St. Francis DeSales Church
Also known as: Lexington Historical Society
Why it's listed
This small wooden church sits on the south side of Church Road in Lexington, Greene County, New York. Built in 1895 on a four-by-one-bay plan, it has light frame construction, narrow clapboard siding, a steeply pitched gable roof with asphalt shingles, and pointed-arch windows that keep their original sash and glazing. Inside, varnished matchstick wainscoting, polished wood scissor trusses and original flooring survive, and the church was never fitted with pews; Victorian wood chairs were used instead. The building was erected by a parish that grew as the Catskills shifted from a tanning economy to a railroad-fed tourist trade that brought Catholic laborers to the region. Its simple plan, steep roof, scissor-truss framing and Gothic arched openings reflect ecclesiological ideas promoted by architects such as Richard Upjohn. It is valued as an intact local example of rural church design from the tourist era. It no longer serves as a church and now houses a local historical society museum.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an intact, representative example of late nineteenth-century Gothic Revival rural church architecture, shaped by ecclesiology ideas and the work of Richard Upjohn. It is also described as an outstanding local example of church design serving the tourist economy of the northern Catskills. It retains a high degree of integrity, including original interior finishes and windows.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 99001485, listed December 9, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Church St., Lexington |
|---|---|
| County | Greene County |
| Listed | December 9, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99001485 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1895 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Late Gothic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | No longer serves a religious role; current function is museum. Restoration of the original open porch was underway at the time of the form. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.23904, -74.36096 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 99001485.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7587947
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.