Near the depot stands the civil and police courts for tlie Twenty-third and Twenty fourth Wards of the city of New York, also one of the largest and best arranged pubUc schools of the city. Here arc four churches, numerous stores and manufactories, &:c. A short distance north of Fordham is a depot for Jerome Park which borders on the Croton Aqueduct, flere is located a large race course and club house belonging to the American Jockey Club.

Little is kno^\TL concerning the early history of religion in the manor except, that as early as 1671 "the inhabitants residing between the two Kills of Harlem and the Broncks " were obliged to contribute towards the support of a minister when one should be settled or called in the Manor of Fordham.

In May 1696 a society was organized here by the Collegiate Dutch Reformed congregation of New York. The Rev. John Alontoigne bein<^ minister; and Hcnricus Selyns, William Beekman, Johannes Kerbyle, Johannes Depyster, Jacobus Kipp, Isaac de Forrest, and Lsaac de Reyner elders and deacons. The next minister seems to have been the Rev. Henricus Beyse, who about 1709 resigned his pastorate and joined the Church of England. For Colonel Lewis Morris writing to the venerable Propogation Society in 1709, says: --

" I have used some endeavours to persuade the Dutch in my neighborhood into a good opinion of the Church of England ; and have had that success, that they would, I believe, join a great part of 'them in the sacraments and worship -- had they Dutch Common Prayer Bunks and a minister who understood their language. I have taken some i)ains with one of their ministers, one Henricus Beyse, and ha\c prevailed un iiim to accept of Episcoi>al ordination."