North Reformed Dutch Church

1501 First Ave, Watervliet

The North Reformed Dutch Church was erected in 1839, north of the Watervliet Arsenal at 1501 First Avenue in Watervliet. Another Dutch Reformed Church had been in existence south of the Arsenal since 1814, called Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Washington and Gibbonsville.

The steeple of the North Church was blown off in 1854, along with the Meneely bell, which had to be replaced. This bell was last rung during the Vietnam War. There were also two disastrous fires – in 1900 and 1924.

 

Many prominent families were members of the North Church, including Meneely, Schuyler, Oothout, Lansing, Witbeck, Gibbons, and VanDenburgh. The congregation of North Church split in the 1860’s and many members in 1872 moved into a new church building at 601 Fifth Avenue which became the Jermain Memorial Presbyterian Church built as a memorial to Silvanus P. Jermain by his son James B. Jermain.

In 1968, North Reformed and the First Baptist Church in Watervliet united to form Christ Church. Christ Church closed in 2001.

 

 

The only memorials that remain are the windows in the sanctuary.

 

The annex or church hall which was built in 1865 today houses the Watervliet Historical Society and Museum. Many thanks to the Watervliet Historical Society for information provided on the North Reformed Dutch Church.

The following Memorial Names that were found in the North Reformed Dutch Church were transcribed by TIGS volunteer Rebecca Rector.

ChurchMemorial-North Reformed Dutch Watervliet

wdt_ID NAME MEMORIAL LOCATION INSCRIPTION CHURCH STATUS
1 Drake, Francis Stained Glass Window Sanctuary - Left In Loving Memory of Francis Drake - Given By his Wife Katherine S. Drake North Reformed Dutch Church, Watervliet Closed
2 Drake, Katherine S. Stained Glass Window Sanctuary - Left In Loving Memory of Francis Drake - Given By his Wife Katherine S. Drake North Reformed Dutch Church, Watervliet Closed
3 Gregory, Oscar H., D.D. Stained Glass Window Sanctuary - Right In Memory of Oscar H. Gregory, D.D. - 1838 - 1870 North Reformed Dutch Church, Watervliet Closed
4 Hamlin, Mrs. Stained Glass Window Room at back of Sanctuary - Left Class of Mrs. Hamlin North Reformed Dutch Church, Watervliet Closed
5 Hilton, Abram Stained Glass Window Sanctuary - Right In Memoriam Abram Hilton - By his Wife Charlotte E. Hilton North Reformed Dutch Church, Watervliet Closed
6 Hilton, Charlotte E. Stained Glass Window Sanctuary - Right In Memoriam Abram Hilton - By his Wife Charlotte E. Hilton North Reformed Dutch Church, Watervliet Closed
7 Hilton, John Stained Glass Window Sanctuary - Left In Memoriam John Hilton & Daughter Rachel North Reformed Dutch Church, Watervliet Closed
8 Hilton, Rachel Stained Glass Window Sanctuary - Left In Memoriam John Hilton & Daughter Rachel North Reformed Dutch Church, Watervliet Closed
9 Kimberly, George Hazard Stained Glass Window Sanctuary - Right In Memoriam George Hazard Kimberly By His Wife & Sons North Reformed Dutch Church, Watervliet Closed
10 Moreland, Rebecca Stained Glass Window Sanctuary - Left In Memoriam Rebecca & Isabella Moreland North Reformed Dutch Church, Watervliet Closed
NAME MEMORIAL LOCATION INSCRIPTION CHURCH STATUS