Thank you for you comments and signatures. 

We have over 150 who hand signed the petition plus over 300 who signed online to preserve this historic building for the community.  Over 450 people want this building saved.

In mid-September,  we met with the town council to present our proposal to save the historic building for the community.  There has been little reaction to the over 450 people who want to save the building.

Our proposal was the least costly for taxpayers and most effective to have the building transferred to the town intact, meaning sacred objects and stained glass windows must remain for the families who made those donations. 

Initially, the diocese preferred to transfer this abandoned building to the town rather than to a private individual IF the end-use was for the community.  The stained glass windows would remain intact along with the possibility of some of the art/religious pieces.  This has now changed and the diocese wants to remove or destroy ALL sacred objects regardless of the end-use of the building or to whom the building is transferred to.

Our group has extensive support from 2 organizations.  Adirondack Architectural Heritage, AARCH,  and Clinton County Historical Association,  CCHA.  Together we would work to obtain historical recognition for Immaculate Heart of Mary, IHM, and solicit the many grants available to tackle the large projects to restore IHM to her former glory.

Working with a non profit, we aim to fundraiser and collect donations for the repairs and set up a community center/museum for our town.  People want to donate.

All we ask from the town council is to own the property and operating expenses while we go through the historical and grant processes to obtain the large funding and repair the building.

Now, we also need cooperation from the diocese to allow us to preserve the art inside and the stained glass windows.  Imagine a shell without windows!

IF YOU WANT TO SAVE THIS BUILDING, CONTACT THE OGDENSBURG DIOCESE AND LET YOUR TOWN COUNCIL KNOW.

ATTEND A MEETING AND SPEAK UP OR WRITE TO THE COUNCIL.

It is now or never.

The building's condition is surprisingly good considering 12 years of minimal to no care, but we can't expect this to continue.

LET'S SAVE OUR HISTORIC TREASURE.

Contact Bishop LaValley of the Diocese of Ogdensburg

and/or

the Town of Clinton