First Church of Christ Scientist
The church was built in 1927 in the Gothic Revival style. The church is on a lot measuring 65’x132’ and replaces a residence that was demolished to build the church building. The building was designed by local architect Carlos Chipman Lacy (see accompanying church history). The First Society of Christian Scientists of Niagara Falls was organized on July 26, 1903. On January 21, 1907, the group met and voted to incorporate as a religious corporation under the name of First Church f Christ Scientist, Niagara Falls, New York. The first trustees of the corporation were Henry M. Crowell, Orville C. Bly and Charles Boeldt. The church was a continuation of the original organization and the Society’s records were made a part of the records of the newly incorporated Church.
In 1917, the members purchased a house at 660 Park Place, Niagara Falls, New York, the current site of the present church. This area was referred to as “Pill Hill” because of the concentration of Doctor’s offices. The first person to sign the church Rolls in 1903 was May A. Thibaudeau, the wife of Augustus Thibaudeau.
Mr. Thibaudeau was a prominent Niagara Falls Lawyer who served as the City Attorney for three years, between 1902-1904. He was one of the leaders in the fight for the City Manager form of government for Niagara Falls but in later years sponsored a movement for the Plan Aldermanic form. He served as the attorney in the Hyde Park condemnation proceedings and was active in the fight to end pollution of the Niagara River by industrial plants. He was also a well respected photographer. May Angelo Thibaudeau, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Bowman of Berlin, Ontario, by her own right, was a well respected artist. She married Augustus Thibaudeau in 1894 and was a member of the Niagara Falls community for over 60 years. She was a native of Kitchener, Ontario and studied art in Toronto at the Slade School and at Columbia University, New York City, New York. Her specialty was the painting of flowers. She exhibited her work at the Albright Art Gallery in Buffalo. She was the great granddaughter of Alexander Miller who settled on River Road, north of Lewiston in 1805.
Another member with some notoriety was Mattie Jenny, married to John C. Jenny, who was one of the most prominent business and civic leaders of Niagara Falls, at one time serving as president of the old Common Council. Another member was Bertha M. Cudebec, a librarian at the Niagara Falls public library from 1920 until her death. Under her incumbency, the circulation increased from ninety thousand in 1919 to five hundred thirty thousand in 1930, and she established five branch libraries in the city. Under her administration, the Niagara Falls Library was considered one of the best institutions of its kind in the United States.
Sometime before 1927, the church group decided to replace the current house where services were held and build a new building at its present site. They hired the local architect Carlos Chipman Lacy. Mr. Lacy was one of the city’s leading architects having designed South Junior High School, the Hyde Park stadium and the reconstruction work done in Hyde Park, along with the remodeling of the Niagara building for Walgreen Drug Company. He was also involved with the design of many public buildings and homes in the city.
The new church building was opened for services on Christmas day 1927. The church members paid off a $60,000 mortgage and dedicated the church in 1962.
In December of 1972, the current edifice had a two-alarm fire that caused over $200,000 in damage. Firemen were called out at 5:43 in the morning and were able to contain the fire to the roof and the sound system in the front of the church where an organ amplifier broke down and caused the fire. At the time of the renovations, the ceiling was lowered to save on heating costs. Surprisingly, there were only two windows that had to be replaced; the others are original windows.
During the renovation process, church services were held at the Temple Beth El, a Jewish temple. The church was reopened on June 15, 1973 and services have continually been conducted at this location ever since. This church was the first Christian Science Church in Niagara County and is the only Christian Science Church left in Niagara County.
There are remnants of an old “Bow and Picket” fence in the back of the church, which was installed around the original home in the early 1900’s. The fence was manufactured by the Stewart Iron Works of 20 West 18th Street, Covington, Kentucky 41011. They have been in business since 1886. The reinforced crosspiece was a patented design used by the company until 1920 when it became too expensive to produce. Portions of the fence were sold to Manchester House, across the street, to replace parts of their fence.
- Adapted from the Niagara Falls Historic Preservation Board
In 1917, the members purchased a house at 660 Park Place, Niagara Falls, New York, the current site of the present church. This area was referred to as “Pill Hill” because of the concentration of Doctor’s offices. The first person to sign the church Rolls in 1903 was May A. Thibaudeau, the wife of Augustus Thibaudeau.
Mr. Thibaudeau was a prominent Niagara Falls Lawyer who served as the City Attorney for three years, between 1902-1904. He was one of the leaders in the fight for the City Manager form of government for Niagara Falls but in later years sponsored a movement for the Plan Aldermanic form. He served as the attorney in the Hyde Park condemnation proceedings and was active in the fight to end pollution of the Niagara River by industrial plants. He was also a well respected photographer. May Angelo Thibaudeau, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Bowman of Berlin, Ontario, by her own right, was a well respected artist. She married Augustus Thibaudeau in 1894 and was a member of the Niagara Falls community for over 60 years. She was a native of Kitchener, Ontario and studied art in Toronto at the Slade School and at Columbia University, New York City, New York. Her specialty was the painting of flowers. She exhibited her work at the Albright Art Gallery in Buffalo. She was the great granddaughter of Alexander Miller who settled on River Road, north of Lewiston in 1805.
Another member with some notoriety was Mattie Jenny, married to John C. Jenny, who was one of the most prominent business and civic leaders of Niagara Falls, at one time serving as president of the old Common Council. Another member was Bertha M. Cudebec, a librarian at the Niagara Falls public library from 1920 until her death. Under her incumbency, the circulation increased from ninety thousand in 1919 to five hundred thirty thousand in 1930, and she established five branch libraries in the city. Under her administration, the Niagara Falls Library was considered one of the best institutions of its kind in the United States.
Sometime before 1927, the church group decided to replace the current house where services were held and build a new building at its present site. They hired the local architect Carlos Chipman Lacy. Mr. Lacy was one of the city’s leading architects having designed South Junior High School, the Hyde Park stadium and the reconstruction work done in Hyde Park, along with the remodeling of the Niagara building for Walgreen Drug Company. He was also involved with the design of many public buildings and homes in the city.
The new church building was opened for services on Christmas day 1927. The church members paid off a $60,000 mortgage and dedicated the church in 1962.
In December of 1972, the current edifice had a two-alarm fire that caused over $200,000 in damage. Firemen were called out at 5:43 in the morning and were able to contain the fire to the roof and the sound system in the front of the church where an organ amplifier broke down and caused the fire. At the time of the renovations, the ceiling was lowered to save on heating costs. Surprisingly, there were only two windows that had to be replaced; the others are original windows.
During the renovation process, church services were held at the Temple Beth El, a Jewish temple. The church was reopened on June 15, 1973 and services have continually been conducted at this location ever since. This church was the first Christian Science Church in Niagara County and is the only Christian Science Church left in Niagara County.
There are remnants of an old “Bow and Picket” fence in the back of the church, which was installed around the original home in the early 1900’s. The fence was manufactured by the Stewart Iron Works of 20 West 18th Street, Covington, Kentucky 41011. They have been in business since 1886. The reinforced crosspiece was a patented design used by the company until 1920 when it became too expensive to produce. Portions of the fence were sold to Manchester House, across the street, to replace parts of their fence.
- Adapted from the Niagara Falls Historic Preservation Board
