During the 1940s, Ernest and Burton Wungnema built a number of churches in and around Lake Tahoe. We believe that this church, Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Kings Beach, California, is one of those churches. This church was built in 1947. Attempts to contact the church for verification and a brief history were unsuccessful.
Family history has this father-son team building Catholic Churches in Kings Beach/Brockway and Truckee, California during that time frame.
Plus, it is known that the original windows for the Wungnema House in Carson City were purchased from Catholic Churches in those communities. These were the churches that Ernest and Burton built together. The churches had purchased frosted windows, yet received clear glass windows. When Ernest and Burton learned that the churches planned to return these clear glass windows to the manufacturer, they arranged to purchase them instead.
When this church was built, Burton was only 21, yet already a master stonemason. He had been working along side his brother, Randall, and his father for a number of years. His father, Ernest, worked and taught masonry at the Stewart Indian School (SIS). Ernest took pride in his finished work product, a trait he passed onto his children and grandchildren.
Take a look at the precise alignment of the stones, the even-texture of the grouting and the corners – all work of master stonemasons. Also, note the use of Turquoise in the building and the dark mud or grout – both trademarks of the Wungnema Family.
Sadly, this church was vandalized in February of 2016 and the statute of Mary in front of the church was damaged. Mary has been repaired and a protective plexi-glass shield now shields her. (See https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/crime-fire/severed-head-hands-of-virgin-mary-statue-marks-latest-tahoe-church-crime/
Back behind and near the church are a number of homes with pink stone chimneys. We think that these are the work of the Native American stonemasons from SIS. Some of the chimneys could even be the work of Ernest and/or Burton.
If you have a chance, visit the church and admire her in person. Then take a ride through the surrounding homes and see how many pink stone chimneys you can spot!