First Baptist Church of Painted Post
Why it's listed
Standing on a small lot in the center of Painted Post, New York, this church began as a frame building completed in 1860 for a Baptist congregation organized in 1853. After a fire in 1915 damaged its tower and spire, the congregation hired the Elmira firm Pierce & Bickford, which removed the damaged tower and added a new front wing in Renaissance Revival style. That wing has two square corner towers with louvered belfries, a large stained-glass Palladian window, Ionic pilasters and Neoclassical detailing. Inside, the foyer, narthex, balcony stairs and sanctuary retain much early woodwork, plaster walls and the original choir loft. A flat-roofed rear wing from 1953 holds Sunday school rooms and a fellowship hall. The church is notable as an intact example of early twentieth century religious architecture. It is also the only historic church left in the downtown area after the 1972 Cohocton River flood destroyed most of the surrounding historic buildings, and it remains a reminder of the village's earlier development.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is an intact, representative example of early twentieth century religious architecture in Painted Post, shaped by its 1915 Renaissance Revival remodeling by the Elmira firm Pierce & Bickford. It is also the only historic church and one of few older buildings to survive the devastating 1972 flood and urban renewal in downtown Painted Post.
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 99000088, listed February 5, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 130 W. Water St., Painted Post |
|---|---|
| County | Steuben County |
| Listed | February 5, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000088 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1915 |
| Architect / builder | Pierce & Bickford of Elmira, NY |
| Architectural style | 20th Century Revival: Italian Renaissance |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a church; the interior survives substantially intact, with new pews installed in 1964 and modern carpeting over older wooden floors. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.15845, -77.09427 (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 99000088.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5452478
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.