Methodist-Protestant Church at Fisher's Landing
Also known as: United Methodist Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1898 on Reed Point Road in the hamlet of Fisher's Landing, this small wooden church faces the St. Lawrence River across the road. Designed in a rural vernacular Queen Anne style, it has a side-gable form with a square bell tower, a three-sided apse, sawtooth shingle work above the gable, and an unusual stained glass Palladian window on the west facade. Inside, pressed tin in four patterns and carved wooden door and window frames survive, along with the original pews and altar furnishings. The original bells still work. The church has never been heated, since it has always served a summer congregation. It was listed for both its architecture and its social history. It shows how Fisher's Landing shifted from an agricultural port to a small tourist community as Thousand Islands tourism peaked in the 1880s and 1890s. It retains the highest integrity of the churches in the Town of Orleans group and still holds summer services.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is architecturally significant as an excellent, highly intact example of late-19th-century vernacular religious architecture with Queen Anne and Colonial Revival influences. It is historically significant as a seasonal church that reflects the hamlet's growth as a summer community under the influence of nearby Thousand Island Park. It is described as the only intact architectural witness to the hamlet's height of prosperity.
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 96000667, listed June 28, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Reed Point Rd., near jct. with Co. Rd. 195, Hamlet of Fisher's Landing, Orleans |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Listed | June 28, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000667 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1898 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History, Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a church serving a summer congregation; well cared for with very little deterioration. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 44.27625, -76.00873 (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 96000667.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6823736
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.