The Adirondack Architectural Style
The Adirondack style of architecture was developed in the Adirondacks in upstate New York in the 1870’s and became quite popular up until the 1930’s. Before the 1830’s, little was known about the Adirondacks in New York until a geologist named Ebenezer Emmons, also a professor from Williams College, was asked by the New York State Legislature to survey these northern woods. Before these woods were surveyed, most people had not settled the area because of rough terrain, inaccessible routes and severe winters. Only trappers, hunters, and some timber and iron ore companies had penetrated the Adirondacks. But after the land was surveyed, people began to trickle in with the intent of settling the area, especially with the abundance of natural resources readily available.
After the Civil War, the North went through an age of prosperity, known as the Gilded Age. During this time romantic tales of the Adirondacks exposed the woods as being a recreational resort where one could go to experience the wilderness. Slowly railroads, roads, and steamboat river-runs were established providing access into the Adirondacks. With the increase of tourists, extravagant guesthouses and hotels were built along these routes. Only the rich had money to vacation and so these lavish places catered to the upper class.
The Adirondack style, also known as the "Great Camp," was developed by a man named William West Durant, who was schooled in Europe and "…was brought back in 1874 to help develop his father’s land investments in the central Adirondacks" (Masterpiece Productions, Adirondack Architecture). He spent the next 25 years building many of these Great Camps adopting many of the design features from the Swiss Chalets, which he had seen in Europe. The buildings were built of native materials and constructed to withstand the elements and harmonize with the environment. Logs used for the buildings were chosen by their shape and texture and were cut to fit tightly together. The roofs were shingled, had broad overhangs and porches, and were made with oversized timbers to withstand the pressure of snow build-up many feet deep. The overhangs prevented ice and snow from building up against the walls. Buildings were raised off the ground and built on rock foundations to prevent dampness and rot. Many buildings were "covered with vertical siding made of split spruce logs" (Adirondack Museum, Exhibits).
Rustic work was used as architectural ornament. Roughly dressed limbs and roots of the native trees, with their natural curves and knots, were used to create imaginative, ornamental patterns on the inside as well as out (Adirondack Design Associates). These limbs and roots were used to make the porch railings, gable screens, decorative trim, and all types of woodland furniture one might picture in a fairy tale. Birch bark was used as wallpaper in the interiors. Native stone was used for foundations, fireplaces and chimneys and added to the artistic appeal. "To inhibit destruction by fire, clusters of buildings were built to separate sleeping quarters from kitchens and dining areas but were connected by decorative, covered walkways" (Masterpiece Productions, Adirondack Architecture). The rustic style was fitting for the Adirondack environment and so the Adirondack architectural style developed.
These Great Camps, huge rustic compounds, became very popular with the wealthy and soon many of these tourists bought up land of their own in the Adirondacks and had camps built in the same Adirondack style. Building these Great Camps put many local people to work especially craftsmen, guides and caretakers.
The Adirondack style spread from the Adirondacks in New York to the Appalachians in North Carolina to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.
Franklin D. Roosevelt became acquainted with the Adirondack style as a child when he was sent to these mountains to help control his asthma. He recognized that the Adirondack style best harmonized the relationship of the woods with man-made structures. When he created the National Park system, he felt strongly that the structures to be built within those parks would also fit in with the environment by emulating the Adirondack style. The Inn at Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park is an excellent example of Adirondack architecture (Adirondack Design Associates, What is Adirondack Architecture?).
With this idea in mind, many of the great lodges of the West have been influenced by the Adirondack style of architecture. One great example is the Cascadia style (also known as Oregon Rustic or National Park Style). These similar styles were built with the same intention. To withstand the elements, harmonize with nature, and provide comfort to the inhabitant.
"Unspoiled nature, a hunger for greater privacy in the deep woods, ready availability of materials, and ample wealth to command absolute comfort mingled to produce the unique character of the Great Camps" (Adirondack Design Associates, The Adirondack Style).
Links:
Furnace Grove Historic District, The Camp c.1860/1961: http://www.uvm.edu/~histpres/HPJ/NR/bennington/16camp.html
Brockways Adirondack Style Homes: http://www.adirondackloghomes.com/testimonials.html
Exhibits of Rustic Arts and Architecture: http://www.adkmuseum.org/ex/expera.html
Adirondack Scenic Railroad: http://www.borg.com/~train
The Adirondack Channel: http://www.infinet.com/~tomsok/adirondack.html
Adirondack Architecture: http://www.masterpieces.com/arch1.htm
Adirondack Great Camps: http://www.greatcamps.com/great_camps.htm
Great Camps of Raquette Lake, NY: http://www.greatcamps.com/tour.htm
Moose Meadow Lodge: http://www.moosemeadowlodge.com/tour1.html
Raquette Lake Navigation Company; Great Camps: http://www.raquettelakenavigation.com/camp_alb.htm
Romancing The Woods, Inc.: http://www2.rtw-inc.com/rtw-inc/
Santanoni Preserve: http://www.newcombny.com/santanoni.htm
Lake Placid Lodge; Adirondack Experience: http://lakeplacidlodge.com/adkexp.htm
Adirondack Summer Resort Hotel; Holl’s Inn: http://www.hollsinn.com
White Pine Camp Summer Internship: http://www.preservenet.cornell.edu/intern14.htm
William Schohl Lodge: http://www.campturtleheart.com/lodge.htm
Adirondack Design Associates; Feature Article: http://www.adkgreatcamps.com/adk_ard6.htm
Hemlock Hall Lakeside Lodge: http://www.hemlockhall.com
Here is a list of furniture companies who make Adirondack furniture (we are able to order furniture from these companies):
--Old Hickory Furniture Company, Inc.--http://www.oldhickory.com
--Country Livin’ Pine Furniture--http://www.logbeds.com
--Montana Wood Designs, Inc.--http://www.lodgecraft.com
--Kauffman Wood Product--http://www.kauffmanwood.com
--White Mountain Pine Inc.--http://www.whitemountainpine.com
--Bend Log Designs--http://www.bentlog.com
--Andy Sanchez--http://www.specialtymile.com/customfurniture
--Mom’s Place
--Living Country--http://www.livingcountry.com
--Ralph Kylloe--http://www.mediausa.com/ny/rkylloe/index.html
--The Axcent Shop--http://www.logfurniture.com
--Pioneer Log Furniture
--Willsboro Handcrafted Furniture
--New West--http://www.newwest.com
--------------------------------------------------------------
Adirondack Architectural Heritage. "Summer Internship In The Adirondacks." [http://www.preservenet.cornell.edu/intern15.htm ]. February 7, 1995.
Adirondack Design Associates. [ mbird@adkgreatcamps.com ]. "Adirondack Design Associates/Feature Article." [ http://www.adkgreatcamps.com/adk_ard6.htm ].
Adirondack.com. [ robgrant@northnet.org ]. "Welcome to Adirondack.com/History of the Adirondacks." [http://www.adirondacks.com/adkhistory.html ]. 1997.
Adirondack Museum, The. "Adirondack Museum: A sense of place/Exhibits/Rustic Arts and Architecture." [http://www.adkmuseum.org/ex/expera.html ]. 1998.
Huff, Tom and Rosa. "Welcome to the Huff Family Web Page/The Adirondack Channel." [ http://www.infinet.com/~tomsok/adirondack.html ]. April 18, 1998.
Masterpiece Productions. [ maggie@masterpieces.com ]. "Adirondack Journal/Adirondack Architecture." [ http://www.masterpieces.com/arch1.htm ]. February 1, 1999.
"Newcomb, New York: The Heart of the Adirondacks/Santanoni Preserve." [ http://www.newcombny.com/santanoni.htm ].
Vacation Experience, The. [ info@tvenet.com ]. "Adirondack Great Camps." [ http://www.greatcamps.com/default.htm ]. April 12, 1999.
White Pine Camp. "White Pine Camp Summer Internship." [http://www.preservenet.cornell.edu/intern14.htm ]. February 7, 1995.
Fred J. Becker, Architect's E-mail
Back