St. Stanislaus Kostka Mission Church In Adams, MA, Gets Restored

If you're one of those people like me who grew up in Adams, you can agree that this church is an icon of the town. Whenever you cruise down Hoosac Street, you are greeted by a building with two tall steeples, visible from great distances on a clear day.

St. Stanislaus Kostka Mission Church, also known as "The Gem of the Berkshires," was constructed in a little over a year, between 1904 and 1905, by Polish immigrant workers at Adams mills. Upon entering the church, you are greeted by a grand, spacious hall that resembles European cathedrals in its artwork and reflects Poland through its chosen saints, creating an atmosphere of both spirituality and calm.

St. Stanislaus Kostka Mission Church Gets Restored

Considering the church is 121 years old, like everything else, it ages and needs work. Thanks to a group of dedicated volunteers, it has been restored and preserved. According to the Berkshire Eagle, the project was initially projected to cost $5.1 million, with a target completion date in October 2030. That number, however, has been significantly reduced.

The first and most critical construction phase recently wrapped up at a cost of $450,000, well below the initial estimate of about $1.28 million.

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More Work On The Way To Preserve "The Gem of the Berkshires"

Once the exterior work wraps up, attention will turn to the much-needed interior work, including the basement, which hasn't been used in years due to mold issues.

As someone whose parents and great-grandparents have attended this church on numerous occasions, it's great to see it well preserved for years to come. After all, it was at risk of closing back in 2008, but thanks to the dedication of parishioners who literally slept in the unheated building, it was reopened in 2011 by a Vatican decree.

A Remarkable Look Inside 26 Of Upstate New York's Most Historic Churches!

There are just way too many beautiful churches in Upstate New York to even begin a comprehensive list of them all. So this gallery is a bit different. It is unique in that for each of the 26 historic places of worship we highlight, we also include a video tour of the interiors of the place (if available). If no video of the interior was possible, we inserted a video of the exterior, grounds, etc. If not, we found great photos. So you can do your exploring from the comfort of your own laptop! You will enjoy seeing the splendor of these magnificent places in our gallery.

Here you will see majestic cathedrals, a Tibetan monastery, a church that ultimately found fame as a fort, a church that is world-renowned as a "temple to the art of Tiffany windows," two important churches that were way stations along the Underground Railroad, a spectacular church made of sandstone, and an unbelievable church built by the Rockefellers who commissioned two of the world's most famous artists to contribute to the interior. Plus the smallest church in the world!

Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio

21 of Upstate New York's Beautiful "Red Door" Churches

There is no shortage when it comes to beautiful churches around the Upstate New York region. But, have you ever noticed how many of these houses of worship have bright red painted front doors? I have. Having put thousands of miles on the roads of the region writing and researching books, I always notice these "red door" churches. And I always think, "gee, wouldn't they make a great calendar?" The idea is yours, my friends.....no charge!

Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio