70. Heermance House

400 HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

men of New York, were among his pupils. A Miss Jones taught school in the lecture room of the Dutch Reformed Church, during the ministry of Dominie Hardenburgh. Miss Jones had a "flare-up" with the latter because of her breaking an engagement with him to teach his school.

There is a map in the Starr Institute, drawn 1797, -which shows three Dutch Reformed Churches, one German Referaned, two Lutheran, and one Methodist Church in Rhinebeck, which then included Red Hook. One of the Dutch Churches was near Tivoli; another in Upper Red Hook, formed 1780; the other was in Rhinebeck village. There are now five Lutheran Churches within these limits. There are also two Methodist Churches and three Chapels, against one in i79.7; two Baptist Churches and four Episcopal Parishes aga:nst none in 1797•

An old stone house on lands of Mrs. Huntington, probably the oldest in the village, was occupied some eighty years ago as a pest house. "Crazy Gin" was an inmate of the town poor house, and was quite a character in her way. In order to keep her within bounds, a heavy block and chain were attached to her ankle. She used to attend church, and engage in prayer with the rest. Her petitions were always of .a personal nature; mentioning each individual by name, she would ask that good or evil might befall them, as they happened at that moment to have her good or her ill-will. Among the other relics in Rhinebeck is a cradle, over two hundred years old, in which several generations have been rocked; also a powder horn, likewise supposed to be over 200 years old, and which was used at the battle of Ticonderoga. The first substantial house built in the town, and probably the oldest now standing within the county, is the Heermance House, situated about a mile IIeermauce House. from Rhinebeck Station. The old part of this building was. erected, it is believed, in the year

Dutchess County Historical Society