St. Lucy's Church has an unusual and
interesting history. During the time people settled in the Altamont
area, there was little need for a Catholic church there. The settlers
were primarily staunch Dutch and German Protestants. However, after
the Civil War, when the railroad made travel to summer homes in Knowersville
(now Altamont) more possible, a need for Catholic places of worship
developed. This need occurred because the wealthy traveling families
brought their maids, often Irish-Catholic girls escaping the famine.
In 1888 a woman named Lucy Cassidy founded
St. Lucy's Church. It was originally a chapel for her maids. Although
Mrs. Cassidy wasn't Catholic, her maids were, so she had a place built
so they could worship. It was going to be called St. Anthony's, but
the name was changed out of respect for Mrs. Cassidy's patron saint,
St. Lucy. Also, apparently, Mrs. Cassidy, who was friends with President
Cleveland (former New York state governor), suggested to him that
the town name be changed from Knowersville to Altamont (meaning "bright
mountain", "high mountain".) This was also a practical
move as there was much confusion between Knowersville in Albany county
and Knowlesville in Orleans county for mail delivery.
The church was renovated and enlarged
in 1921 and 1928. The remodeling caused the present church, with its
Tudor Gothic, to bear little resemblance to the original building.
One of the stained glass windows was dedicated to Mrs. Lucy Cassidy.
For many years priests from Albany served this parish. Then in 1916
a resident priest was appointed, as the number of all-year Catholic
residents had risen sufficiently.
