Where in the ADK? Chapel Island
Photo courtesy Chapel Island
This week’s “Where in the ADK?” comes from beautiful Saranac Lake in the Adirondacks Tri-Lakes & High Peaks area. It’s the beautiful Island Chapel on, where else, Chapel Island in Upper Saranac Lake.
The history of this unique destination dates back over 100 years. In 1889, Smith Weed, Martin Turner and John Riley, lawyers from Plattsburgh, NY, acquired the island (known at the time as Johnson’s Island). According to the abstract, their purpose was to build a chapel within one year open to all Christian worshippers and clergy members in good standing. It was later known as Church Island and finally as Chapel Island.
The original building was Victorian-style, painted gray with white trim. Across the front was a deep porch approached by a stairway at each end. This building served worshippers until disaster struck in August 1956.
Parishioners at the original Chapel Island
Allegedly, picnickers on the island lit a bonfire. When preparing to depart, they thought they extinguished the fire. However, the fire seemingly smoldered and spread among the peat, pine needles and moss until it reached the porch of the Chapel. Despite the best efforts of those living and working in the surrounding area, the Chapel burned to the ground. Through the efforts of many dedicated workers, the Chapel was rebuilt and reopened for services on July 22, 1958.
The existing Chapel is over 60 years old and remains relatively unchanged, with some slight repairs and improvements. Visitors say that stepping on this island and into this Chapel takes one back to a simpler time, and the beauty of the lake and the mountains enhances the services and functions held here.
Services are held every Sunday in July and August, and weddings and other significant rites are performed here as schedules allow. The Chapel is accessible only by boat. For more information on attending a service or reserving the Chapel, visit their website.
The above information came from “A Chapel on an Island,” written by the late Dr. Junie Potter, an advocate of Chapel Island and a lover of the Adirondacks. This booklet is available for $5 before and after Sunday services.
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