Highbridge, The Bronx, New York City, New York, United States of America

Summary

The Union Reformed Church of Highbridge in the South Bronx was constructed in 1887-88 to the design of Alfred E. Barlow, a little-known architect who began his career in suburban residences. Highbridgeville (later known as Highbridge) developed along the high ridge of land along the Harlem River located to the south and east of High Bridge (1838-48, John B. Jervis, engineer), part of the Croton Aqueduct system that brought New York City its first adequate water supply. The village was initially populated with the workers (mostly Irish) who built the aqueduct, bridge, and also the railroad along the river. A Protestant “Union Sunday-School of Highbridgeville” was established in 1860, and a chapel was built in 1866 on Highbridge (later Ogden) Avenue.

After 1874, the church became affiliated with the Reformed Church of America, and became known as the Union Reformed Church of Highbridge. As the congregation grew, a larger building was needed. The significant firm of D.C. Weeks & Son was the builder. Built of random-coursed, rockfaced gneiss ashlar with red sandstone trim, the church is one story with a taller square bell tower at the southwest corner. The Ogden Avenue facade has a steeply-pitched gable and three round-arched windows with voussoirs, connected to the tower by a tourelle, and both side elevations have buttresses and round-arched windows with leaded stained glass.

The eastern (altar) end contains a leaded stained-glass rose window (1889) manufactured by the Tiffany Glass Co., with a geometric design composed of seven circular motifs. The Union Reformed Church of Highbridge (now Highbridge Community Church), one of the Bronx’s significant 19th-century religious structures, is also one of the finest surviving churches in New York City in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, named after one of the greatest American architects, Henry Hobson Richardson (1838-1886). It is particularly unusual within New York as a more informal, suburban example of the style.

Union Reformed Church of Highbridge

Highbridgeville (later known as Highbridge) in the South Bronx developed on the high ridge of land along the Harlem River located to the east of High Bridge (1838-48, John B. Jervis, engineer), which was constructed as part of the Croton Aqueduct system that brought New York City its first adequate fresh water supply. The village was initially settled by the workers who built the Croton Aqueduct and High Bridge, as well as the railroad along the river. Almost entirely Irish originally, these workers were followed later by other European and Jewish immigrants. The Bronx shore of the Harlem River began to be subdivided in the later 19th century for building lots along the main thoroughfare, Highbridge Avenue. It was re-named Ogden Avenue in 1876, in honor of William B. Ogden (1805-1877), the first mayor of Chicago and first president of the Union Pacific Railroad, who after his retirement owned a Highbridge estate called “Villa Boscobel.” Initially, there were few neighborhood amenities and but one small district school; this was replaced by Public School 91 (1889, George W. Debevoise), 1257 Ogden Avenue.

As no church was located within several miles of Highbridgeville, the area’s Protestants organized a religious congregation in October 1860, which was led by William Newton Clark and incorporated in 1864. The “Union Sunday-School of Highbridgeville” held classes in various neighborhood buildings until funds were donated to purchase property and to construct a chapel on Highbridge Avenue. After its completion in 1866, it became the religious center of the community with regular Sunday School meetings. In order to establish a formal church, the congregation called a meeting in June 1874 to vote on a specific Protestant denomination. The Reformed Church of America was chosen and, after official recognition, the church became known as the Union Reformed Church of Highbridge. From 1870 to 1884, the church was served by the pastor of the Mott Haven Reformed Church, Rev. Hasbroek DuBois. After 1884, with the installation of its own minister, Daniel Hoffman Martin, the membership of the church grew rapidly and a larger building was needed. Additional property was purchased, the old chapel was moved to the east, and a new church edifice constructed between December 1887 and its dedication in December 1888, at a contracted cost of $18,000. The rockfaced gneiss church, measuring 43 by 70 feet, was designed by Alfred E. Barlow in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, then at the height of its popularity. The New York Times called it a “new and picturesque home.” D.C. Weeks & Son was the builder. This significant firm, established in 1840 by DeWitt Clinton Weeks and including his son, Francis

M. Weeks, as a partner in the 1860s, was responsible for the construction of numerous mansions, churches, institutions, and office buildin

list number ten...
...Wishlist...

1. for everyone in the house to get over their colds, especially the baby

2. to go back to Paris or any vacation really

3. for warmer weather! so tired of these cold & dreary days

4. to hit the jackpot so I can go on a serious shopping spree

5. to go shopping for clothes that don't all come from Target


list number eleven...
...Date Night Ideas...

I've been married for over 6 years and have two kids so I don't really think about date nights. :)

1. a night out without the kids even if it's just dinner and drinks

2. a bike ride on the lakefront

3. coffee and dessert at a favorite cafe

4. strolling through a favorite museum