Densmore Methodist Church of the Thousand Islands
Why it's listed
Densmore Methodist Episcopal Church is a small frame chapel on Wellesley Island in the St. Lawrence River, overlooking Alexandria Bay. Built beginning in 1900 and dedicated in 1902, it replaced a nearby one-room schoolhouse where the congregation had worshiped. A local farmer, J.R. Caulkins, donated the land. The church has a square plan with a round corner tower, a steep gable roof and wood shingles laid in alternating decorative bands. Inside, an Akron plan places the pulpit in a corner with curved pews radiating from it, and the original brass oil lamp chandelier and patterned metal ceiling survive. The design reflects the Shingle style seen in cottages at the nearby Thousand Island Park and Westminster Park religious resorts, adapted to a modest rural chapel. Deteriorated shingles and roofing were replaced in a 1984 restoration that copied the original patterns. The church still serves a small year-round congregation that grows in summer.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is a distinctive example of a Shingle style rural chapel built to serve seasonal and year-round island residents. Its patterned shingles, steep roof and picturesque corner tower echo the resort cottages of nearby Thousand Island Park and Westminster Park. Its interior retains an exceptionally high level of integrity, including an Akron plan layout.
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 88000591, listed May 19, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Rt. 100 at Densmore Bay, Alexandria |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Listed | May 19, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000591 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900 |
| Architectural style | Shingle style rural chapel |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Active today with a small local congregation that swells during the resort season; the exterior was restored in 1984 with replicated shingle siding and new roofing, and the interior is intact. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 44.32202, -75.95375 (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 88000591.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5259341
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.