"The Publick Building Called the Temple"
Chaplain Israel Evans proposed building a “Temple of Virtue” where officers could assemble for meetings and the army could worship together rather than attend separate services around town or ignore the Sabbath completely. To this end, soldiers provided 5,000 feet of finished timbers, 21,000 shingles, and sufficient fieldstone for construction of the cantonment’s largest building.
On March 15, 1783, in an emotional address to his officers not to rebel against the civil authority of the Congress over pay issues. Major Samuel Shaw wrote that Washington “took out his spectacles, and begged the indulgence of his audience while he put them on, observing at the same time, that he had grown gray in their service, and now found himself growing blind.” It was a subtle yet powerful way of reminding his loyal officers that even he had sacrificed much in the service of his country. On April 19, the “Cessation of Hostilities” was announced here formally ending combat.
to Day We Meet at the temple Whare there is a temples pulpit Maid and a Gallery for the Musick – it is a Bulding Which is Converted to Many Uses Which Makes Me think of Sinagoge of Old that We Read of.
Private Thomas Foster, 7th Massachusetts Regiment.
handsomely finished, with a spacious hall…the vault of the hall was arched; at each end of the hall were two rooms, conveniently situated for the issuing of general orders, for the sitting of Boards of Officers, Courts Martial, &c.
General William Heath, describing the Temple Building.
Marker can be reached from Temple Hill Road (New York Route 300), on the right when traveling north.
Courtesy hmdb.org
