THURSDAY, May 9, 2024: Westchester Sketchers at St. Paul's Church National Historic Site, Mt. Vernon

Suggested by Marilyn Varley

Visiting Saint Paul's Church is a journey back in time with many stories of how the site, and surrounding area, has changed over the years.

 This 18th-century church, located at 897 South Columbus Avenue in Mount Vernon, is one of New York's oldest parishes (1665-1980). It was used as a hospital following the important Revolutionary War Battle at Pell's Point in 1776, and was the scene of various military developments for the next six years. The church stood at the edge of Eastchester village green, the site of the "Great Election" (1733), which raised the issues of Freedom of Religion and Press. Visitors are able to tour both the church and the cemetery, and it is recommended that they view a short, introductory film depicting the history of the site and view exhibits in the museum. 

The adjoining cemetery contains burials dating from 1704. Among notable individuals buried in the churchyard are one of the Army surgeons (Dr. Charles S. Taft) who attended President Lincoln at Ford's Theater in 1865, a leading Broadway actress (Minnie DuPree) of the early 20th century, a prominent Hudson River School landscape painter (Edward Gay), and Rebecca Turner, a woman born into slavery in 1781, who achieved freedom in 1810 and lived in the shadows of the church until age 93 -- a local elementary school has been re-named in her honor.

The current feature exhibition in the museum is: "The Emergence of a National Historic Site: St. Paul's Between the World Wars."

DETAILS

DATE: THURSDAY, May 9, 2024.

START TIME: 10:00 AM. Please arrive on time for a brief tour.

LOCATION:  St. Paul's Church National Historic Site 897 South Columbus Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY 10550 Phone: 914 667-4116

DIRECTIONS: https://www.nps.gov/sapa/planyourvisit/directions.htm

PARKING: There is free parking on site.

Lunch and/or Show and Tell: 12:30 PM.  We won't be able to eat inside the church. If weather permits we can have lunch outdoors.  If not, we will have Show and Tell inside and then break for lunch on our own.

NOTES: 

• Bring water and your lunch or a snack. 
• Bring a stool for more sketching options.

Please RSVP to Cathy Gutterman at westchester@nycurbansketchers.org

Looking for us? 

Call/text: Cathy at (914) 625-0766 or Marianne at914-355-6507.