The Portland daily press., 1896-08-31
ST. LAWRENCE STREET CHURCH.
What the House will Be and Those who
Will Do the Work.

A large number of workmen are now
busily engaged in the work of excayat
ing, and it will be but few weeks when
ly designed, and well constructed, stone
church to be built at the corners Of Con-
gress, Munioy and Beckett streets, for
the St. Lawrence Street Congregational
Parish, upon the lot which has been va
can't since the removal Of the old skatin G
rink. The church will be of elaborate
design, with large circular tower. The
edifice will include large vestry. The
design is that a picture Of which was
printed some time ago.
The building was designed by A. B.
jennings, of New York city, an archi-
teot of very large and extensive expert
enoe in ehurchwork, and who Is now
supervising the erection Of several large
churches in New York and Brooklyn,
which were designed by him. The plan 8
for the new church here were selected
after being submitted to a large number
shown great interest in the work, as
we'll as contribute generously to the
fund. There was decided preference for
the design submitted by Mr.. Jennings
over those submitted by other architects.
Mr.. George Riker, the contractor, is a
man of remarkable experience AL
though he is rs years of age, and has
been busily engaged for over forty years
in this class OF work, he Is still vigorous
in health, and is now erecting large
church in South Brooklyn. Mr.. Riker' S
principal experience has been in New
more important churches erected by him
are Trinity Chapel, st. Thomas, Fifth
Avenue, ST. Ohrysostom. and Madison
Square Presbyterian church, all in New
York city, alao St. Paurs and ST.
| Georges in Brooklyn. Among the many
outside of New York might be men,
toned ST. James, of Taunton, Mass, st
Stephens, and Cranson ST. Baptist, of
Providence. r. l., ST. Peters, of Peek
skill N. Y, and Trinity church. of Sing
Sing. Mr.. Riker in the early part OF
his career had charge of all.the construc-
ton for the Trinity Corporation of New
York city, and was brought in contact
with many of the eminent architects OF
that day, such as Richard NJ. UpJohn,
VIM. I. Potter, r. H. Robertson, Bruce
Price and others equally renowned.
The mason work has been awarded to
Messrs. Blackstone & Smith, of this
city, whose large experience in this class
of work is sufficient assurance that he
work will be Of the highest order, as
| well as artistic in its appearance.
The body Of the church will be of the
Maine and New Hampshire Company
white granite, from the North Jay quar-.
Ty, and the base course and the trim.
mings will be from the Redstone quarry
similar to the Union Station.
! Mr.. James L. Riker, son Of the con
tractor, is experimenting the work, and
| is now getting the wood work in readi
ness, SO that the building will be com
pleted at the earliest moment practica
BILE. Mr.. Riker will send his foreman
Mr.. Westervelt, to Portland. to look after
the details of the work, but other thai
this, we are assured by Nr. Riker thai
Portland carpenters will be employed
1t is also his intention to purchase tht
hardwar and other materials in Port
land SO far as it can be done. Mr.. Rik
ar has expressed himself as very mucf
pleased with the assortment which Port
and dealers carry, and he also has IL
mind contracting here for some mate ria
to be used in q building which he Is nov
constructing inNew Yrok.