The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1924-10-09
The Flatlands Church.

1t was truly sacred ground, hallow-
ed by the footprints 300 years ago OF
MANY Of the ancestors of the present
population of Monmouth County who
devoutly worshipped at this ancient
shrine. Standing Oh she site of the old
Dutch Reformed church building at
Flatlands. Long Island we could not
help but let our thoughts go back to
the Early Dutch whose prosperous
farms dotted at that time the whole OF
Long Island, the tillers of the soil find
ing ready sale for their produce at
Men Amsterdam and that section.
AThe low Flatlands reminding them SO
en,1eh of their beloved Holland that
thew took pride by tireless energy and
painstaking thrift to make their planta-
fions adorned with trees and blossom
with fruits and flowers. Some OF these
farm houses built from 200 to 800
wears ago. are still standing as monu-
Inants to these sturdy builders and
their low construction and over-hang-
inu roofs and capacious barns present
q ricture both novel and enhancing.
The old Garretson windmill, winch
owing to the great abundance OF water
suhsfituted a water wheel for sails and
over which the water listlessly tnn-
bles as the long neglect put an end to
its turning many years ago; the grand
old 3arretson home with it's many
harms and the old Vanderveer home,
located in the Flatlands, are names
tbat recall many affectionate scenes OF
the mast that now only survive IN ira
dition,
Prior to 1854 there were only two
Dutch churches in New Netherlands,
one at New Amsterdam and the other
ut Albany. but that year the. third was
established at Midweout, the present
FIatbush Of Long Island.
About this time Dominic Johannls
Theodorous Polhemns. ancestor OF the
Polhemnses Of Monmouth. arrived
from Ttamarca. in Brazil, where he
had been stationed, and upon ms
arrival he was immediately employed
ito preach to the congregation Sunday
mornings while in the afternoon he
preached at Breuekelen BrookiyD
and New Amersnoowt, Flathush, alter
nately.
Dominic Geraldeous Dubois in
1871 while preparing for visit to Ber-
gen. N. j.. going there Mondays as he
could not be spared Sundays from ms
church, was seized with disease which
soon terminated his life
These Dominies undoubtedly otf1cla-
ted at the Flatlands.
Around this old church site, now
replaced by the two comparatively
modern structures, rebuilt church
and Sunday School room. lie sleeping
many ancestors Of the early Dutch pio-
neers Of Monmouth. some OF the lnserlp-
tions on the headstones being In Low
Dutch. Here are the Vanderveers. Voor-
hees, Kouvenhowens, VanderDergs,
Denice's 1860 Bergens, Stoutnout
LOT, Loots. Schencks, Wyckotfs, Will
iamson, Holmes, Garretson, Hegerman::
Dim and great many other names OF
this locality.
In the vestibule of this church is a
model in q glass case of the first church
that stood on the site. A note on 1t
reads: This model of the original octa-
gon church, built in 1923 was designed
and constructed by Simeon j. Brown,
The model is made from the shingles
and hand wrought nails of the original.
The stones that form the foundatlon
OF this model above were. from
the original church. The bricks In the
foundation came from Holland. The
lQca OF OuIIuiuR GniS lACAOA F." e1S 49,
ceived by the Rev. Arson Dubois
pastor of this church from 1870 to
1881. At the close of his ministry here
he presented this model to the
Flatlands Reformed church.
The poor chest now in the gallery
Of the church with its hand wrought
iron work is Of interest as is also a
piece Of wampum. ae a relic OF the
Indian occupation Of the Island.
Rev. VIM E. RAIDER, formerly OF
the Middletown Reformed Church, is
now pastor of this historic church
congregation. As an evidence of prog
ress, electric lights, are now being
installed.
On the bronze tablet at the side of
the front doors of the church building
Isl the following inscription:
tFlatlands Dutch Reformed Church,
Erected in 1868, Enlarged l762,
Rebuilt 1894, Rebuilt lo48.
This tablet is placed here by the So
ciety of the Cincinnati and Daughters
of the Revolution, November 1910.