famous architect William Halsey Wood hired by Henry Hamlin to design
St. Lukes Episcopal Church ARCHIVES
New Saint Lukes Church Under Construction
McKean County Miner
May 8, 1891
After having withstood the storms and ravages of nearly a half a century, the building lately vacated by J. C. Hamlin, on the corner of Main and Church Streets, has at last been forced to give way to the march of improvement, and is being removed to make place for the handsome edifice to be erected for the congregation of St. Luke's Episcopal Church.
John Holmes erected the old building in 1812, at which time there were but two stores in the town, one on the site of the present magnificent residence of Hon. Henry Hamlin, which was occupied as a general store by the late Orlo J. Hamlin, father of Henry and J. C. Hamlin, the other in what was known as the Astor House building, where the fine residence of Mr. William Haskell now stands. After three years the business passes into the hands of Bryon D. and Henry Hamlin, who conducted the business until 1857, when they in turn gave way to J. C. Hamlin who has occupied the building ever since, a period of 34 years, first as a general store for nine years, then as an exclusive hardware, the first of the kind in the town, and which he still continues.
The new church edifice, which will adorn this most desirable site, will be of the gothic style of architecturegothic style of architecture, built of surface sandstone, and will cost complete in the neighborhood of $20,000. John Carlson has the contract for the stonework, which amounts to upwards of $14,000. The building, which is being erected by Judge Hamlin as a tree gift to the congregation of St. Luke's, will be one of the most perfect structures of the kind in this section. The work will be commenced at once and pushed forward as rapidly as possible compatible with good, substantial work.
The
priest of the new church and of the