• About
  • Visit Gray Star Design
  • Minted Collection
  • Design Services
  • Contact

The Design Inspirationalist

~ Inspiring Ideas | Spectacular Creations

The Design Inspirationalist

Tag Archives: church

Historic Series: Old First Presbyterian Church

20 Saturday Oct 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Historic Places

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

architecture, church, Duke's Laws, gabled roof, huntington, long island, Matinecock Indians, Meeting House Brook, modillion cornice, New England colonial, new york, Old First Presbyterian Church, parish, Rev. Ebenezer Prime, Rev. Leverich

The Old First Presbyterian Church of Huntington was originally organized in 1658. At the time it was considered a congregational church with its first minister being the Rev. William Leverich. In addition to working with the church he was also the town’s first miller. He came to Long Island with a small group of men from Sandwich, Massachusetts and bought Oyster Bay from the Matinecock Indians. Later they purchased Huntington as well.

Historic Series: Old First Presbyterian Church - Copyright 2012 Melissa O'Connor

Built in 1665, the church location was called Meeting House Brook, what is now Prime Avenue. According to Duke’s Laws it was mandatory to have a house that can be used for public worship and it had to hold up to 200 people. So in 1715, it was decided that a new church building would be built on the East Hill on Main Street.

Rev. Leverich retired in 1669 and Rev. Eliphalet Jones, a Harvard graduate, took over from 1676 to 1723. After he did his time, Rev. Ebenezer Prime took his position up until 1779 when he passed away. He was a Yale College graduate and came to Huntington in 1719 as an assistant to Rev. Jones.

Historic Series: Old First Presbyterian Church - Copyright 2012 Melissa O'Connor

During the Revolutionary War the church building was seized by the British and eventually was dismantled so its parts could be used to build a fort on the Old Burying Ground. Its bell was also taken and used on British warships. However, it was found in 1783 on the ship Rinoceros and had to be recast before it was able to be used for service.

Historic Series: Old First Presbyterian Church - Copyright 2012 Melissa O'Connor

Historic Series: Old First Presbyterian Church - Copyright 2012 Melissa O'Connor

That year the Huntington residents started to reconstruct the church on 125 Main Street where it sits today. The two and one-half story building has a pitched gable roof and five-story bell tower in the center of the structure. Under the bell tower is where the main entrance stands.

Historic Series: Old First Presbyterian Church - Copyright 2012 Melissa O'Connor

Historic Series: Old First Presbyterian Church - Copyright 2012 Melissa O'Connor

During the 1900s, the addition to the two story, five-bay gabled roof was added to connect the back of the building. Later in the 1970s the parish hall was built as well as the four-bay hipped roof on the west side.

The building is dressed with white wood shingles, multi pane windows and many classic decorative details such as its modillion cornice which surrounds the edge of the roof and the elaborate work above the main entrance. Also take note of its lunette windows which is a nice contrast to the rectangular shape windows that are used throughout the structure.

The First Presbyterian Church expresses a New England colonial style that was mostly used for religious architecture.  I happen to love the bell tower due to its height and slim design.  It looks beautiful against the tones of the blue sky.

Historic Series: Old First Presbyterian Church - Copyright 2012 Melissa O'Connor

For over 300 years, the church has seen unbelievable change but stands today spreading a message of hope and faith. It gives the town a sense of community and provides it with a gathering place for all.   With the ring of its church bell every Sunday you can count on that feeling of togetherness and love, all year round.

Historic Series: St. John of Jerusalem Cemetery

18 Wednesday Apr 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Historic Places

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

cemetery, church, history, long island, new york, St. John of Jerusalem Cemetery, wantagh

There are numerous historic sites in Wantagh, New York with unforgettable stories and history. That’s the case with the St. John of Jerusalem Cemetery on Wantagh Avenue. The building is very aged, but stands with great pride. The rock foundation and large windows of the cathedral really invites you in, even though it’s borded up.

Historic Series: St. John of Jerusalem Cemetery - Copyright 2012 Melissa O'Connor

In the mid-1800’s, German immigrants came to Jerusalem (before it was called Wantagh) from New York City. They were led by Johann D. Bulling and were all members of the German Methodist Church of America. Once they settled in the area, the need for a German preacher was granted and Rev. George Able was assigned in 1854.

Historic Series: St. John of Jerusalem Cemetery - Copyright 2012 Melissa O'Connor

Up until 1856, services were held in people’s homes. Once the community gave them one acre of land, a church and cemetery was built. The church itself took years to build because of insufficient finances and the Civil War, but by 1862, the cemetery had 40 lots of eight graves, each sold for $5. The first person to be buried was 48-year old Frederick Doscher on September of that year. By 1872, the prices of plots doubled.

Historic Series: St. John of Jerusalem Cemetery - Copyright 2012 Melissa O'Connor

Throughout the years they added different features to the religious ceremonies. For example, they offered to ring the church bell during a burial for an additional 25 cents. Members of the church also agreed that people who were not members needed to show a birth certificate signed by a doctor in order to be buried.

Historic Series: St. John of Jerusalem Cemetery - Copyright 2012 Melissa O'Connor

The newer generations of the church did not want German to be the main language of its services and records. Because of this the mission grew smaller. Its last record was on Aug. 1, 1912 and until 1926 it sat vacant. Soon after, the Lutherans used the building for their services with Pastor Miller of Freeport leading the way. The mission church held its first service on Thanksgiving Day that year.

For 14 years services were held in the church. In 1940, they moved to another location on Hyland Road. Not until 1949 was the church used again, this time by the United Christian Group, who held services there for 20 years.

Historic Series: St. John of Jerusalem Cemetery - Copyright 2012 Melissa O'Connor

Historic Series: St. John of Jerusalem Cemetery - Copyright 2012 Melissa O'Connor

Today the church sits quiet next to the cemetery, which was fenced in during the late 1930’s. Most of the men who are buried there were soldiers from World War I, World War II, the Civil War and Vietnam War.

color in films sound in color art inpsired palettes
art and design the home events and parties weddings real weddings color inspiration film-reviews historic places news and updatesminted






minted.com

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Archives



martha

Magnolia Rouge

Screen Shot 2014-04-23 at 2.29.10 PM

Etsy

Screen Shot 2014-04-23 at 2.18.10 PM

logo

Screen Shot 2014-04-23 at 2.42.13 PM

P&PBlogHeader

wedding chicks


ruffled

Screen Shot 2014-04-23 at 2.47.49 PM

Screen Shot 2014-04-23 at 2.16.32 PM


lauren-elle-photography

jenlombardo

logo_website

site-logo1

kelly_dekenipp_logo

homelogo

Website Powered by WordPress.com.

  • Follow Following
    • The Design Inspirationalist
    • Join 1,385 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • The Design Inspirationalist
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...