Episcopal Church of the Redeemer 
Episcopal Church of the Redeemer (undated) Courtesy of the Penobscot Maritime Museum (Prints available) Old Address: State Street and St. Regis Avenue, Bloomingdale
Other names: "The Sign of the Fish"
Year built: 1882
Architect: Richard Mitchell Upjohn
The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer was a mission offshoot of St. John's in the Wilderness in Paul Smiths. When it was built in 1882, it was felt that it was more important to minister year-round to the local people who worked at St. Regis in the summer and who lived in the Bloomingdale area than to keep St. John's open for the few in its vicinity. The Reverend Arthur H. Locke wrote that "the need of a suitable church is most urgent." 1 The architect, Richard Mitchell Upjohn, had previously contributed the design for St. Luke's Church in Saranac Lake.
After it was deconsecrated, the church building became well known as The Sign of the Fish, a summer antique shop, operated by Henry and Virginia Jakobe, both art teachers in the Saranac Lake schools.
Source: Sally E. Svenson, Adirondack Churches: A History of Design and Building (Keeseville, NY: Adirondack Architectural Heritage, 2006), pp. 166-169.
Franklin Gazette, April 30, 1880
We are to have an Episcopal Church built in Bloomingdale the coming Summer, the subscription books for which are now open and are to be seen by applying to Cap't PIERCE. Mr. E. W. TOOF, the “Honest Butcher," heads the subscription list to the tune of $25. He is certainly not the least public spirited, and is always to be depended upon in mailers of this kind. Mssrs. F. C. and A. P. BROWN, both carpenters and joiners, subscribed two weeks' work each, which is as good as cash. We say to others, "Go thou and do likewise."
Franklin Gazette, September 24, 1880
That we are to have an Episcopal church here is now a fact beyond a doubt, Mr. MONROE HALL having deeded the society a lot on St. Regis Avenue, in one of the most desirable locations in the village. Mr. LOCK, the pastor, a gentleman of the most untiring energy, informed his congregation a few Sundays ago that it was preach his Christmas sermon in the new church. The architect, Mr. UPJOHN, of Brooklyn, has the drawing of the plans.
Comments
2012-03-10 16:54:24 I believe this property is for sale; it is surely historic, though not listed. —MaryHotaling
Footnotes
1. Sally E. Svenson, Adirondack Churches: A History of Design and Building, pp. 166-169.
