as well as at other villages in this and adjoining counties. In 1854, Rev. J. B. Gibson took charge of the society at Haverstraw, and entered upon the task of building it up. He obtained the use of a build- ing, then known as the "Yellow School House," which stood at the foot of the street opposite the station of the N. Y., West Shore and Buffalo Railroad, and there held his first service in Haverstraw, February 4th, 1854. Only for a short time did the congregation meet in this building. Then it removed to a room in the building nearly opposite the present Trinity Church, where it remained till the erection of a house for worship. On December 10th, 1856, this society was incorporated under the name of
TRINITY CHURCH.
The corner stone of this church building was laid in 1855, and on June 17th, 1856, the church was dedicated, according to the rites of the society, by Rev. Horatio Potter, D.D. LL.D. This is the oldest church building of the P. E. Society in Rockland County. The first confirmation was held
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in the First Presbyterian Church, August 27th, 1854. In 1861, Rev. J. B. Gibson resigned his charge and was succeeded by Rev. G. H. Hepburn, who assumed charge in February, 1861, and remained less than a year ; Rev. E. Gay, Jr., from April, 1862, to August, 1869; Rev. Walter Dela- field, from 1869 to 1873; Rev. D. G. Gunn, for six months; Rev. C. B. Coffin, from July, 1874, for ten months; Rev. G. W. West, from Septem- ber, 1875 to 1878; Rev. A. T. Ashton, from November 3d, 1878, to the present time. About 1855 a Sabbath school was organized in connection with this church.
THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT PIERMONT-CHRIST CHURCH.
In 1847, Rev. William Walker held the first service, according to the rites of the P. E. Church, in Dr. Lord's lime kiln building at Piermont. On March Ist, 1848, at a meeting of the congregation held at a private residence, the parish of Christ Church was organized, and on April 10th, 1848, the articles of incorporation were legally filed in the County Clerk's office. In the summer of 1848, Rev. William Walker resigned, and shortly after Rev. John Canfield Sterling was called to the rectorship. He remained till the fall of 1849, and was succeeded by Rev. Solomon G. Hitchcock.
In 1864, this society had grown sufficiently strong to begin the erection of a church building on land presented by Thomas E. Blanch, and on July 20th, 1865, the corner stone of the present stone building was laid. The building was consecrated September 7th, 1866. Rev. S. G. Hitchcock remained rector till his death on Sept 14th, 1877. He was succeeded by : Rev. Joseph M. Waite, from January Ist, 1878 till May Ist, 1883, and Rev. Theodore M. Peck, from June Ist, 1883, to the present time.
THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT CHURCH.
SUFFERNS-CHRIST
For some years prior to the organization of this society, services ac- cording to the rites of the P. E. Church, were held in different private dwellings, especially in that of George W. Suffern, by Rev. S. G. Hitch- cock, and at this residence on August 25th, 1860, the present society was legally incorporated. Efforts were at once begun to build a house for worship. A site was obtained from W. B. Maltbie and wife, and the work of construction begun. On June 10th, 1864, the church was consecrated by Bishop Horatio Potter. Until 1874 the edifice stood without change. During a storm on November 23d of that year, however, the steeple was blown over. The present one was built shortly after this catastrophe.
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The rectors of this parish have been : Revs. Eastburn Benjamin, FF. W. Lusen, Henry R. Howard, John Steelc, C. B. Coffin, Joseph F. Jowitt, Edwin J. Lessel, A. B. Leeson, G. E. Pumcker, F. T. H. Horsefield, and since April 7th, 1878, Rev. R. S. Mansfield. A flourishing parish school is connected with this church.
THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT NYACK-GRACE CHURCH.
In his missionary labors among the people of the County, Nyack was not overlooked by Rev. S. G. Hitchcock, and services according to the forms of the P. E. Church were held in Union Hall as carly as 1859. The establishment of this church society, however, depended on the efforts of Rev. Franklin Babbitt, who came to Nyack in 1861, and began holding regular services. The first meetings of the church were held in the school room of Christopher Rutherford's Military Academy, now Rockland Col- lege, beginning in October, 1861, and continuing until the chapel was ready for occupation in February, 1862. After seven years indefatigable work, the congregation had grown large and strong enough to erect a church edifice. Work was begun. The corner stone of the new structure was laid by Bishop Potter, August 25th, 1869, and the building conse- crated by the same church dignitary, May 30th, 1882.
At the opening of the chapel Mr. Babbitt established a parochial day school, and, in the years which have elapsed, has given his time to an evening school as well, when circumstances warranted its existence. With the church society a prosperous Sabbath school is connected. At the be- ginning of Rev. Franklin Babbitt's rectorship, but a dozen communicants, according to this form of faith, existed in Nyack, and to his efforts under God, often against grievous obstacles, does the present large congregation owe its existence.
ST. JOHN'S P. E. CHURCH AT NEW CITY.
In 1866, Rev. E. Gay, Jr., began holding service in the Court House, and awakened interest among the people. A congregation was formed and in 1866, St. John's parish was organized. In 1867, the congregation felt themselves sufficiently strong and began the building of a church edi- fice on a site donated by Charles W. Root. The structure was consecrated at a later time. The rectors of this parish have been: Revs. Thomas Marsdon, R. S. Mansfield, Mr. Cruikshank, Mr. Capron, J. F. Esch, and, at present, Thomas Stephens. A Sabbath school was organized at the time the parish was established and is now in a prosperous condition.
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THE P. E. CHURCH AT SPRING VALLEY-ST. PAUL'S.
On August Ist, 1868, this society was legally incorporated. For some time previous to this, the services of this church had been held by Rev. S. Hitchcock at different residences in the village until, in the carly part of that year, 1868, Mr. A. B. Noyes fitted up one of his buildings, formerly used as a cider-mill, as a place for meeting. Services were then held in this building for several years. The corner-stone of the present church edifice was laid August 5th, 1872, by Bishop Potter, but the building, owing to the financial obligations resting upon it, has never been conse- crated. The first rector of this parish was Rev. R. S. Mansfield, from August 11th, 1868, to April 7th, 1878. He was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Tragget, and he by the present laborer, Rev. Thomas Stevens.
THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT STONY POINT-GRACE CHURCH.
The first services of the Protestant Episcopal Church in this township were held in 1869, by Rev. E. Gay Jr., who resigned his charge of Trinity parish in Haverstraw during that ycar. In the spring of 1871, services were begun at Tomkins Cove. In July, 1877, services were held, and a Sunday School was organized at Caldwell's Landing. On November 9th, 1881, the erection of a house for worship was begun on a site donated by Charles H. Jones, which was sufficiently advanced toward completion to per- mit of services being held in it during the Summer of 1882, and which was consecrated under the title of the House of Prayer March 29th, 1883. In April 1884, a parish was organized under the name of Grace Church, Stony Point, with Rev. E. Gay, rector.
ST. LUKE'S P. E. CHURCH-IIAVERSTRAW.
Until September 19th, 1871, the congregation at Benson's Corners, and at Haverstraw were under the direction of one and the same vestry ; at that time the latter congregation was incorporated under the name of St. Luke's Church in the Village of Warren. The further history of this society is that of Trinity Church and necd not be repeated. Services arc held on Sunday afternoons in the building formerly built by the Baptists. A parochial school and Sabbath School exist in connection with these societies. Of St. John's in the mountains. full mention will be made later.
THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH AT ORANGEVILLE.
In 1853, a minister of the Universalist faith-Rev. Mr. Rainor-begun preaching in Rulef Van Houten's mills at this place, and so far succeeded
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in organizing a society that in 1856, a house for worship was erected on property donated by Tunis Cooper. In 1857, Mr. Rainor was succeeded by Rev. Henry Lyon, who preached at Orangeville on alternate Sabbaths till 1871. Upon his resignation, Rev. C. C. Gordon took charge of the church and continued in this field of labor for some time. Since his with- drawal the church has been without a pastor, though services are held occassionally.
A Sunday School in connection with this church was early organized, and is now in a flourishing condition under the superintendence of George R. Van Houten.
THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH AT NYACK.
In 1859, Rev. Henry Lyon extended his field of labor in our County, and began preaching at Nyack on alternate Sunday afternoons. These services were held at first in the residences of members of the congrega- tion, but in 1868, when the wigwam was opened, the congregation met there. In 1870, the congregation felt strong enough to erect a house for worship, and work was accordingly begun on a site purchased for, and presented to the society by Mrs. Mary Gunn Partridge. The first service was held in the basement of the new building in 1871, Rev. C. C. Gordon preaching the dedicatory sermon. Among the ministers not mentioned, who have officiated in this church are ; Revs. Mr. Shepard, W. P. Payne, J. A. Seitz, J. C. Partridge, and F. Hitchcock, who continued holding ser- vice till his death in 1883. Since that time the church has been without a regular pastor.
TRUE REFORMED CHURCH .- MONSEY.
In speaking of the "Brick Church," it was stated that a split from the congregation occurred June 11th, 1824. The seceding party, with their pastor, Rev. James D. Demarest, withdrew from the Classis of Paramus, and connected itself with the True Reformed Synod of Hackensack. In the spring of 1825, this society was organized as the True Reformed Church at Monsey, and shortly after, work was begun upon a house for worship on land granted for the purpose by Judge Sarven. The site of this first building was about one-third of a mile north of Monsey, at the intersection of the Spring Valley road with that leading from Monsey to Viola. The spot is still marked by a burying ground.
In 1827, the edifice was opened for service, and continued to be used by this congregation till 1869, when it was sold to Samuel D. Haring. In 1868, the site of the present church was donated by Samuel D. Haring;
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work was begun upon the new building, and on August 19th, 1869, it was dedicated to the worship of God. The ministers of this society have been : Revs. James D. Demarest, John Y. De Baun, Abram Van Houten, and since 1865, John R. Cooper, The congregation is now connected with that at Nanuet in support of a pastor.
TRUE REFORMED CHURCH .- NANUET.
In July, 1824, a portion of the congregation of the Reformed Protes- tant church at Clarksville seceded from that society, and on the thirteenth of that month presented a petition to the classis of Hackensack for union with that body. On August 25th, 1825, this society was duly incorpor- ated as a distinct body. The first services of this church were held in a barn, which stood on property now belonging to W. Van Weelden, and later, until the house for worship was built, in an old stone house belong- ing to James De Clark. In 1826, the church edifice was built and occu- pied. The pastors of this church have been : Revs. V. S. Lansing, James D. Brinkerhoff, James D. Demarest, Abram Van Houten, and since No- vember, 1865, John R. Cooper.
By 1825, the secession which had been going on for many years in the Dutch Reformed Church Society, reached the congregation at Tappan and led to a split in that church. On February 24th, 1826, the seceders or- ganized a society under the name of the True Reformed Church, with Cornelius Blauvelt, Daniel C. Haring, John A. Ferdon and Daniel Aury- ansen as its first officers. A frame house for worship was erected, and the society continued in existence till 1856, when the building was sold to the Methodists.
CHRIST'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH .- MASONICUS.
The early history of this congregation is connected with that of the church at Mahwah. In January, 1855, Rev. N. Wert, pastor of the church at Saddle River, began work among the Lutherans in our County, with the idea of building up a church at Ramapo. Until a house for worship was erected, services were held in the dwelling of Adolphus Shuart, or in A. M. Litchholt's barn. Ground for a building was first broken on Wan- namaker's Corner, but the donation of the present site by Mrs. Margaret Straut led to the erection of the edifice at Masonicus. On October 1Ith, the completed church was dedicated by the Rev. N. Wert. The pastors of this church since the departure of Mr. Wert in 1856 have been : Rev. E. De Yoe, 1856 to 1874, and Rev. T. J. Yost, from 1875 to 1884. A Sabbath-school connected with this church is successfully conducted.
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GERMAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
On May 29th, 1860, a party of the Germans, who have settled between Nanuet and New City, organized a church society, and were incorporated under the name of the Dutch Evangelical Church. Shortly after, the present edifice, standing just west of the road from Nanuet to New City, was built on land purchased by Henry Screver. Until 1879, this society retained its first name, but then that was changed to the German Presby- terian Church. The pastors of this church have been : Revs. Mr. Warren- berger, Bartholomaus Kruise, C. D. Rosenthal, George Loock, John U. Tschudi. A Sabbath-school, which was organized by Rev. C. D. Rosen- thal, in connection with this church, is in existence and is well attended.
THE GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERN CHURCH AT HAVERSTRAW.
The first services of the German United Congregation in Haverstraw were held in 1857. From that time till the organization of the German United Societies, which took place in the building of the Methodist Prot- estant Society, January 8th, 1861, mission services were held. Rev. Mr. Wahrenberger, who also preached at the Dutch Evangelical Church in Clarkstown-see above-was the first pastor, and was followed by Rev. Mr. Wirtz, who occupied the pulpit from January, 1866 to 1867, and Rev. Mr. Berger. Under this pastor a division occurred in the congregation and a portion of it withdrew with the pastor, organized the German Luth- eran Church, and erected a house for worship on Division street. Rev. Mr. Berger, after remaining in charge of this new organization for some time was succeeded by Rev. Dr. Sommers.
After the separation, that portion of the congregation, which wor- shipped in the building of the Protestant Methodist Church, purchased, November 26th, 1867, and organized under the name of the German Evangelical Church. Among the pastors who supplied this pulpit was Rev. Mr. Weinacher, who died during his ministry in Haverstraw. The following ministers officiated in one or the other church. Revs. Strecker, C. A. Weisel, Winteieck, H. Schoppe, under whom the unhappy division was healed and the people united, P. Andrus and A. Tully.
In 1875, the two congregations united under the name of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church. Since that time the society has grown in membership, and has built a school and parsonage. A Sabbath school, which is connected with the church, has a large attendance.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, MONSEY.
It has already been seen, that when the congregation of the True Re- formed Church Society erected a new edifice in 1869, the old building was
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purchased by S. D. Haring. By him the structure was moved to its pres- ent site, and, after being thoroughly renovated, it was dedicated September Ist, 1869. Until November Ist, 1870, there was no change in the owner- ship of the building. Then it was sold, and in 1871 again sold, the last purchase being made by the Congregational Society, who have since worshipped in it. The ministers of this church have been : Revs. George Hicks, Lemuel Jones, and Ernest G. Wesley.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH-TALLMANS.
In the autumn of 1870, a Sabbath School was started in De Baun Hall by Henry Tallman and wife, Mrs. J. H. Goetchius and Francis Gurnee. From the interest manifested in this school arose the determination to build a church, a determination strongly encouraged by the pastor of the Lutheran church at Masonicus, Rev. E. De Yoe. The first intention of the society was to erect a building, dedicated to the tencts of the Lutheran church, and the corner stone of the structure was laid by a Lutheran min- ister. Ere the edifice was completed, circumstances arose which led to a change in the first idea, and the building was completed and dedicated as a Congregational church in 1874. The pastors of the society have been ; Rev. Samuel Switzer, Lemuel Jones, Ernest G. Wesley, Mr. Wright- meyer. A Sabbath School is connected with the church.
THE QUAKER CHURCH AT LADENTOWN.
Long before the first group of immigrants, from Hempstead, Long Is- land, thought of the far distant wilderness in which they were eventually to found a new Hempstead, members of the Society of Friends, had found a refuge from persecution among them. When the emmigrants at length moved to our County, many of their Quaker neighbors joined with them, and settling back by the present Ladentown, began here the form of wor- ship which seemed best to them. For many years their services were held in private residences, but at length, having gained sufficient strength, this Society erected a house for worship in 1816 on land given for the pur- pose by Benjamin Secor. The frame building of this society still stands, but the membership is small. From one or another cause the belief has lost ground among us, and few beside the decendants of the first Quaker settlers are now active members of the Society.
THE AFRICAN M. E. ZION .- NYACK.
In 1860, through the efforts of John W. Towt and George Green, a house for worship was built for this congregatiou on Burd street, and it was aided financially until it became able to sustain itself. In the years
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which have passed, the society has steadily increased in strength and now has a large membership with a flourishing Sabbath school.
THE AFRICAN M. E. CHURCH .- HAVERSTRAW.
This society was organized at the same time as the African church in Nyack, and in its early history was supplied by the same pastor. The church edifice which stands on Division street was built through the efforts of the friends of the church and the congregation.
In May, 1882, rooms were hired on Piermont Avenue at Nyack, for a Synagogue, and services according to the rites of the Jewish church have since been held regularly.
It may not be uninteresting to read the statement, that two score years ago-in 1845, there was not an Episcopal, Congregational, Roman Cath- olie, Jewish, Universalist or Unitarian church building in Rockland County.
Besides those Sabbath-schools which have been mentioned, there have been others established in the County at points, sometimes far distant from houses of worship, in which not only the children of tender years have been instructed in religious precepts during the Sabbath, but in which also " children of a larger growth " have been directed and strengthened, to better meet the never ceasing conflict of life, by the different forms of religious worship.
I have already made mention of the Sunday-school established in con- nection with the Middletown Baptist Church. The next Sabbath-school started in our County seems to have been that begun in 1828 by James Stevens. This school assembled on the property now owned by Samuel Coe, situated near the mountain in the northern part of Clarkstown. On the first Sunday that this school was opened, there were five and twenty scholars. The following summer saw this number increased to one hun- dred, and in the third year the attendance had reached two hundred. For many years this school continued in existence, but was finally discontinued because of the organization of church societies, and the erection of houses for worship in the neighborhood.
THE UNION SUNDAY-SCHOOL OF SPRING VALLEV.
This school was founded by Rev. Christopher Hunt, pastor of the Reformed church at Clarksville, in the Spring of 1830 with the idea of supplying the lack of means for worship existing in the section about the Dutch Factory. For some twenty-one years the school was continued in the district school building of the neighborhood, being often interrupted and discontinued by the vote of the majority at a district meeting. Fin-
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ally, on June 29th, 1851, after a long discontinuance, the School was again reorganized with I. Remsen Blauvelt as Superintendent. Owing to the fact that permission to use the school house could not be obtained till the annual meeting in December, the Sunday school was re-begun in the car- riage house of Stephen D. Herrick. There it continued for three months and then was moved to a small building near by, where it continued two months longer, and was then moved to the school house. In July, 1852, the last move was made to the Union Sunday School, house, which had been erected for its special use. For about ten years longer the school was continued, and was at length disbanded because of the organization of church societies in the neighborhood.
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