Oblong Friends Meeting House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Oblong Friends Meetinghouse
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Meeting House in March 2007
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| Location | Meetinghouse Rd. on Quaker Hill, Pawling, NY |
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| Nearest city | Danbury, CT |
| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1763 |
| MPS | Dutchess County Quaker Meeting Houses TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001182 |
| Added to NRHP | January 12, 1973 |
The Oblong Friends Meeting House is a historic building in Quaker Hill, a small community in Pawling, New York. It was built in the mid-1700s by a group called the Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers. This special building has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1973, recognizing its importance.
Contents
History of the Meeting House
Early Quaker Settlers
Quakers first settled on Quaker Hill in the 1730s. They were a religious group who believed in peace and equality. By 1740, they wanted to build a place where they could meet and worship. Their first meeting house was built in 1742, right across from where the current building stands.
Building the New Meeting House
As more Quakers moved to the area, the first building became too small. So, in 1763, the Yearly Meeting (a large gathering of Quakers) decided to build a bigger one. The new building was planned to be 45 feet (14 m) long, 40 feet (12 m) wide, and 15 feet (4.6 m) tall. This allowed for special upper sections called galleries.
The new meeting house was finished in 1764. This is the same building you can see today. Benjamin Sherman, a carpenter from Quaker Hill, is known for building this important structure.
Quakers and Slavery
In 1767, an important question was discussed at the meeting house: Was it right for a Christian to own another person as a slave? After many years of talking about it, the Quakers made a big decision in 1776. They decided that their meetings would not accept money or help from members who owned slaves. This showed their strong belief in freedom for all people.
Role in the Revolutionary War
During the American Revolutionary War, the meeting house played a different role. Parts of the Continental Army, led by General George Washington, camped in the nearby hills in 1778 and 1779. The meeting house was even used by Washington's officers as a military hospital to care for injured soldiers.
Changes Over Time
In 1828, the Society of Friends in New York split into two main groups: the Orthodox and the Hicksite Societies. The Hicksites continued to use the Oblong Meeting House. The Orthodox Society, which had fewer members, built their own meeting house nearby in 1831. This second building was later changed into a private home.
Over the 1800s, the number of Quakers in the area slowly went down. By 1885, regular meetings at the Oblong Meeting House stopped. In 1936, the Historical Society of Quaker Hill and Pawling bought the property. They have been taking care of this historic building ever since, making sure it is preserved for future generations.
About the Building
The Oblong Friends Meeting House is a two-story building. It has five sections across the front and two sections deep. Inside, the building has special sliding panels. These panels could be used to divide the space, separating the men's and women's sections during meetings. Like many Quaker meeting houses, it has two front doors, traditionally one for each gender.
Location
The Meeting House is located on the north side of Meeting House Road. It's about 100 meters from where Meeting House Road branches off from Quaker Hill Road, in the small community of Quaker Hill, within the Town of Pawling, NY.
See also
- List of Quaker meeting houses
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Dutchess County, New York
