Smithfield Presbyterian Church
Also known as: Evans Academy; Town Hall; Peterboro Union School; Peterboro Ele
Why it's listed
Standing at the highest point in Peterboro, this large clapboard building began as a Federal-style Presbyterian church, with a tower bell reportedly cast in 1836. Its original form was a tall front-gabled meetinghouse with box pews and a raised pulpit. In 1871 Gerrit Smith converted the abandoned church into a private academy, raising the roof, inserting a second story and adding Italianate brackets and hood moldings. Rear additions followed around the turn of the century, the front was extended around the clock tower about 1911, and the building later served as a town hall, union school and elementary school. It survived fires in 1918, 1936 and 1955. Today it holds a town office, a library and a community hall. The church is linked to the Smith family and to the abolitionist movement, since the 1835 State Anti-Slavery Society meeting in Peterboro probably took place here. Membership peaked above 200 before a split in 1843.
Significance in brief: The building was the Presbyterian church of Peterboro, closely tied to the Smith family and abolitionist Gerrit Smith. It likely hosted the 1835 New York State Anti-Slavery Society meeting after a mob broke up its Utica session. It later served as Evans Academy, a town hall, a union and elementary school, and a community center, reflecting the village's changing uses.
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 94001370, listed December 12, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Pleasant Valley Rd. between Elizabeth and Park Sts., Peterboro |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| Listed | December 12, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94001370 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Early Republic/Federal; Late Victorian/Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Politics/Government, Social History, Education, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Structurally sound but affected by years of neglect after it ceased to be a school, including roof deterioration and pigeon infestation in the tower; repairs were under way. It currently houses a town office, a library and community meeting space. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.96558, -75.68774 (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 94001370.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7545510
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.