Smith Clove Meetinghouse
Why it's listed
Quaker families near Highland Mills built this plain meeting house about 1803, after forming a Preparative Meeting in 1790 and gathering in a private home for about ten years. The two-acre site was acquired in 1801, and the building is believed to have been raised by members of the meeting. Title stayed in the names of several families until 1886, partly because Friends had faced occasional confiscation of property. The one-and-one-half story wood frame building rests on a fieldstone foundation, with a gable roof, a four-bay porch and twin front entrances. Inside, sliding panels once split the space into rooms for men and women, and handmade benches, tables and two wood stoves remain. A mid-nineteenth century renovation changed some trim and probably added the porch and the clapboards. It was the first church in the Town of Woodbury and has been in continuous use since 1803, still hosting the annual meeting. A Quaker cemetery lies behind it.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a well-preserved example of simple early Quaker meeting house architecture, with a gable roof, twin entrances and an interior divided for men and women. It was the first church in the Town of Woodbury and has been in continuous use since 1803.
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 74001290, listed January 11, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Quaker Rd., Highland Mills |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | January 11, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001290 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th century (specific date 1803) |
| Architect / builder | Believed to have been built by members of the meeting |
| Architectural style | Plain style characteristic of early Quaker buildings |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Good condition and in continual use since 1803; still hosts the annual meeting and is shown by appointment. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 41.36120, -74.11071 (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 74001290.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2295347
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.