The Greenwood Baptist Church at 520 Warwick Turnpike, Upper Greenwood Lake, is pictured in the 1930s. (
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Thanksgiving may be a time when those interested in North Jersey religious history find the life of a millionaire clergyman particularly compelling. The Rev. Conrad Vreeland devoted both his life and fortune to spreading the Baptist faith. In his era, attending church on Thanksgiving was an American tradition. Early Thanksgivings included morning services followed by a feast, whereas today the holiday has largely become secular, focused on family, food, football, and shopping. Yet many West Milford churches still offered parishioners the opportunity to include God in their observance.
Of the 14 churches Vreeland built and supported during his lifetime, four were located in what is now West Milford: Canisteer, Echo Lake, Green Mountain, and Newfoundland. Only Echo Lake Church at 1355 Macopin Road remains open, now housing Echo Lake Academy, a Christian school for kindergarten through eighth grade. The other churches, such as St. Joseph and Our Lady Queen of Peace, eventually closed after years of service.
Conrad Vreeland was born Dec. 26, 1838, at Echo Lake, four years before West Milford became a municipality. After growing up there, he moved to Brooklyn, where he became a millionaire by 35 through contracting and real estate. He married Caroline Hoag in 1866 and returned to Echo Lake, where they lived a quiet, humble life. With his wealth, Vreeland pursued his dream of building churches and preaching, serving congregations in West Milford every Sunday morning, noon, and evening. He died at age 74 in Echo Lake and is buried in Deckertown Union Cemetery in Sussex County.
Vreeland’s influence extended across North Jersey. His obituary noted that over 200 people traveled primitive roads to pay respects at his home, highlighting his prominence in the region. Clergymen, officials, and local citizens attended services, and hymns were sung, including one set to Chopin’s funeral march.
The Newfoundland church, first built in 1804 along the Paterson/Hamburg Turnpike, disappeared in 1850. In 1877, 37 members of the Echo Lake congregation reorganized it, with Vreeland ordained as pastor. The property and cemetery were sold around 1920, though the cemetery remains at Clinton and LaRue Roads.
Greenwood Church, built in 1884 with Vreeland’s support, is currently closed and holds no regular services. Clinton Church, located in a village now submerged by Clinton Reservoir, was cleared along with other homes when the East Jersey Water Company purchased land to supply Newark with water between 1889 and 1892.
Vreeland’s legacy reflects his dedication to faith and community. From building churches to educating children and preaching tirelessly, he left an indelible mark on West Milford and North Jersey. While the original structures and communities may have faded, his impact on the region’s religious life endures.
