Olive and Hurley Old School Baptist Church - Shokan, NY - This Old Church on Waymarking.com

From the Carthage Library website:

"The Olive and Hurley Old School Baptist Church is the oldest Baptist Church in Ulster County and the second oldest religious organization in the town of Olive, being antedated by two months by the Dutch Reformed Church. The Society here was organized September 2, 1799, and incorporated by a certificate executed under date of April 29, 1811, "The First Baptist Church of Christ in Marbletown." At that time much of the territory now included in Olive was a part of the town of Marbletown. This certificate was signed by Matthew Montross, moderator, and Isaac Hollister, clerk: witnessed by James Winchell; verified before Judge John Tremper; and the record attested on April 29, by Christopher Tappen, deputy clerk. The trustees chosen were James Winchell, Josiah Hollister and Stephen Bush. The meeting at which the proceeding took place was held at the First Baptist meeting house in Marbletown, or in what was known in later years as Olive City. This ancient edifice was still standing just a short time before the Ashokan Reservoir was constructed. The building was erected in 1803. Of the men whose names are mentioned above, Isaac Hollister was a member of one of the pioneer families which located on the west side of the Esopus Creek; James Winchell, a veteran of the Revolutionary War, was a member of an old New England family, and came here several years before the Revolution from Dutchess County with his brother, Lemuel, who kept the first store in what is now the reservoir section; Stephen Bush, of the east side of the creek, was the father of the Bush boys who were carried off by the Indians 227 years ago. After the formation of the town of Olive, a re-incorporation of the church took place, and the new certificate was dated June 15, 1833. The notice of the meeting was given by Coenradt Elmendorf, "a stated hearer," who was a veteran of the War of 1812, residing in the northeast section of the town. The presiding Inspectors of the election were Coenradt J. Elmendorf and Joseph Hollister. The trustees were Cornelius Jones, William Hollister, and C. J. Elmendorf. This paper was witnessed by William Schutt, and sworn to before Edward O'Neill, commissioner of deeds. In the early 1850's the Olive Church, the sixth oldest of the Primitive Baptist sect in New York State, was in a flourishing condition and protracted meetings were being held which where attended by large numbers of Baptists, not only from Olive and adjoining townships, but from Delaware and Schoharie counties, both traditional Baptist strongholds, as well. At a meeting held November 25, 1851, the men who presided as inspectors of the election were Samuel Elmendorf, a prominent farmer and mill-owner of Olive village, and Levi H. Terwilliger, a surveyor and jurist of the northeastern part of the town of Hurley. The trustees chosen were Isaac U. Every, John W. Bell and Peter Winchell. This certificate was executed December 17, 1851, verified before John B. Davis, and recorded November 2, 1853. The meeting house in the village of Olive was now found inadequate for the large and enthusiastic services which were being held here, and plans were laid for building a more commodious structure. In 1856, a site was selected on a part of the DuBois family holdings here, on the north side of the Plank Road. This was the present site of the church, which is now located in the heart of the village of Shokan, at the head of the road leading north from the head of the dividing weir of the reservoir. At the time there were only one or two houses for a distance of half a mile along the road at this point. On May 10, 1856, J. B. Davis surveyed the lot at the request of Jeremiah Matthews and Samuel H. Elmendorf, both of Olive village, and work was soon begun on the new building. In 1857 the church edifice was completed at a cost of $1,650. In 1880, the membership of the organization being made up largely of residents of Olive and the eastern part of Hurley, it had become generally known as "The First Old School Baptist Church of Olive and Hurley." The officers of the church in 1880, one of the years in which the spacious old church yard invariably was crowded with horses and wagons upon the occasion of the "two day meeting," were as follows: Jacob U. Every, H. Bogart, J. Matthews, deacons; Alvah Bogart, clerk; William Winn, William H. Bush, Jonathan Van Winchell, trustees. The members then numbered one hundred and sixteen, and, as the regular communicants generally brought to church many family connections and visitors, the church was filled to the doors, the men sitting on one side and the women on the other, according to the Primitive Baptist custom of long standing."

Date the Church was built, dedicated or cornerstone laid: 01/01/1857 Age of Church building determined by?: Cornerstone or plaque If denomination of Church is not part of the name, please provide it here: Baptist Street address of Church: none Route 28 olive, ny usa 12461 Primary website for Church or Historic Church Building: [Web Link] Secondary Website for Church or Historic Church Building: [Web Link] If Church is open to the public, please indicate hours: Not listed If Church holds a weekly worship service and "all are welcome", please give the day of the week: Not listed Indicate the time that the primary worship service is held. List only one: Not Listed

Visit Instructions:
1) A photo of the church is required for visits to a waymark.

2) Please share some comments about your visit.

3) Additional photos are encouraged. If you can have information in addition to that already provided about this church, please share it with us.

Recent Visits/Logs:

There are no logs for this waymark yet.