First Presbyterian Church of Jefferson
Also known as: Maple Museum
Why it's listed
Facing the town green in Jefferson, Schoharie County, this two-story timber-frame building was completed in March 1837 as the First Presbyterian Church, replacing a meetinghouse lost to fire in 1836. Local carpenter Lines Porter, a New England immigrant, led the work. Its Greek Doric pediment, entablature, triglyphs and flat pilasters give it a rural interpretation of the Greek Revival, and its layout echoes the New England meetinghouses familiar to the town's settlers. Inside, a classical altar wall with three arches survives, along with stenciled plaster walls and art glass windows added in 1908. The congregation dissolved in 1919, and the building later served as a social hall, school space, American Legion recreation hall and town hall for the Maple Festival. It now houses the Maple Museum. The original Doric temple atop the bell tower has been removed, but the building remains a landmark of the green.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a substantially intact example of a wood-frame Greek Revival meetinghouse in upstate New York, notable for its Greek Doric detailing and its resemblance to New England meetinghouses. It shows how a rural town settled by New Englanders adopted a national architectural style. It also remains a focal point of the town green.
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 12000481, listed August 7, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Creamery St. at Park Ave., Jefferson |
|---|---|
| County | Schoharie County |
| Listed | August 7, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000481 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1837-1919 |
| Architect / builder | Lines Porter |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century: Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now the Maple Museum, generally closed to the public except for a summer concert series; the roof and rear metal siding leave it too cold and damp for year-round use. The town owns it and volunteers aim to restore it. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Jefferson Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.48264, -74.61311 (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 12000481.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q22060982
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.