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More than just a historic landmark, the Brighton Heights Reformed Church
led the effort on Staten Island to help the poor and needy. Project Hospitality
(a not-for-profit group dedicated to assisting the homeless on Staten Island)
was founded in the Brighton Heights Reformed Church and operated a food
pantry for the poor out of the church.
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The three-alarm fire destroyed the roof and heavily damaged the steeple of
the 133-year old church. The fire began at about 3:30 p.m. and required
upwards of 200 firefighters from Staten Island and Brooklyn to subdue it
later that evening. Firefighters at first stood by helplessly because of
a lack of water pressure. They eventually raised three cherry-pickers 80
feet into the air and blasted water at the building.
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The church, which was being repainted, had already suffered a small
fire in November 1995, also started by a worker stripping paint off the
exterior with a heat gun. Both fires were caused by workers hired by Sunrise
Restorations of Stapleton on Staten Island.
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Staten Island Borough President Guy Molinari was instrumental in slowing
the demolition process while preservationists salvaged some of the stained glass
windows. In this picture the Borough President negotiates while Church Pastor
Bob Schwander looks on. |
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Ken Lustbader of the Landmarks Conservancy surveys a
piece of salvaged window.
The Preservation League of Staten Island appropriated funds
on June 30, 1996, to assist in salvaging the Church's stained glass windows.
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