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Religion and
Churches played a large role in the settlers’ new lives and homes.
Early on in their history in Mohawk Valley the Nellis families were
involved in the pursuit of their newfound religious freedoms and the
establishment of suitable houses of worship to practice and further their
beliefs. There are three churches in the Mohawk Valley area which
still exist which were founded by various factions of these settlers, each
representing a significant aspect of the area
history. The first, which is considered the
center of the Nellis history, Stone Arabia Trinity Lutheran Church.
Founded in 1729, this church initially served both the Lutherans and the
Reformed until a Reformed Church could be built. The earliest
account of the original church was found as a carving on the powder horn
of one Tim Frank in 1753. The initial log
edifices were both destroyed by fire in 1780 in one of the last battles of
the Revolutionary War.
A new wooden Lutheran Church building
was erected in 1792, and this is the church that continues to
serve the Lutheran worshippers of the area. This is also where most
of the Nellis reunions take place each summer.
The second is the
Stone Arabia
Reformed Church that
shared equally the 52 acre lot provided for the churches for the
settlers. The exact beginning of the Reformed Church is not
documented, but there was a recorded Baptism there in 1745. It too
was burned in 1780. In 1788 work started to erect a stone edifice,
which when completed was touted as the best church building west of
Schenectady. In 1799 a parsonage was built adjacent. Although
the church is not used today, it remains intact as does the parsonage and
can be visited with prior arrangements. The
Old Palatine Church
was built in 1770 by
members of the Palatine Evangelical Lutheran Church, which
included the Nellis, Wagner, Reber, and Hess families. The
church has been maintained and is currently in excellent
condition, used frequently for special services and occasions.
The interior boasts a spiral pulpit with a sounding board, wooden
pews, and a balcony. The Rooster weathervane was donated by the
Nellis Family. Located just off Highway 5 passing through
Palatine, it is currently owned by the Palatine Society, and can
be viewed with advance notice.
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