As we have
learned, the Adirondack region is incredibly diverse and has a rich history.
Our trip to the Adirondacks enabled us to see the diversity of people and
professions in the area, as well as its natural beauty. It is interesting to imagine how different our experience would
have been if we had visited 200 years ago. We would have seen a wilder place
inhabited by many different kinds of animals and covered with different trees
and plants. Since that time, much has changed in the region, but our time at Camp
Wenonah afforded us a great opportunity to see into the past.
From the late 19th
century until World War I, various wealthy American families purchased large
tracts of land in the Adirondacks and constructed multi-building estates. These
have come to be known as “Great Camps,” and are now often used as lodges where
the general public can stay. Most of the families who commissioned the construction
of these estates lived in mansions in cities, namely New York City, and
therefore the exteriors of the Adirondack structures were completely different
from their main homes. However, these families still enjoyed all the comforts
of their city homes within the Adirondack camps.
The popularity of the Adirondack
Great Camps coincided with the construction of the railroad from Saratoga
Springs to the Adirondacks in 1871, which was led by Thomas Durant. This
railroad offered far easier access from urban centers to the Adirondacks.
Because there was far more wealth in urban centers than rural areas, the
railroad allowed for an influx of capital into the Adirondacks. Thomas Durant’s
son, William Durant, greatly increased the popularity of the Adirondacks, as he
believed they were an up and coming destination. He marketed the region to
wealthy clients in the hopes that they would commission the construction of
more Great Camps. In this endeavor, he found great success. In fact, he helped
influence how many of the Great Camps were constructed. The style that he
helped create in the Adirondacks is now referred to as “rustic.” Durant was interested
in the way Japanese architecture focused on nestling structures into the
surrounding landscape as well as various different aspects of Swiss chalets. He
combined different parts of these two styles into what can now be seen
throughout the Adirondacks in the form of Great Camps.
The Great Camps are an integral part
of human history in the Adirondacks, with their initial construction marking
the time when wealthy city-dwellers began to flock to the Adirondacks for the
purposes of leisure. In modern times, many view the Adirondacks as a place to
relax and experience nature, but this was not always the case. Our class visit to
Camp Wenonah enabled us to experience the way some of the first urban visitors
to the Adirondacks lived, and that is something we will not forget for a long
time.
Citations
"American Experience: TV's
Most-watched History Series." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 05 Oct.
2015.
“Santanoni – A Brief History.” Adirondack Architectural Heritage. AARCH,
n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2015.
The Adirondacks. PBS, 2008.
I had no idea that the style of architecture we see in the Adirondacks can be credited to one man. Also, I had a feeling the was Swiss chalet influence in the Great Camps architecture just from looking at it but now that you mention Japanese architecture I totally see where it fits in. Good piece, I loved getting to learn more about one of our field trip stops!
ReplyDeleteGreat insight on the development of the region. I can absolutely see the Japanese vibe of the great camp we visited. Also this was mostly due to the landscaping in tandem with the architecture so it's interesting to see modern owners embracing the architecture's cultural roots.
ReplyDelete