A sketch of Florida would hardly be complete, without mention of Glenmere, a beautiful sheet of water, furnishing the village water supply, located one mile east of the village.
From the date of its early christening as Thompson's Pond, its clear waters have furnished pleasure to the boatman and fisherman.
CHURCHES.
The Reformed Church of Warwick was organized by a committee of the Classis of Paramus in 1804, and was duly incorporated on March 18, 1807, under the corporate name and title of "The Consistory of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church and Congregation of Warwick." It was the successor of the Presbyterian Church and occupies the same site of the earlier society. In 1904 it celebrated its centennial.
During Mr. Crispell's ministry the present stone church was built and furnished at a cost of about $40,000. The new edifice was begun in 1889, and dedicated June 26, 1890.
Union African Methodist Episcopal Church.—This organization was begun in the winter of 1906. The church was incorporated under the above name on March 12, 1906. Rev. Joseph Stiles was the first pastor. During the year that Rev. Stiles had charge a new church was built on McEwan street at a cost of something like $2,000.
The Roman Catholic Church of St. Stephen.—In Shea's history we read, Father Steinmeyer, S. J., better known as Father Farmer, crossed over from his New Jersey missions into Orange County and baptized seven near Warwick. After his death, other priests may have visited the neighborhood, but there is no record of the fact.
In 1849, Father Ward was appointed resident pastor at Goshen, with, charge of all Orange County, except the strip along the Hudson. The building formerly occupied by the Methodist church in Church street was purchased by the denomination, but was not taken possession of until 1867.
In June, 1887, the Presbyterian church at Florida was purchased.