Otter Lake Community Church
Why it's listed
Otter Lake Community Church is a Carpenter Gothic church on NY 28 in the lakeside hamlet of Otter Lake, Oneida County. It was built in 1861 at Hawkinsville for a German Lutheran congregation, abandoned there after 1891, and moved to Otter Lake in 1921. The rectangular frame building has board-and-batten siding, a steeply pitched standing-seam metal roof, decorative buttresses, lancet-arched windows and a four-stage square tower with a louvered belfry. Inside, exposed medieval-inspired trusses, original pews and altar, and a choir loft on turned columns survive. A small 1924 bungalow on the lot serves as a seasonal parsonage. The church was recognized for its architecture as a well-preserved example of mid-nineteenth century wooden church design influenced by Richard Upjohn's rural Gothic parish churches, and as a rare example of its type in the Adirondack region. Now non-denominational, it holds services for the summer population and remains a local landmark.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is a highly intact, representative example of mid-nineteenth century wood frame church architecture in rural Oneida County. It reflects the Gothic Revival ideas promoted by architect Richard Upjohn and is described as a rare example of its type in the Adirondack region. It also remains a prominent local landmark tied to Otter Lake's history as a summer community.
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 04000704, listed July 9, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NY 28, Otter Lake |
|---|---|
| County | Oneida County |
| Listed | July 9, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04000704 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1861 - 1924 |
| Architectural style | Mid 19th Century: Gothic Revival (Carpenter Gothic); early 20th Century: Bungalow |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a non-denominational church serving the summer population, with weekly services from late spring to early fall; the bungalow serves as a seasonal parsonage. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.59174, -75.11249 (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 04000704.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7109399
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.