Another Fascinating Tale of Hudson History

In today's Register-Star, John Mason reports on the history surrounding a stone plaque that was recently rescued by Tom D'Onofrio from behind St. Mary's Church and is now ensconced in the History Room of the Hudson Area Library: "Stone plaque for city's original Universalist church found." The article contains much valuable information about Universalist sect in Hudson, as well as about the history of the plaque, and identifies and locates the building in the picture below, from the Rowles Studio Collection, which has been a perennial puzzlement.

Rowles Studio Collection|Hudson Area Library

The building in the picture, which was erected in 1817, was the meeting house of the first society of Universalists in Hudson, and it was located on the southwest corner of Third and Allen streets. The site is now a vacant lot, but in 1899 it became the location of St. Mary's Academy, and that property transfer seems to explain how the plaque from the early 19th-century meeting house came into the possession of St. Mary's Church.

What is reported at the end of the article is worthy of note for anyone who has seen the need for a museum of Hudson history.

Mayor William Hallenbeck said the plaque suggested the possibility of a committee to explore a future home for such relics. D'Onofrio said a museum would be a good place for the city historian's headquarters.

"I'll run it by [Corporation Counsel Carl Whitbeck]," Hallenbeck said. "We'll try to have one sooner than later."

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