The History of the St. Eustace Windows
The exact origin of the beautiful St. Eustace window is somewhat difficult to determine. Although the window is unsigned, it may well have been created in the studio of Louis Tiffany. It certainly bears many of the Tiffany hallmarks, and not all windows emanating from that studio were signed.
The first rector of St. Eustace Church, Rev. William W. Moir, donated the window in memory of his father James Moir, and it was installed in the original St Eustace-By-The-Lakes when the building was completed and opened in 1900.
An old brochure of the firm of Calvert and Kimberly of New York City, producers of stained glass windows and long out of business, listed “Specimens of our Work Which May be Seen in the Following Churches and Buildings”. On the list appears the following:
“St. Eustace Church, Lake Placid, NY
Moir Memorial, ‘Conversion of St. Hubert’
Lee Memorial Window
The firm of Calvert and Kimberley, however, was not established in business until 1904. Therefore, specimens of their work executed before 1904 must have been done when they were employed at other studios. It is known that Mr. Calvert worked for the Tiffany studio from 1889 through 1899 and it would appear extremely likely that the St. Eustace window was created in the Tiffany studio in 1899 and that the artist who executed the work was Mr. Calvert.
Calvert & Kimberley further confuse the issue by calling the window the conversion of “St. Hubert” instead of St. Eustace. This error on their part can only have arisen through the circumstance that the legends of St. Eustace and St. Hubert are almost identical.
The second window listed in the brochure under St. Eustace Church “Lee Memorial Window” is the small, round window situated very high on the wall over the St. Eustace window. It depicts the head of an angel, with arms folded under the chin, and is predominately blue in color. This window as donated by Rev. Moir’s sister, Mrs. Henry Lee, also in memory of the father James Moir, and was also installed in the original St. Eustace-By-The-Lakes. In all probability it, too, was created in the Louis Tiffany studio and the artist and workman was Mr. Calvert.
Mary Mackenzie, Historian
Village of Lake Placid & Town of North Elba, NY
Our most important window is the three-panel St. Eustace window depicting St. Eustace’s encounter with the stag. It was commissioned in the early 1900’s by the then Rector, The Rev. William Moir as a memorial to his father, James Moir. (Note: this is primarily a copper foil window rather than a leaded window).
This angel window, located above the St. Eustace Window, was given at the same time by Rev. Moir’s sister, Mrs. Henry Lee; again, in memory of James Moir.
The Good Shepherd window at the rear of the church was created by the Chapman Studio of Albany. It was given in 2005 in memory of Elsie and J. Vernon Lamb, Sr. by their children. It was installed while The Rev. Harold Bronk was Interim Rector.
Mr. & Mrs. Carter Lockwood gave this window to the church in memory of their son Herbert. This was done by the Chapman Studio of Albany, NY.
The Lamb of God window above the Good Shepherd window was most likely created by the Henry Keck Studio of Syracuse. It was given in 1966 in memory of Otis Glazebrook.
Mr. & Mrs. Carter Lockwood have gave this window. The “St. Francis Window” (1990) in the narthex, is in memory of their daughter, Francis Bailey, who was killed in the Sioux City airplane crash. This was completed by the Chapman Studio of Albany, NY.
The pair of windows on the right side of the church is in memory of Mr. & Mrs. Merrill Thomas. They were created by Kip Trienens of Westport, NY in the early 2000’s and were dedicated by The Rev. Judson Pealer, Rector.
The resurrection window over the narthex door into the church is a Tiffany window done in 1913. One of the blue panes of the window has been replaced. It was given to St. Eustace in the early 1970’s. It was installed while The Rev. William Hayes was Rector.