Saving the Dover Stone Church

PlanPutnam Online
Intelligent Growth and Regional Planning for Putnam County, NY

Saving the Dover 'Stone Church'

The Dover Stone Church is a remarkable rock grotto on the east slope of West Mountain in the town of Dover. This location consists of a hidden natural cleft in the mountain through which Stone Church Creek flows over two ~20 foot high waterfalls and through the grotto which is some 30 feet tall by 80 feet deep, at least for the first chamber. Tourists have been visiting this wonder since the early 1800's and there is graffiti carved on the walls dating to the 1860's, perhaps earlier.

The property of 58 acres is currently for sale for ~$850,000 and the community has raised $36,000. The Town has pledged onto the project and Dutchess County Executive Bill Steinhaus has promised (words are not actions) his attentions to it. The project qualifies for county Open Space fund matching grant monies.

For more information on the project call: Evelyn or Joe Chiarito 845 877-6498 or email to echiarito@aol.com

Approaching the grotto from the north you'd never know something like this existed here. The hills in the Harlem Valley, an extension of the Hudson Highalnds, are rounded and smooth and worn by glaciers. East Mountain is in the background of this image and runs from Wingdale, NY north to Sharon, Connecticut.


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