Churches
Text excerpted from: Aber, Ted, and King, Stella, The History of Hamilton County. Lake Pleasant, NY: Great Wilderness Books, 1965 and Aber, Ted, Adirondack Folks. Prospect, NY: Prospect Books, 1980
BAPTIST
In the early 1870’s, several families who had been members of the Second Baptist Church of Fort Ann, Washington County, moved to Indian Lake. Here they found other adherents to the sect. In 1875, the group organized, meeting for worship in their various homes and in the old schoolhouse on Christian Hill.
During the ministry of the Rev. W. S. Bush, land was acquired on which to build a church edifice. From 1889 to 1892, the building was under construction. The foundation was laid; then, work stopped for lack of funds. Individual work and sacrifice went into the building.
One man moved his family near the uncompleted structure so that he could more readily work on the building. Another refused to quit until tuberculosis claimed him. Still another drove his horse and buggy, with a platform for his four children at the rear, to Lake George in search of funds.
Formal dedication of the church building took place on July 13, 1892.
CATHOLIC
Before 1880, transient Catholic priests representing the Diocese of Ogdensburg were visiting the town.
Masses were said, somewhat irregularly, at the home of John McGinn, the Canadian Irishman who had settled at Indian Lake as northern agent for Finch, Pruyn and Company.
Thirteen years later, a stronger organization was desired. St. Mary’s Church of Indian Lake was incorporated on August 21, 1894. The Catholic Church was built in 1895.
METHODIST
Against severe financial odds, a church edifice had been started in the fall of 1871. Although most of the parishioners were poor, they gave to the extent of their means. Some even mortgaged their homes. Many gave as much as $200. Jones Ordway of North River donated $200 for the bell, which has called people to church since, having been transferred to the present church at the time of its construction. The entire cost was pledged and paid on the day of dedication, October 16, 1872. Located at the site of the present church, it was a low white-painted building with roofless porch across the front and steps leading to the ground from either side. Some 350 people could be accommodated, the records over-state.
Source: Aber, Ted, and King, Stella, The History of Hamilton County. Lake Pleasant, NY: Great Wilderness Books, 1965 and Aber, Ted, Adirondack Folks. Prospect, NY: Prospect Books, 1980
Photographs courtesy The Indian Lake Town Museum, Indian Lake, NY 12842
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2002 The Indian Lake Central School District, Indian Lake, NY