The Night Before Christmas--A Collegiate History
The Church of St Nicholas was the very first church built by the Dutch within the old fort at the tip of New Netherland. From that church the Collegiate Church tradition was born. The Church of St Nicholas also has the great fame of inspiring two prominent writers over the next few years, Washington Irving and Clement Moore. Irving wrote of Santa Claus but Moore penned the immortal "A Visit from Saint Nicholas" which became better known as "The Night Before Christmas". Attached is a copy thanks to the New-York Historical Society.
Here is a beautiful version of the original poem.
And a little bonus for Christmas Eve:
Shared by Barbara Costigan.