Historic Series: Old First Presbyterian Church

20 Saturday Oct 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Historic Places

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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: Civil War Memories

02 Sunday Sep 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Historic Places

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british troops, burying ground, Fort Golgotha, historic, history, huntington, long island, new york, old burial hill, Old First Presbyterian Church, Soldiers and Sailors building

The historic Soldiers and Sailors building in Huntington, NY is one of the most noticeable on Main Street. It sits on Old Burial Hill, which is sometimes also called Old Burying Ground.

Established sometime in the 17th century, Old Burial Hill is the earliest known public cemetery in Huntington and bears witness to war, violence and hardship for almost seven years. Starting in 1776, Huntington was occupied by the British troops and the residents experienced change like you wouldn’t believe.

Upon this land stood Fort Golgotha. It was built by the British with wood from the Old First Presbyterian Church which was torn down against the towns wishes. Colonel Benjamin Thompson ordered this construction and forced local residents to help. Even the Huntington military was forced to follow British orders. Not only was the area being taken over, the lack of respect for the dead was clearly shown through the removal of over one hundred tombstones. These were later used in the fort to create fireplaces, ovens and stone floors.

If that wasn’t enough, Colonel Thompson blatantly showed no regard for one of the church’s ministers, Rev. Ebenezer Prime. He had the forts exit be built right on his grave so when he passed through he would walk all over him. This especially made the townspeople upset and angry. After the British troops left in 1783, Fort Golgotha was torn down and the Old First Presbyterian Church was reconstructed a year later where it still stands today.

The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building was built to be a memorial for the brave men who fought and died in the Civil War. In 1886, the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Association was founded by veterans and residents of Huntington and thanks to their fund raising efforts the building was finally completed in 1892. It was actually designed by the New York City firm of Cady, Berg and See which was very successful at the time. This proves that Huntington had picked itself back up and became an ideal place to live despite the war and its small population.

The building’s architecture depicts the Tudor Revival style of design. This style showcases natural elements and is created with simple and rustic elements. Although there is a good amount of detail it is not ornately presented like Victorian or Art Nouveau. It has heavy lines and looks more structurally sound. Most had high chimneys, pillars and pitched roofs and reflected the Earth’s neutral colors. It was also inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement which rejected mass production and focused on uniqueness and designs of the past.

For Huntington’s 250th anniversary it received the cannon on the side of the building. A gift from the federal government, this cannon once protected New York Harbor. Until 1958, the Huntington Public Library called the building home but later moved to its current location due to space restrictions. Since then it has been used for the town’s offices and is now the office for the Town Historian, currently Robert Hughes. To show their gratitude for their dedication it was donated to the Huntington Historical Society in 2000 for their many efforts to spread awareness of the memorial.

Since the completion of its restoration in 2008, the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building now showcases an exhibit gallery as well as a visitor center. It is open most days of the week to the public. For more information you can call 631-427-4075.