Saint Mary's Church, Indian Lake

Saint Mary's Church, Indian Lake
(photo 9/26/2010)

I don't really know much about architectural styles. To me this is a modern style sort of prow-roofed cross between a chalet and a ranch done free of excess ornament in yellowish brick. I have no information on this building but I am guessing it was built after Vatican 2.

There are few examples of a real sort of regional style that I have found in churches so there is no reason to think of these more modern churches as being odd in the context of the Adirondacks except that maybe brick as an exterior doesn't ring true to the Adk aesthetic. Still this looks a well built solid, proud yet unassuming structure. Some of the newer churches move further from pride in appearance to downright solid and homely.

I am not sure what it is that these buildings say about  the communities of people  who built them, use them or live in the community with them. How have these people changed over time and what does the architecture say about that.

I hope that some of these questions will resolve themselves for me over time.

St John's in the Wilderness, Paul Smiths

St John's in the Wilderness Episcopal Church, Paul Smiths 1927
(photos 9/26/2010)

Adirondack Churches, by Sally Svenson devotes a chapter to Church Design for Summer Residents and Visitors and St John's figures prominently. The original church was a log building built in 1877 designed by George Hathorne of New York city.  Fundraising for the new church was led by Dr. Edward Livingston Trudeau, who I believe is buried behind the present church. The idea of building with logs was novel for wealthy visitors who enjoyed the spending time as rustics while on vacation from the city.
Locals preferred to more sophisticated construction if it could be afforded.

The original church burned down in 1927 and was replaced with a  more fire resistant stone church in a medieval English style designed by William Distin of Saranac Lake.

This is also the final resting place of Clifford R. Pettis a Cornell University Forester who is named as "the father of reforestation" in New York State. Pettis was Superintendent of State Forests from 1910 to 1927 a time when much of the Adirondacks was a deforested wasteland prone to fire and erosion.

Deer Meadows, Inlet

Okay, so this isn't a house of worship but I love the sign. And they have a phone booth. Retro.

St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, Old Forge

St Bartholomew Catholic Church, Old Forge
(photo 11/19/2010)

The cornerstone gives a date of May 3, 1991 for this building which is undergoing some minor renovation.  The internets give a founding date of 1897 for the parish and the current building apparently replaces a spectacular Queen Anne style wood-frame structure built in 1899 which had an ornate if somewhat grotesque tower reaching skyward like some sort of pagoda rocket.

The current arch glulam and brick building says oh-so 1991 though some of the furnishings may have been salvaged from an older church. An odd eclecticism.

Diamond Point Community Church

Diamond Point Community Church, formerly the Union Evangelical Church (1876-79) and St. John's Community Church
(photo 10/01/1)


This building, located on the corner of Diamond Point Road and Rt. 9N, appears in Adirondack Churches as an illustration for the wagon shed which once was a feature to many rural churches. 


From the church website a portion of the churches history.        


" Although known by many different names over the past 130 years, the mission of this church has remained the same; to welcome all who wish to worship here. Mr. George H. Cramer commenced construction of the building in 1876 as a memorial to his brother John Cramer. Built of native rough stone it consisted of a tower and belfry at its east and a chancel at the west displaying a handsome stained glass window also dedicated to his brother. Displeasure with the progress caused Mr. Cramer to unceremoniously close down the job, leaving the building available for use but possessing a barn-like floor, unpainted and soiled walls, and a generally uncomfortable and unwelcoming atmosphere. Called the Union Evangelical Church, it was dedicated to the worship of Almighty God on August 12, 1879. At that time the church and the property on which it rests were presented by Mr. Cramer to the then trustees, G. H. Cramer, Jefferson Smith, and Dr. Edwin L. Patrick. Unfortunately the disrepair of the building reflected upon the behavior of the parishioners. Children were unsupervised, youth both male and female munched apples and tossed chestnuts among themselves, while the young men came and went as they pleased, frequently disrupting the service. During its first few years the church was served by local Methodist ministers and even and itinerant evangelist who offered to preach without pay."


There is much more information on the church website:

www.diamondpointcommunitychurch.com

Bruno LaVerdiere, Church of the Holy Infancy, Lake Luzerne

Bruno LaVerdiere (Brother Bruno) was a monk and resident artist at St. Martin's Abbey in Washington State from 1955 to 1969. A graduate of St. John's University in Minnesota he worked with Henry Takemoto while in Washington.

 He studied at the Art Students League from 1965 to 1967,  eventually married and moved to Hadley NY where he worked as an artist and taught at Skidmore College and Adirondack Community College as well as other institutions around the US as well as  in France and Italy.

Bruno created a large chandelier, several candle-holders/pavement lights, and a large Pascal candleholder for the Church of the Holy Infancy--guessing at the date, ca 1977.

LaVerdiere currently is retired from teaching but lives and works at his home and studio in Hadley, NY. He is the father of Julian LaVerdiere who with Paul Myoda created the Tribute in Light at the site of the World Trade Center after the attacks of September 11, 2001.

Church of the Holy Infancy

Church of the Holy Infancy, Holy Mother and Child Parish 1929/1956; formerly Church of the Infant Jesus. Catholic.
Lake Luzerne  (photo 9/24/2010)


Originally built under the leadership of Father James A. Kelly in 1876 as one of three nearly identical churches (St. Charles Borromeo in Wevertown, now Beaver Brook Outfitters; St James Catholic  in North Creek---only  St. Charles Borromeo building still exists) the current church, built in 1929, stands on route 9N in Lake Luzerne.