Fire destroys historical South End Church
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Before Thursday night's fire destroyed the church at 70 Second Avenue in the south end of Albany it had been standing there since 1880. It got its start as the first German Catholic Church to become part of the city skyline.
“They gave us a legacy of domes and steeples and spires and the whole skyline of our city was unique. I'm hoping somehow that the tower can be saved,” said Jack McEneny, the Albany County Historian. He went on to say, “This was a German Roman Catholic Church, Our Lady Help of Christians. And it was for many people, it was the hub of this neighborhood.”
The historian said the church changed hands over the years, mostly serving the catholic community. “Father Peter Young took it over and he named it Mother Teresa. I can remember coming down here at like a 5 o’clock mass. If you miss whatever your regular parish mass was, that was the makeup,” said McEneny.
When Bishop of another religion moved into the church, he kept the church’s promise to help the community.
“It went to a Bishop Comithier, who is Baptist and has been just wonderful to this whole greater community, not just the immediate community here. That was our skyline. It didn't matter what congregation you belong to, what faith you had, if any. When you looked at them you smiled at them. It's like coming home,” said McEneny.
NEWS10 did learn that there was no insurance on the church and a lawyer with Tully Rinckey says that the responsibility will fall solely on the bishop. “The man is fulfilling a mission, so to speak, helping people. And so, if he can spend the money on insurance premiums, or can he spend the money on liturgy for the people or feeding the homeless or the hungry people. I'm sure the man of cloth would spend it and doing what his mission is instead of worrying about insurance coverage,” said attorney Eugen Welch.
The lawyer said it is up to the church if they require insurance or not.
A spokesperson with the city coding department tells NEWS10 the building must come down. But they are going to try and save the steeple and facade saying, “they are unsure if that is possible until they start demolition, Saturday or Sunday.”
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