Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church

Holy Rosary Church was the second Catholic Church built in Greenwood Lake. The first Catholic Church was "Our Lady of the Lake" built in 1907 in Sterling Forest. It was an all day affair for Churchgoers who did not live close to Sterling Forest. They had to take either a steamboat, or train to get to the service. Those who had horses and buggies could get there along East Shore Road, but that took hours. Most of these methods took up half of the day. In 1925 a letter was written to the Chancery office in New York City requesting that a mission church be built in the village. Fund raisers were held, bake sales, and dances all to raise money to build a Catholic church. In 1927, Mr. William Wright sold the Catholic Church a piece of land on the corner of Windermere Avenue and Wright Street. Services began (once each Sunday May-October) in 1930. In 1938 services were continued through the winter. During the coldest months, services were held in the boiler room because the church was so cold. In 1954, the church was made a parish and a heating system installed. A rectory was built in the early 1960's and the church remains there today for the Catholics of Greenwood Lake.

Link to historic photo/drawing of site

 

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