Church Memorials & Family Names

North Reformed Dutch Church
1501 First Avenue
Watervliet, New York

North Reformed Dutch Church Exterior

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 sanctuary building is currently being used by a small theater group. The only memorials that remain are the windows in the sanctuary.

Examples of Stained Glass Windows In North
Reformed Dutch Church

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.

NAME	MEMORIAL	LOCATION	INSCRIPTION	CHURCH	STATUS
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
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
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
Hamlin, Mrs.	Stained Glass Window	Room at back of Sanctuary - Left	Class of Mrs. Hamlin	North Reformed Dutch Church, Watervliet	Closed
Hilton, Abram	Stained Glass Window	Sanctuary - Right	In Memoriam                     Abram Hilton                           - By his Wife         Charlotte E. Hilton	North Reformed Dutch Church, Watervliet	Closed
Hilton, Charlotte E.	Stained Glass Window	Sanctuary - Right	In Memoriam                     Abram Hilton                           - By his Wife         Charlotte E. Hilton	North Reformed Dutch Church, Watervliet	Closed
Hilton, John	Stained Glass Window	Sanctuary - Left	In Memoriam              John Hilton & Daughter Rachel	North Reformed Dutch Church, Watervliet	Closed
Hilton, Rachel	Stained Glass Window	Sanctuary - Left	In Memoriam              John Hilton & Daughter Rachel	North Reformed Dutch Church, Watervliet	Closed
Kimberly, George Hazard	Stained Glass Window	Sanctuary - Right	In Memoriam          George Hazard Kimberly By His Wife & Sons	North Reformed Dutch Church, Watervliet	Closed
Moreland, Rebecca	Stained Glass Window	Sanctuary - Left	In Memoriam         Rebecca & Isabella Moreland	North Reformed Dutch Church, Watervliet	Closed
Moreland, Isabella	Stained Glass Window	Sanctuary - Left	In Memoriam         Rebecca & Isabella Moreland	North Reformed Dutch Church, Watervliet	Closed
VanVranken, Adam Tunis, MD	Stained Glass Window	Sanctuary - Left	In Memoriam            Adam Tunis           VanVranken, MD          1850 - 1903	North Reformed Dutch Church, Watervliet	Closed
Warner, Eliza M. Snyder	Stained Glass Window	Sanctuary - Right	In Memoriam              Eliza M. Snyder Warner Erected by Her Grandson George H. Warner	North Reformed Dutch Church, Watervliet	Closed
Warner, George H.	Stained Glass Window	Sanctuary - Right	In Memoriam              Eliza M. Snyder Warner Erected by Her Grandson George H. Warner	North Reformed Dutch Church, Watervliet	Closed

 

If anyone is interested in helping on a similar project,
contact Bill McGrath at:  [email protected]