Old Providence Stone Church Explained

Old Providence Stone Church
Nrhp Type:nrhp
Designated Other1:Virginia Landmarks Register
Designated Other1 Date:August 15, 1972[1]
Designated Other1 Number:007-0025
Designated Other1 Num Position:bottom
Nearest City:Spottswood, Virginia
Coordinates:37.9611°N -79.2267°W
Built:1793
Added:December 5, 1972
Refnum:72001383

Old Providence Stone Church is a historic church in Spottswood, Virginia in Augusta County, Virginia.

A log structure was built in the area by 1743 for early settlers known as the South Mountain Meeting House. In 1746 the congregation split, and the stone building was built in 1793 on land donated by Patrick and Susana Hall. In 1844, Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church of the South. In 1859, a new building was built for services, and a school used the stone building until the American Civil War, and then a store and residence. From 1888 it was used as a high school for the valley until the early 20th century, and then a meeting room until a fire in 1959 destroyed the interior.

The building is a simple gable structure with 18inch thick walls, about wide and long.It was added to the National Register on December 5, 1972.[2]

Robert McCormick (1780–1846), patriarch of the McCormick family which includes Cyrus McCormick, is buried in the cemetery, along with other members of the family. The McCormick Estate just to the south is now a historic museum and experimental farm.[3] The parents of sewing machine inventor James Edward Allen Gibbs are also buried in the small stone walled cemetery near the old church. A new church and larger modern cemetery are across the State Route 919 (known as "Old Providence Road) to the east.[2]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Virginia Landmarks Register. Virginia Department of Historic Resources. 2013-05-12.
  2. Web site: Old Providence Stone Church nomination form . June 30, 1972 . National Park Service . January 1, 2011 . and Accompanying photo
  3. Web site: McCormick (Cyrus) Farm and Workshop / Walnut Grove nomination form . June 30, 1972 . Frank S. Melvin . National Park Service . January 1, 2011 .