Our historical marker has been installed!

The New Milford Historic Preservation Commission has recognized the historic status of our building with a marker installed last week. Although our art center was established in Englewood in 1957, we purchased the building nearly 40 years ago, after moving here in 1984.

Our historic building was originally the site of St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, the first religious congregation organized in the section of New Milford that was then known as Peetzburgh.

The original church was a simple, wood-frame structure built circa 1895. In 1905, a concrete foundation (currently resurfaced with a stucco-like material) was installed under the building. A second renovation took place in 1917, when the church was enlarged, and 11 stained glass windows were installed. These windows still exist and were retrofitted into existing openings. From 1934 through 1954, the building underwent several major improvements and expansions.

The various additions/renovations have, for the most part, been consistent with the building’s original Colonial Revival style. To accommodate an increase in membership, St. Matthew’s built a new church on property just across the street and sold the building in 1964 to the Church of the Nazarene.

Today, the building serves not only as a reminder of New Milford’s rich history, but also as an excellent example of how historic buildings can find new life through creative reuse.