Firefighters Battle Fire at Historic Hyde Park, NY, Church

Daily Freeman, Kingston, N.Y.
(TNS)

HYDE PARK, N.Y. — The historic Millennial Kingdom Church on Mansion Drive, a “cornerstone of Hyde Park’s heritage,” was on fire New Year’s morning and firefighting efforts continued throughout the day, authorities posted online Thursday.

“Waking up on New Year’s morning to the sound of sirens is a sound no neighbor ever wants to hear. This morning, those sirens were right behind my own home,” Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino posted on Facebook. “My heart is heavy today as we watch the Millennial Kingdom Church in Hyde Park — the historic Crumwold Estate — continue to burn in a devastating blaze.” 

The executive said first responders were “working tirelessly since the early hours and expect to remain on-site through the night (Thursday, Jan. 1) to finally bring this fire under control.”

Serino said the estate was built in 1889 by Archibald Rogers, “a close friend” of the Roosevelts, and was designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt. “It has stood for over 130 years as a testament to the Gilded Age grandeur of our county, and seeing it in this state today is truly heartbreaking,” she said.

The county executive thanked “our local heroes,” citing the efforts of Dutchess County volunteer firefighters and first responders, “out-of-state and out-of-county” crews, and the Hudson Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, “who acted quickly to secure a safe haven for everyone affected by the fire.”

As of late Thursday, Serino said no injuries had been reported. The Rhinebeck Fire Department posted that, “Crews from Rhinebeck, along with numerous departments from Dutchess, have been working all day (Jan. 1) to assist the Hyde Park Department at a large fire. Crews will continue to work into the night. Members from the department are working in shifts to ensure safety.”

In an “emergency water conservation advisory” posted Friday, Jan. 2, the Hyde Park Regional Water System, which includes the Harbourd Hills, Pinebrook Estates, Zone L and Staatsburg water systems, asked residents of those districts to, ” Please conserve water immediately, as firefighters have been engaged in battling a structure fire for nearly 12 hours and continued conservation is critical to maintaining system pressure and supporting their ongoing efforts.”

The Red Cross assisted 13 people affected by the blaze, according to a press release.

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