PORT JERVIS – Merciful Love and Redemption (MLR) Holy Church and Cultural Center, formerly known as Port Jervis’ Deerpark Reformed Church, has been deemed as an unsafe structure, with occupancy prohibited following the collapse of part of the ceiling in the sanctuary. The prohibition order was issued on May 7 by Port Jervis Code Enforcement Officer David Rivera.
Mayor Dominic Cicalese was saddened by the situation.
“We hope we find some sort of remedy to the situation. It is a sad situation. Deerpark Reformed Church is conveniently located on our East Main Street and has been a part of our community forever,” he said.
Designated as the city’s oldest church, the 30 East Main Street structure was built in 1868 for a congregation whose roots extend to 1737 early Dutch settlers.
The structure had been undergoing what current owners said were minor repairs and remodeling in anticipation of a planned public opening hoped for this summer.
A partner in MLR said he and others were in the building this week and last, as work was being done on an empty lot next door – the former Sullivan Avenue School property currently owned by the City of Port Jervis. This partner said he was told by a DPW employee that bases were being installed for the Rotary Club to place flags in.
As backhoes and construction hammers were drilling in the blacktop, he said he and others in the church felt vibrations, st
rong tremors, and loud sounds he described as earthquake-like.
He said he placed a call to the DPW and was told that this work had been approved to assist with an also-approved Rotary Club project. That project, which is currently underway, is the Rotary Club’s annual Flags for Heroes project which raises scholarship funds for graduating local seniors through community tributes to heroes.
On Tuesday of this week, it was discovered upon entering the historic place of worship that a section of the ceiling had collapsed onto the pews and a portion of the sanctuary.
While the partner feels the structure, roof, and beams remain sound, engineers have been called for an assessment to take place next week. He said repairs will require a tremendous amount of money to be invested, but current owners remain committed to making sure the structure is rebuilt and preserved.
The plan is to continue for worship purposes as well as to serve as a community cultural center. The structure contains a theatre, stage, banquet hall, and two acres of land and the owners say much public interest has been expressed for these uses. They continue to see a tremendous public benefit and potential for this historic building.
No one was able to be reached for comment from the DPW or building department. Rotary Club President Howard Kuperman said the Rotary Club is a community service organization, and simply placed flag poles into receptacles as part of their annual fundraising scholarship effort.
