Murphy announces Pleasantville Church recommended for State & Natonal Register of Historic Places

Terrence Murphy

September 28, 2016

PLEASANTVILLE, NY - Senator Terrence Murphy is pleased to announce that St. John's Episcopal Church in Pleasantville has been recommended for inclusion in the State and National Register of Historic Places.

"Maintaining our religious landmarks preserves our history and is a benefit to the entire community," Senator Murphy said. "When you think of Pleasantville, one of the places that automatically comes to mind is St. John's Episcopal Church. It is a focal point in the community, a place of worship and social activity."

"St. John's Episcopal Church has been a treasured landmark in Pleasantville since the turn of the Twentieth Century," said Pleasantville Mayor Peter Scherer. "I am delighted at the prospect that our district could be honored with these important designations."

Designed by local architect Charles A, Hoag, St. John's Episcopal Church was built between 1912 and 1914. The Gothic Revival church was constructed from rough-hewn granite blocks, with limestone-like cast stone trim. In 1929, the parish house, designed by New York City architect Oscar Vatet, was added. Constructed in a similar Gothic-Revival style to the church, it is connected to the sanctuary by a one-story covered walkway. The building was further expanded in 1972 with the addition of classroom and office wings.

St. John's Episcopal Church is among 22 properties throughout the state recommended by Governor Andrew Cuomo for addition to state and national registers of historical places.

The nominations reflect the remarkable breadth of New York's history, ranging from the first school to offer special education within the City of Buffalo school system, to an Elmira public housing complex named after an Underground Railroad figure.