Old Providence Stone Church
Encyclopedia
Old Providence Stone Church is a historic church in Spottswood, Virginia in Augusta County, Virginia
.
A log structure was built in the area by 1743 for early settlers known as the South Mountain Meering House. In 1746 the congregation split, and the stone building was built in 1793 on land donated by Patrick and Susana Hall. In 1844, Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
of the South. In 1859, a new building was built for services, and a school used the stone building until the American Civil War
, and then a store and residence. From 1888 it was used as a high school for the valley until the early 20th century, and then a meeting room until a fire in 1959 destroyed the interior.
The building is a simple gable structure with 18 inch thick walls, about 25 feet (7.6 m) wide and 70 feet (21.3 m) long.
It was added to the National Register on December 5, 1972.
Robert McCormick (1780–1846), patriarch of the McCormick family
which includes Cyrus McCormick
, is buried in the cemetery, along with other members of the family before they moved to Chicago
. The McCormick Estate
just to the south is now a historic museum and experimental farm.
The parents of sewing machine inventor James Edward Allen Gibbs
are also buried in the small stone walled cemetery near the old church. A new church and larger modern cemetery are across the State Route 919 (known as "Old Providence Road) to the east.
Augusta County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 65,615 people, 24,818 households, and 18,911 families residing in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile . There were 26,738 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
.
A log structure was built in the area by 1743 for early settlers known as the South Mountain Meering House. In 1746 the congregation split, and the stone building was built in 1793 on land donated by Patrick and Susana Hall. In 1844, Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church as it exists today is the remnant of a small denomination, which was formed from the Synod of the South, a division of the Associate Reformed Church...
of the South. In 1859, a new building was built for services, and a school used the stone building until the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, and then a store and residence. From 1888 it was used as a high school for the valley until the early 20th century, and then a meeting room until a fire in 1959 destroyed the interior.
The building is a simple gable structure with 18 inch thick walls, about 25 feet (7.6 m) wide and 70 feet (21.3 m) long.
It was added to the National Register on December 5, 1972.
Robert McCormick (1780–1846), patriarch of the McCormick family
McCormick family
The McCormick family is a family of business people and politicians from the United States.They descend from Robert McCormick and Mary Ann Hall.Below is a list of members:...
which includes Cyrus McCormick
Cyrus McCormick
Cyrus Hall McCormick, Sr. was an American inventor and founder of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, which became part of International Harvester Company in 1902.He and many members of the McCormick family became prominent Chicagoans....
, is buried in the cemetery, along with other members of the family before they moved to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. The McCormick Estate
Cyrus McCormick Farm
The Cyrus McCormick Farm and Workshop is on the family farm of inventor Cyrus Hall McCormick known as Walnut Grove. Cyrus Hall McCormick improved and patented the mechanical reaper, which eventually led to the creation of the combine harvester...
just to the south is now a historic museum and experimental farm.
The parents of sewing machine inventor James Edward Allen Gibbs
James Edward Allen Gibbs
James Edward Allen Gibbs was a farmer, inventor, and businessman from Rockbridge County in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. On June 2, 1857, he was awarded a patent for the first chain-stitch single-thread sewing machine. In partnership with James Willcox, Gibbs became a principal in Willcox &...
are also buried in the small stone walled cemetery near the old church. A new church and larger modern cemetery are across the State Route 919 (known as "Old Providence Road) to the east.