Holladay Stone Chapel (Ophir Chapel) 2900 Purchase St

This magnificent chapel is located on the grounds of Manhattanville College, but originally built by Ben Holladay for his wife, Ann. This Norman Gothic-style architecture is the oldest of three chapels in the county. Holladay was known as the Stagecoach King, as much of his financial success was related to the Pony Express and the Overland Express Stage Coaches. [1]

After years of neglect, and now in the hands of Manhattanville College, their Director Michaela Walsh led a team to restore the chapel. It now serves as a learning space and environmental park educating students, faculty, staff and also the community focusing on ways to ecologically preserve the past, present and future. [2]

[1] Ophir Farm and Manhattanville College. Accessed May 30, 2024. http://pepapurchaseny.com/pdfs/ophir-farm-history-book.pdf.

[2] “Historic Purchase Holladay Stone Chapel.” Purchase Environmental Protective Association (PEPA), New York. Accessed May 30, 2024. http://www.pepapurchaseny.com/holladay-stone-chapel.php.

Learn more from a Manhatnnville College vistor guide: http://www.pepapurchaseny.com/pdfs/ophir-farm-history-book.pdf

Learn more from the Purchase Environmental Protective Association (PEPA) here: http://www.pepapurchaseny.com/pdfs/ophir-farm-walking-tour.pdf