Does anyone know what happened at the church across from Seth Boyden?

Based on my somewhat limited experience with the architect/builder I would say he is a very decent man and a gifted architect. My sense is that he wants to do something that will be a credit to the neighborhood. I suspect he is aware of the cornerstone, but you should certainly tell him about it.

Why would you think he is aware of the cornerstone? I personally never saw it until all the shrubs were gone. It was well hidden. I will tell him though. I think history is important.

Furthermore, being the curious person that I am, I would have loved to have gone inside the building before it was knocked down. I just was too busy the last few weeks and didn't pursue it. An acquaintance of mine that lives across the street from the church was able to talk with people at the site and actually looked in the door and saw some of the beams already falling down. I know it was dangerous but I would have gone as far in as they would have let me. I am looking forward to the meeting and chatting with the architect about the site. I guess you can tell that church holds a lot of childhood memories for me.

I suspected he was aware because he seems very hands on and I'm thinking he was probably there for the demolition and saw it.

I may have some photos of the inside - it wasn't pretty . If I still have them I will post them for you.

Thanks @sarahzm ! When I saw it yesterday I saw a cute little kitty cat just looking around and inspecting the work LOL I didn't realize the house next to it came with the property. It is a big piece of property when you see it as it is now. I cannot wait to see his design plans for the housing.

Did anybody go to last week's meeting at DeHart Park? I planned to go, but priorities would not let me attend.

sarahzm said:
Based on my somewhat limited experience with the architect/builder I would say he is a very decent man and a gifted architect. My sense is that he wants to do something that will be a credit to the neighborhood. I suspect he is aware of the cornerstone, but you should certainly tell him about it.

Sarah- Not sure if anyone reached a definitive conclusion about the cornerstone, but it not (or if unaware) and if you have the builder's contact info, I'd be happy to drop a line and let him know about it. Saving it is a no-brainier and most (if not all) builders will respectfully do so if not already planning on it.

ellenlynn said:
The church was knocked down yesterday. A cornerstone depicting the date of 1839 was still left standing. I sure hope that is not destroyed and will be left somewhere prominent on the property. After all it is a piece of history in Maplewood. There is going to be a town meeting this Thursday 8/20 at the DeHart Community Center with the mayor, the architect and the community. The architect will state what he is going to build and the towns people can ask questions, voice concerns (I am sure), etc.

Thanks all for taking up the case of the cornerstone. Anything happen with saving it?

Images of America Maplewood says the Hilton (Middleville) Methodist Church was Maplewood's first of that denomionation, established 1836, so the 1839 construction start makes perfect sense. If anyone has Maplewood Past and Present there's likely to be more history than the one picture.

For those who don't know, the church's parking lot was the site of the Middleville School, built in 1881 and demolished I think in the 50's. Tuscan Rd. was known as Academy St up to that time.

@ctrzaska I sent you a PM with the contact info

Ok. I'll get on it.

Here's another pic in front of Seth Boyden with the church in the background.

These pictures are so cool ! Thank you for sharing. I love these pieces of history. The pictures of the children standing in front of Seth Boyden with the church in the background is great. This picture would be great to "incorporate" into the cornerstone somehow.