Union Chapel
Also known as: Mitchell Hollow Union Chapel
Why it's listed
Mitchell Hollow Union Chapel is a small wooden church at the corner of Mill Road and NYS Route 21 in Windham, Greene County. Built in 1897, it grew out of shared worship by local Methodist Episcopal and Presbyterian members, who had met in the Mitchell Hollow schoolhouse before deciding in 1891 to build their own church. Land, labor, lumber and cash were donated by community members, and the building was dedicated in 1898. Its exterior is a restrained, stripped-down version of Greek Revival design, with a pedimented portico, slender Doric columns, simple board moldings and a two-stage bell tower. Inside, narrow matchstick boards cover the walls and ceiling in varied patterns, and the original Victorian wooden chairs remain. The chapel closed for several years in the 1940s, reopened in 1947, and remains active. It was listed for its architecture and its intact rural setting, and as a reminder of cooperation among local denominations.
Significance in brief: The chapel is argued to be a representative example of late nineteenth-century classically inspired church architecture in Windham. It is an important surviving example of a church built to serve the year-round population of the upper Catskill region. It also reflects the cooperative effort of several local religious denominations at the close of the nineteenth century.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 01001394, listed December 28, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Mill Rd., Windham |
|---|---|
| County | Greene County |
| Listed | December 28, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01001394 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1897 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals/Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Remains active and open; closed for several years in the 1940s and rededicated in 1947. Described as virtually intact with an outstanding degree of integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.35306, -74.24492 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 01001394.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7885489
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.