Stereograph

Description

This photograph was taken from the east side of the Albany-Pittsfield Road [now Darrow Road] looking south, with the camera set across the road from the old Meetinghouse (1785). The photographer captured the scene of members of the public coming to Mount Lebanon to attend the Shakers public worship on a Sunday morning. The buildings visible along the road from right to left include the Meetinghouse (1824), the Church Family Dwelling (1787), the Brethren's Workshop (1827), probably the Herb House ( ). The Church Family Dwelling burned in January of 1875. James Irving, the photographer, began photographing at Mount Lebanon in either 1869 or 1870. Since there are leaves on the trees the photograph was not made later than the summer of 1874, so the photograph dates from between 1869 and 1874. An inscription on the back of the card reads: "The Old Dwelling House, destroyed by fire--January 1875. 1st Order Mt Lebanon."