by Mike Hays
There are several local old stone churches in our area but none are as old or in as original state as the Old Stone Church in Upper Nyack. Maybe you have passed it hundreds of time driving or walking. Springtime is a good time to pause, take a deep breath and study the simple beauty of the stone walls, windows, and pitched-gable, slate roof located at 347 North Broadway.
Begun in 1813, the completed church was dedicated on March 2, 1814 with native sandstone on a stone foundation. It is of a size and scale appropriate to its time, so unlike our era of mega-buildings. William Palmer donated the land across from his house and stone from his nearby quarry, and John Green and Nicholas Williamson gave a total of $3.00 to fund the building along with some financial aid by others including Garret Onderdonk. Construction was started only one day after they agreed to build it.
Michael Hays is a 30-year resident of the Nyacks. He grew up the son of a professor and nurse in Champaign, Illinois. He has recently retired from a long career in educational publishing with Prentice-Hall and McGraw-Hill. He is an avid cyclist, amateur historian and photographer, gardener, and dog walker.
Nyack People & Places features photos and profiles of citizens and scenes near Nyack, NY. Sponsored by Weld Realty.
Photo Credit: Mike Hays
See also:
- 200 Years Old: Time To Party At The Old Stone House, 7/7/13
- Window On The Old Stone Church, 7/7/2013