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St. Mary's Church
St. Mary's Catholic Church
Florence, Oneida County, NY
Preserving the past for future generations
1845 - 2003
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Church Saved from Demolition

Restoration Phase 1 Completed 2006-2009
Restoration Phase 2 2010-2016

Stained Glass Windows Restoration 2011-2016
Preservation Fund now NEEDED

The Friends of St. Mary's Committee needs your help!

$250,000 is needed for Restoration and a Preservation Fund!
* * * $220,000+ raised so far! * * *

How can you help?   Please read:  where does your donation go?,
Friends of St. Mary's letter (Feb 2007)
,
Informational update letter (Nov 2008),

Invitation letter (Aug 2009),
Phase 1 letter (May 2010),
Donation Form (May 2010),
Leaving a Legacy (May 2010),
Restoration Phase 1 story (May 2010),
Restoration update letter (May 2010),
Restoration update letter (Dec 2010),
Restoration update letter and Invitation (Aug 2012),
Restoration update letter (May 2013),
Restoration update letter (Dec 2013),
Restoration update letter (July 2014),
Restoration update letter (December 2014),
Restoration update letter (July 2015),
Restoration update letter (December 2015),
Restoration update letter (July 2016).

All donations for St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Church should now be mailed to:

                                    Friends of St. Mary's of Florence
                                    Community Bank
                                    41 Harden Boulevard
                                    Camden, NY 13316
 

Current Activities

Fundraisers, Incentives and Annual Events

Stained Glass Windows Restoration - update - December 2015


Past Activities

Past Fundraisers and Donation Stories

 
Mass of Celebration (Sept. 20, 2009) photos - Celebrating Restoration Phase 1
 
Relay for Life Mass (May 23, 2010) photos
 
Mass (Sept. 19, 2010) photos

Restoration

PHASE 1 COMPLETED -  
 

Outside Basement Entry: covered by February 2008
Basement, Foundation (drains & sump pump):
work completed May 2008
New Furnace and Ductwork:
installed July 2008
New Dehumidifier:
donated and installed Spring 2008

Rafters and End Gables: repaired Summer 2008
Electrical work and lights in Basement: completed Fall 2008
New Church and Steeple Roof:
installed September 2008
More Attic Insulation: installed Fall 2008
Ceiling Fans inside church: installed Fall 2008
Side Windows in Steeple: repaired Fall 2008
Front Window in Steeple: replaced Fall 2008
Other minor repairs throughout building (inside/outside): Fall 2008
Interior Scraping of old paint: completed May 2009
Interior Major Painting:
completed May 2009

Exterior Major Painting: completed July 2009
Front Steps Replaced: completed September 2009
Cross on Roof Painted: completed September 2009
WWI Memorial Statue Painted and Base fixed: completed Sept 2009
Angels Painted: completed
September 2009

 
PHASE 2, PROGRESS -  
  New electrical entrance and additional outlets: completed
New flag pole with light placed on side hill near the Church: completed
16 stained glass windows: refurbished as of Dec 2015
Driveway repaved: completed Summer 2013
Driveway sealed:
completed 2014
Outdoor lighting improved: completed 2014

Fuel oil tank replaced: completed 2014
Storm windows replaced: completed 2014
 
   
STILL NEEDED -  
  Outside Drainage around Building
 
 

Other: "Work still to be done includes . . . upgrading certain electrical facilities, Fey said. No other fundraisers are planned at the moment, she said, but the next step is to establish an endowment fund "to support the preservation of St. Mary's for the years to come." Annual expenses will include heat, electrical and insurance costs, she said, adding that a "good estimate" of the totals would follow a full year with the new furnace and installation."

- Rome Daily Sentinel article August 1, 2009

 
 

Improvement of Outdoor Lighting
Continued refurbishing of the remaining five stained glass windows.
The ongoing expense of insurance, electricity and heat (thermostat is set at a modest 48').

- restoration update letter (May 2013)

 

In The News

2004
August 15, 2004
Flyer, Mass - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

2006
October 26, 2006
Amid a host of tough decisions ahead, diocese may be forced to demolish Florence landmark [Rome Daily Sentinel]

October 30, 2006 Letter to Editor, St. Mary's Church Could Be Demolished
[Camden Queen Central News]

November 6, 2006
Demolition...Definitely Not The Answer! [Camden Queen Central News]
and Half-Shire President Shares History Of St. Mary's Catholic Church In Florence

November 6, 2006 Letter to Editor, Don't Demolish Our Church
[Camden Queen Central News]

November 16, 2006 Community fights to save historic church [Utica Observer-Dispatch]

November 20, 2006 St. Mary's Church - Florence
[Camden Queen Central News]

November 25, 2006 Future of Florence church topic of Tuesday meeting [Rome Daily Sentinel]

November 29, 2006 Church needs $9,000 per year, future plan Rome architect says roof could cave in [Rome Daily Sentinel]

December 1, 2006 Half-Shire Historical Society Weekly Column

December 9, 2006 St. Mary’s supporters gather at Town Hall Tuesday [Rome Daily Sentinel]

2007
January-May 2007
Newsletter (devoted entire first page to St. Mary's project), Area Group Unites to Save Florence's Historic St. Mary's [Half-Shire Historical Society]

January 20, 2007
Friends of St. Mary's to Meet [Camden Queen Central News]

February 17, 2007 Committee seeks funds to save St. Mary’s [Rome Daily Sentinel]

February 19, 2007 TV News, Saving a Church [Syracuse Channel 5]

March 29, 2007 St. Mary's Church kicks off fundraiser [Utica Observer-Dispatch]

April 2, 2007 Drive on to save church [Rome Daily Sentinel]

April 29, 2007 Demolition threatens oldest church [Syracuse Post-Standard]

Spring 2007 Letter to Editor, Irish Church in Florence NY Needs Preservation [sent to Syracuse Post-Standard - no response]

May 21, 2007 Restoration and Preservation Of A Florence Landmark [Camden Queen Central News]

May 28, 2007 Early Parishioner of St. Mary's of Florence
[Camden Queen Central News]

June 2007
Newsletter, Historic Irish Church Needs Your Help [Rome/Utica Mohawk Valley Irish Cultural Events]

July 28, 2007 Donation to help preserve Florence church [Utica Observer-Dispatch]

July 29, 2007 Press Release, $5,000 grant from the Senator James H. Donovan Memorial Fund

August 6, 2007
Friends of St. Mary's Gets Help at Great American Irish Festival [Camden Queen Central News]

August 6, 2007 Friends of St. Mary's Florence Presents Auction [Camden Queen Central News]

August 6, 2007 Ad, Friends of St. Mary's Florence Presents Auction [Camden Queen Central News]

August 16, 2007 Ad, Restoration/Preservation Effort presents Benefit Auction

August 19, 2007
Saving a landmark [Utica Observer-Dispatch]
*ONLY PART OF NEWS ARTICLE

August 20, 2007 Friends of St. Mary's Fundraiser [Camden Queen Central News]

August 23, 2007 Area happenings [Rome Daily Sentinel]

August 25, 2007 TV News, Group trying to restore Florence church [Syracuse Channel 10]

September 1, 2007 Anonymous Gifts May Aid Florence Church's Salvation [Syracuse Post-Standard] *ONLY PART OF NEWS ARTICLE

September 3, 2007 Exciting News Received By Friends of St. Mary's [Camden Queen Central News]

September 10, 2007 Ad, Thank You - Thank You [Camden Queen Central News]

October 15, 2007 Restoration and Preservation of St. Mary's [Camden Queen Central News]

December 2007 Newsletter, Win a vacation in Ireland [Rome/Utica Mohawk Valley Irish Cultural Events]

December 2, 2007 Possible Demolition Put On Hold [Camden Queen Central News]

2008
January 2008 Newsletter, Win a vacation in Ireland [Rome/Utica Mohawk Valley Irish Cultural Events]

Jan/Feb 2008
Press Release, Announcing Two Fund Raisers for the Restoration of St. Mary's [Utica Observer-Dispatch]

February 2008 Newsletter, Win a vacation in Ireland [Rome/Utica Mohawk Valley Irish Cultural Events]

February 4, 2008 Town of Florence [Rome Daily Sentinel]

February 6, 2008
Judy Routson article [Boonville Herald]

February 6, 2008 Deadline Nears for Historic Church Restoration Funds [Boonville Herald]

February 11, 2008 Friends of St. Mary's Moving Forward [Camden Queen Central News]

February 11, 2008 Over The Roads With Bullwinkle article [Camden Queen Central News]

February 16, 2008 TV News, Restoration Looking Good For Town Of Florence Church [Utica Channel 2]

February 19, 2008 Taberg woman wins St. Mary's trip to Ireland [Rome Daily Sentinel]

February 25, 2008 Wins Trip To Ireland [Camden Queen Central News]

February 26, 2008 Winning Ticket For Irish Vacation [Boonville Herald]

February 27, 2008 Half-Shire Historical Society Weekly Column [Fulton Daily News]

February 29, 2008 TV News, Community saves church [Syracuse Channel 10]

April 2, 2008 St. Mary's Receives $60,000 Donation; Continues Fundraising Efforts [Boonville Herald]

April 20, 2008
Friends of St. Mary's, Florence, Meet May 1 [Camden Queen Central News]

May 26, 2008
Friends of St. Mary's View Church Progress [Camden Queen Central News]

June-December 2008
Newsletter News from Across the Eleven Townships [Half-Shire Historical Society]

December 5, 2008
Christmas tree lighting by faithful in Florence [Rome Daily Sentinel]

December 24, 2008 Faith in the Night
[Rome Daily Sentinel]

2009
February 2009 Ad 1, Win A Vacation In Ireland
[Camden Queen Central News]

February 2009 Ad 2, Win A Vacation In Ireland
[Camden Queen Central News]

February 2009 Ad, Quilt Raffle
[Camden Queen Central News]

March 2009 Newsletter, Win a vacation in Ireland [Rome/Utica Mohawk Valley Irish Cultural Events]

May-June 2009 Newsletter St. Mary's Florence Painted! [Half-Shire Historical Society]

June 19, 2009 Blog In other news [Half-Shire Historical Society News]

August 1, 2009 St. Mary's Mass slated Sept. 20 as renovations nearly done in Florence
[Rome Daily Sentinel]

September 21, 2009 TV News, St. Mary's Church in the Town of Florence restored [Utica Channel 2]

September 21, 2009 PHOTOs St. Mary's [Rome Daily Sentinel]

September 26, 2009
Half-Shire Historical Society Weekly Column [Fulton Daily News]

September 27, 2009 Around Town [Rome Daily Sentinel]

September 28, 2009 Son of Florence Returns [Camden Queen Central News]

October 7, 2009 After Historic Church Restoration, Committee Seeks Endowment Funds [Boonville Herald]

November 16, 2009 Update on St. Mary's of Florence [Camden Queen Central News]

November 17, 2009 Tree lighting Dec. 5 at church in Florence [Rome Daily Sentinel]

November 18, 2009 2nd Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at St. Mary's of Florence [Boonville Herald]

December 9, 2009 Having A Good Chime [Rome Daily Sentinel]

December 2009 Newsletter, The Friends of St Mary’s of Florence [Rome/Utica Mohawk Valley Irish Cultural Events]

2010
November 20, 2010 3rd Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at St. Mary's of Florence [Camden Queen Central News]

2011
April 2011 Newsletter, Friends of St. Mary’s Raffle [Rome/Utica Mohawk Valley Irish Cultural Events]

2012

September 2012 Newsletter, St Mary’s: The Little Church That Could [Rome/Utica Mohawk Valley Irish Cultural Events]

September 28, 2012 Blog Annual Mass at St. Mary’s Church in Florence [Half-Shire Historical Society News]

2013
December 10, 2013 September at St. Mary’s [The Catholic Sun]

2014

2015

2016


This page last updated: September 4, 2016

Website started August 17, 2006, Revised April 6, 2007.
Created, Designed and Maintained by Barb Paufve
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