United Methodist Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1882 on South Shore Road in the hamlet of Point Peninsula, this small wood frame church has an L-shaped plan made up of the main sanctuary, a perpendicular Sunday school wing and an entrance tower with an open belfry. Clapboard siding, pedimented windows with quatrefoil cutouts and round multi-light windows give it a modest Gothic flavor. Inside, a vestibule, sanctuary and Sunday school room are linked by folding doors, a layout drawn from the Akron plan that let worship and education happen at the same time. Two older churches in Lyme were altered to add such rooms, but this was the only one designed around the plan from the start. It was listed for its architecture and its remarkably intact condition, including original woodwork grained to resemble golden oak and early light fixtures. Since the 1940s it has held services only in summer, and it was refurbished in 1982 for its centennial.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is an outstanding, well-preserved example of late-nineteenth century vernacular religious architecture influenced by the Akron plan. It was the only Lyme church to use that plan from its initial construction, since two earlier churches were only renovated to fit it. It retains a high degree of integrity.
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 90001325, listed September 6, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | S. Shore Rd., Chaumont |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Listed | September 6, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001325 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Late-nineteenth century vernacular religious architecture reflecting the Akron plan, with Gothic and Eastlake-influenced detailing |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used for worship; services held only in summer since the 1940s. Condition rated good, refurbished in 1982, with no known threats. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 44.00682, -76.21860 (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 90001325.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7888245
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.