First Baptist Church of Cold Spring
Why it's listed
Standing on the south side of Main Street in Nelsonville, this wood-frame, clapboard church with a stone foundation was built in 1831-33. A congregation formed in 1808 and met in private homes until Samuel and Mary Gouveneur donated land in 1831. William Bowne built the church for $825 from plans by a Mr. Davenport of Cold Spring. A steeple and rear lecture room followed in 1854, an interior baptistry in 1874, and a rear addition in 1962 with classrooms, a kitchen and a dining room. The projecting entrance bay has corner pilasters, a bracketed doorway and an octagonal cupola with a tall steeple roof. Rounded stained glass windows light each side. A fire damaged the interior in 1978, and restoration finished in 1980. It is the oldest church in Philipstown still used in its original structure, and is noted as the only distinguished frame church in the Highlands, retaining its original design and decoration.
Significance in brief: The church is described as the oldest church in Philipstown in continuous operation in the same structure. It is called one of the most architecturally significant buildings in Nelsonville and the only frame church with distinction in the Highlands. It retains its original design and decorative elements.
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 82001241, listed November 23, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Main St., Nelsonville |
|---|---|
| County | Putnam County |
| Listed | November 23, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001241 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect: Mr. Davenport of Cold Spring; Builder: William Bowne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a church; condition rated good. Fire damaged the interior in 1978 and restoration was completed in 1980. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 41.42296, -73.94938 (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 82001241.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5452457
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.