The building that is now the Community Center and American Legion Post 1512 has a long history as a gathering place for Marbletown residents.  The first institution to own the building was Saint Peter's Episcopal Church of Stone Ridge.  Organized as a congregation in 1846 with an initial roster of eight families, the membership met at various area locations until it purchased the property on Main Street in 1864.
     The building, then a very small, simple rectangular structure with a flat roof, had previously been a store.  Legend has it that for a time it served as a post office and, during one particularly crowded school year, as a make-shift school room.  Over the course of the next century, as the Saint Peter's congregation expanded so did the building.  A number of renovations were completed under their stewardship.
      The first of the major alterations came with the arrival of Francis Leggett whose Stone Ridge country estate, Ridgley, was completed in the early 1890s.  It is believed that Leggett's architect, Charles Coolidge Haight, was asked to oversee the improvements that included a belfry and a pillared portico.  By 1920, the interior had also been greatly altered, again as a gift of the Leggett family.  They commissioned the English artist Stephen Haweis to paint a series of murals and glass panels depicting biblical subjects. Members of the Leggett family are said to have posed as models for some of the figures. The paintings were considered highly modern in style for their time, and they were the subject of a feature article in Town and Country Magazine in June of 1920.
     Yet another project was undertaken in 1933 when a Kingston architect, Edward A. Milliken redesigned the interior ceiling and added the parish house on to the back.  The added space provided a venue not only for church functions but also for scout meetings and youth rallies. 
        In 1960, St. Peter's merged with two neighboring Episcopal churches; St. John's in High Falls and All Saints in Rosendale.  Together they formed Christ the King Episcopal Church and moved into a brand-new church building on Route 213 East.  The alter, paneling and chairs from St. Peters were moved to the new facility and can be seen in the chapel there today. At the same time, The Town of Marbletown American Legion Post was looking for a new home.  The Legion Post was granted their charter in 1947 and had met for years at various locations, including a house in High Falls which they had recently sold.  The Legion Post decided to purchase the Saint Peter's Church building in Stone Ridge, and thus began a new era for the site.
     Over the years, the American Legion hosted numerous parties and dances.  Many members of the local community attended the annual Memorial Service following the Memorial Day parade, and the Veterans Day observance was an important tradition held on the front lawn.   But as the twentieth century came to a close, the Legion Post decided that they no longer wanted the responsibility of maintaining the building, and the members felt that the community would benefit if the Post were to voluntarily give ownership to the Town of Marbletown.  The transfer of the buildings title was made on June 14, 2001, with a provision for the Legion's continued shared use.
      And so commenced the next round of alterations, with Peter Reynolds of Stone Ridge acting as design consultant, and David Wyncoop as project manager. The addition and restoration work have made room for the Teen Center, the American Legion Post meeting room, the Youth and Recreation office, and much more.
     In the spring of 2000, a series of workshops was held in which area residents came together to shape a vision for the future of the town.  The call for a community center was heard loud and clear.  The acquisition of the Legion Hall property answers this call.  Because of the American Legion's generous and timely gift, the building will continue to live out its tradition of service to the Marbletown community.  Here we will come together to learn, play and socialize for generations to come.
- By Brooke Pickering-Cole
History from the Grand Opening Celebration Pamphlet Saturday April 6, 2002

Photos:
Top left: Community Center was previously the
Saint Peter's Episcopal Church of Stone Ridge

Middle:
Memorial Day during the 1960s

Bottom right:
Grand Opening 2002