Big Moose Community Chapel
Why it's listed
Big Moose Community Chapel sits on a rise above the shore of Big Moose Lake in the central Adirondacks, surrounded by cedar, balsam and spruce. Completed in 1931, it is built of pinkish, quarry-faced local granite with buttresses, pointed-arch windows, a crenellated square belfry and a copper roof. Inside, varnished yellow birch walls, peeled spruce log trusses, hand-forged iron fixtures and a massive stone fireplace reflect Adirondack camp craftsmanship. Local builder Earl Covey, known for camps around Big Moose, Fourth and Twitchell Lakes, designed and built it, blending Gothic parish church ideas with rustic Adirondack principles of fitting a building into its landscape. The chapel also matters as a community effort: residents supplied the money, furniture and fittings, and raised funds again after the first building burned before opening. A small 1952 shed near the shoreline is the only other building on the property.
Significance in brief: The chapel is presented as an exceptionally intact example of religious architecture and the work of Adirondack master builder Earl Covey, blending Gothic Revival exterior forms with an Adirondack Camp interior. It is also significant in social history as a locally funded effort to give the Big Moose Lake community its own church.
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 12000478, listed August 7, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1544 Big Moose Rd., Eagle Bay |
|---|---|
| County | Herkimer County |
| Listed | August 7, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000478 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1928-1931 |
| Architect / builder | Earl Covey |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival; Adirondack |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a seasonal, non-denominational chapel; historic and current function listed as religious facility. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Within district | New York Central Railroad Adirondack Division Historic District |
| Coordinates | 43.81965, -74.87827 (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 12000478.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q23035330
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.