Forest Presbyterian Church
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Forest Presbyterian Church, at the corner of Center and Gorham Streets in Lyons Falls, is a single-story shingled church completed in 1894 to replace an 1854 building across the Black River. Albany architect Albert W. Fuller of Fuller and Wheeler combined Shingle Style and Gothic features, including a broad gable front, a square bell tower with flared eaves, a porte-cochere, pointed-arch windows and a large rose window. Inside, the oak wainscoting and ceiling, original pews and stained glass remain, and windows, a bell and a communion set were carried over from the earlier church. A parish house was added in 1925, and a four-square shingled manse followed in 1902. The village had grown on the far side of the river, so the congregation built in its center. The property is recognized for its architecture and for its long role in community life, with its original form and fabric largely intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is significant in architecture and social history. It was designed by Albany architects Fuller and Wheeler and retains its original form, fabric, windows and interior features. It also served as a central part of community life for well over 100 years.
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 04001060, listed September 24, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 4109 Center St., Lyon Falls |
|---|---|
| County | Lewis County |
| Listed | September 24, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04001060 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1894-1953 |
| Architect / builder | Fuller and Wheeler, Albany, NY |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Shingle Style with Gothic elements |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Church, 1925 parish house and manse are in use; the parish house rear is leased for day care and the manse houses county youth and community programs. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.61810, -75.36105 (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 04001060.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5469078
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.