St. Vincent of Paul Catholic Church
Also known as: Bldg. #17
Why it's listed
St. Vincent of Paul Catholic Church stands at Lake and Kanady Streets in the village of Cape Vincent. Built in 1858 of well-dressed, regularly coursed limestone, it is a Gothic Revival building with a one-story main block, pointed-arched windows and a three-stage tower with a recessed pointed-arch entry and an octagonal cupola holding the bell. Inside, the original pressed-tin cove ceiling, oak pews, a carved wooden altar and stained-glass windows installed between about 1877 and 1883 survive. A limestone wing was added in 1965 using blocks from a local residence. The church is the only limestone church in the town and reflects the region's masonry tradition. It is also linked to French immigrant families, including the Golers, du Forts, Grappottes and Peugnets, whose names appear on monuments in the parish cemetery behind the church. The congregation continues to use the building for worship.
Significance in brief: The church is an intact mid-nineteenth century Gothic Revival religious building in the masonry construction typical of the region, and the only limestone church in the town. It is also tied to the French immigrant families who influenced Cape Vincent's early development. Its cemetery contributes to the property's historic character.
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 85002477, listed September 27, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Kanady St., Cape Vincent |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Listed | September 27, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002477 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a religious institution; condition described as good, with a non-historic side wing added in 1965. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 44.12439, -76.33977 (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 85002477.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7592121
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.