The authoritative source on
  early churches of New Jersey

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We've created a database and photographic inventory on more than half the 18th & 19th century churches in the state and add to it each month. We welcome and solicit all contributions and suggestions from our visitors.

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   Photographic Inventory

Smith Friends Meetinghouse
Scott's Mountain, Harmony Township, Warren County

 

I learned the fascinating history of this 1753 meetinghouse-residence from the Senior Naturalist at the Merrill Creek Reservoir. There is a full archeologist's report, done as part of the Merrill Creek construction in 1982, so the building's history is well documented. The gist is that in 1752 Samuel Smith petitioned the Kingwood Meeting for permission to hold services at a building he would erect to serve as both residence and meetinghouse. They agreed, and for two years, starting in 1753, this fine stone building held Quaker meetings on the second Sunday of the month. In 1755 Smith moved to Virginia, and services were discontinued, but it remained in the hands of Quaker owners for another several decades.
     It is now being restored by a private owner under an agreement with Merrill Creek.