Lake Placid will very soon present two of the finest edifices of worship in the North Country.

One of them, St. Agnes Catholic Church, is receiving the finishing touches this week and will be opened to the faithful Easter Sunday morning.

The other, to be known as the Community Church and calculated to provide a church home for residents and visitors of the various Protestant denominational sects, is not advanced enough to open the main auditorium to the public for several weeks to come and will be given special attention later.

No other parish in the diocese of Ogdensburg has shown a growth comparable with St. Agnes. A quarter of a century ago, there were very few Catholics here. About that time, however, the later Father Waters of Saranac Lake established a mission here celebrating Mass every third Sunday. Under his pastorate, the mission chapel was built, a part of which is the present Lake Placid Hardware store. In 1904, the Rev. R. J.. Cotter came here for the purpose of establishing a parish. He undertook the building of the church and on Easter Sunday April 23, 1905, the first Mass was celebrated with but a mere handful of the faithful in attendance.

At that time, it was thought that the edifice would serve indefinitely from the standpoint of winter worshippers at least. But the pastor, Rev. Daniel E. Cahill, found growth of the congregation has gone on steadily until the present. During the past two summers, eight Masses each Sunday were said, yet at the two usual Mass hours, 8:30 and 10:30, the crowds were lined up in large numbers outside unable to gain admission.

This condition brought about the culmination of plans which, carried out like the magic of Aladdin’s lamp, resulted in the fine community Gothic structure adoring Stevens Hill, a pride to citizens of Lake Placid irrespective of religious affiliations, now replacing the former pretty the modest place of worship.

Appreciating the sacrifice of both summer and permanent members of the congregation in making possible the building of this fine edifice, yet the zeal and untiring efforts of the good pastor, Father Cahill must not be overlooked. The new church rose in its majesty, surrounding the old structure, which in turn melted from sight like magic.

On June 2, 1924, Carter B. Pierce started the excavating and foundation work, completing the contract on Aug. 15.

The plans and specifications were drawn up by D. D. Kieff of Watertown. General construction began immediately after Mr. Pierce completed the foundation.

Thomas Gerrigon supervised the laying of the AuSable granite and Greendale rug brick. This and the roofing of asbestos gray shingles was completed Nov. 15. The roofing and the carpentry work was under the supervision of George Bola, one of Lake Placid’s leading expert builders. The plastering was in charge of Thomas Bidwell of Saranac Lake.

The church proper is 121 feet long, the nave 50 and the transept is 61 feet wide, giving a seating capacity of 750 at the new St. Agnes Catholic Church.