When we visited Hoss’s Country Corner yesterday, most of us
were probably just thinking about how many interesting touristy items were sold
there. Some people were looking at the books about the Adirondacks (one of
which was the Marchand book), while others were playing with the toy guns or
buying souvenirs. However, one thing that I noticed was that there was a tree
growing though the middle of the store. Somehow I didn’t notice it when I was
inside the store, but when I went to get in the jitney to head back to campus,
it was pretty clear that there was a tree sticking out of the roof.
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| This is a living tree with a false building constructed around the tree to allow it to continue living in the ground. The store has been around for 43 years and the tree has been living healthily that whole time. |
Hoss’s is
located in Long Lake, an area of the Adirondack Park known for the Great Camp
style of architecture. Great Camp architecture tries to co-exist with nature,
which is clearly what Hoss’s has accomplished. This style of architecture was
created by William West Durant, who designed retreat camps for wealthy men with
whom his father was trying to do business. This camp became Camp Pine Knot,
which is a “model for Adirondack-style rustic architecture;” Durant wanted his
buildings to blend in with nature, which led to his creation of the Great Camp
style. Common aspects of the Great Camp style include huge fireplaces and
chimneys, “rugged finish[es] and outstanding craftsmanship,” and the use of
logs and native granite fieldstone for both the interior and exterior of the
buildings.
Hoss’s is considered a landmark of the Adirondacks, a site
that every Adirondack traveler needs to see. The tree growing through the store
just gives it that extra edge over other souvenir shops. They offer everything
you could possibly imagine, and anything you could possibly need. Practically
every review I found of Hoss’s gave it five stars and highly recommended people
to go and check it out. I think we can all agree that Hoss’s is a one-of-a-kind
store, and it was really cool to get to see it for ourselves.
http://www.adkmuseum.org/exhibits_and_events/online_exhibits/naturesart/great_camps/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adirondack_Architecture
http://visitadirondacks.com/area-adk/adirondack-great-camps-of-the-gilded-age
http://www.adirondackexperience.com/blog/2015/03/7-weird-adirondack-things
The whole time I thought the tree was just a fake decoration until Hannah pointed out there was a tree growing in the middle of the store. It's a really interesting place because it felt like it was more than just a tourist shop. Aside from just souvenirs, they also sold everyday essentials, frozen food, and camping supplies. It was a really unique experience and I enjoyed it a lot.
ReplyDeleteI also really loved visiting Hoss's Country Corner and really enjoyed hearing more about the history of the architecture from your post. I was struck by the eclectic mix of items that Hoss provides for the people (and visitors) of the Adirondacks. The items span from tourist trinkets to knives, lollipops to moose aprons. In many ways, Hoss embodies the vast range of human activities that occur in the Adirondacks. And, they have pretty much anything a person would need all in one store. As I wandered around its interior, I was reminded also, of self-sufficiency. For awhile, I found myself in the pocketknife booth staring at the biggest knives I have ever seen wondering what on earth it would be like to live in the Adirondacks.
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