Camp Topridge
Encyclopedia
Camp Topridge is an Adirondack
Great Camp
bought in 1920 and substantially expanded and renovated in 1923 by Marjorie Merriweather Post
, founder of General Foods
and the daughter of C. W. Post
. The "camp", in Paul Smiths
, in the U.S.
state of New York
, was considered by Post to be a "rustic retreat"; it consisted of 68 buildings, including a fully staffed main lodge and private guest cabins, each staffed with its own butler. It was one of the largest of the Adirondack great camps and possibly the most elaborately furnished.
The camp had 207 acre (0.83770002 km²) and was situated on an esker
between the Spectacle Ponds and Upper St. Regis Lake
, about 12 miles (19.3 km) northwest of Saranac Lake, New York
.
As originally built, the property could only be reached by water, though a driveway was added in years later. Guests arrived by float-plane or Post's yacht
at a private dock, and thence via funicular
to the main building at the top of the ridge. Three times a week, guests would gather in the 65 by 50 feet living room where full-length movies could be screened; an adjoining dining room seated thirty guests. Many of the original furnishings of the room, which included an extensive collection of American Indian artifacts, are now in the Smithsonian Institution
. Among the many elaborate structures on the property is a Russian dacha
built for Post's third husband, who had served as ambassador to the Soviet Union.
The staff would arrive from Keese Mills Road in Paul Smiths and drive around the water and leave their cars in a parking lot. Incidentally, the Public access point to Mount St. Regis takes the same 2.5 mile drive off Route 30 and the trail entrance to the mountain is just before the private property line of Camp Topridge. From the Parking Lot, staff would walk a Hilly, unpaved path into the workers side of the Camp. In the early 70's, this unpaved path was widened and became suitable for one-way car traffic. Prior to the paving, vehicles could only be driven over the ice in the winter. Mrs Post's guest would arrive at Saranac Airport (in Lake Clear), often in her private Vickers Viscount, the Merriweather. They would be driven to a launch which would take them to one of the Boat Houses. From there, they could either take the stairs or ride a covered electronic lift or funicular (easily cable of holding 6 people) which was installed for a relative of Mrs. Post, who had heart trouble and couldn't walk the stairs. When Mrs Post was in Camp, it provided gainful employment to carpenters, painters, maids and general labor. For years, the caretaker of the camp and his wife would feed lunch to staff in a dining room in the caretaker's home and this was one of the benefits of working for Mrs. Post at the time.
The estate was designed by local builder Ben Muncil in collaboration with New York architect Theodore Blake.
Post left the property to the State of New York. The main lodge, most of the buildings and 105 acre (0.4249203 km²) were offered for sale, with the remaining acreage to be made part of the Adirondack Forest Preserve. It is now owned by Texas real estate magnate, Harlan Crow
.
The property is on the National Register of Historic Places
.
Adirondack
__notoc__Adirondack may refer to:*Adirondack Mountains, *Adirondack County, New York, a proposed county in New York...
Great Camp
Great Camps
Great camps refer to the grandiose family compounds of cabins that were built in the latter half of the nineteenth century on lakes in the Adirondacks such as Spitfire Lake and Rainbow Lake. The camps were summer homes for the wealthy, where they could relax, host or attend parties, and enjoy the...
bought in 1920 and substantially expanded and renovated in 1923 by Marjorie Merriweather Post
Marjorie Merriweather Post
-External links:******...
, founder of General Foods
General Foods
General Foods Corporation was a company whose direct predecessor was established in the USA by Charles William Post as the Postum Cereal Company in 1895. The name General Foods was adopted in 1929, after several corporate acquisitions...
and the daughter of C. W. Post
C. W. Post
Charles William Post , also known as C.W. Post, was an American breakfast cereal and foods manufacturer and a pioneer in the prepared-food industry.-Biography:...
. The "camp", in Paul Smiths
Paul Smiths, New York
Paul Smiths is a hamlet in the Town of Brighton in Franklin County, New York, on Lower Saint Regis Lake, in the Adirondacks, 10 miles north of Saranac Lake, located at 44°26' North 74°15' West....
, in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
state of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, was considered by Post to be a "rustic retreat"; it consisted of 68 buildings, including a fully staffed main lodge and private guest cabins, each staffed with its own butler. It was one of the largest of the Adirondack great camps and possibly the most elaborately furnished.
The camp had 207 acre (0.83770002 km²) and was situated on an esker
Esker
An esker is a long winding ridge of stratified sand and gravel, examples of which occur in glaciated and formerly glaciated regions of Europe and North America...
between the Spectacle Ponds and Upper St. Regis Lake
Upper St. Regis Lake
Upper St. Regis Lake is a part of the St. Regis River in the Adirondacks in northern New York State. Along with Lower St. Regis Lake and Spitfire Lake, it became famous in the late 19th century as a summer playground of America's power elite, drawn to the area by its scenic beauty and by the...
, about 12 miles (19.3 km) northwest of Saranac Lake, New York
Saranac Lake, New York
Saranac Lake is a village located in the state of New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,406. The village is named after Upper, Middle, and Lower Saranac Lakes, which are nearby....
.
As originally built, the property could only be reached by water, though a driveway was added in years later. Guests arrived by float-plane or Post's yacht
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
at a private dock, and thence via funicular
Funicular
A funicular, also known as an inclined plane or cliff railway, is a cable railway in which a cable attached to a pair of tram-like vehicles on rails moves them up and down a steep slope; the ascending and descending vehicles counterbalance each other.-Operation:The basic principle of funicular...
to the main building at the top of the ridge. Three times a week, guests would gather in the 65 by 50 feet living room where full-length movies could be screened; an adjoining dining room seated thirty guests. Many of the original furnishings of the room, which included an extensive collection of American Indian artifacts, are now in the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
. Among the many elaborate structures on the property is a Russian dacha
Dacha
Dacha is a Russian word for seasonal or year-round second homes often located in the exurbs of Soviet and post-Soviet cities. Cottages or shacks serving as family's main or only home are not considered dachas, although many purpose-built dachas are recently being converted for year-round residence...
built for Post's third husband, who had served as ambassador to the Soviet Union.
The staff would arrive from Keese Mills Road in Paul Smiths and drive around the water and leave their cars in a parking lot. Incidentally, the Public access point to Mount St. Regis takes the same 2.5 mile drive off Route 30 and the trail entrance to the mountain is just before the private property line of Camp Topridge. From the Parking Lot, staff would walk a Hilly, unpaved path into the workers side of the Camp. In the early 70's, this unpaved path was widened and became suitable for one-way car traffic. Prior to the paving, vehicles could only be driven over the ice in the winter. Mrs Post's guest would arrive at Saranac Airport (in Lake Clear), often in her private Vickers Viscount, the Merriweather. They would be driven to a launch which would take them to one of the Boat Houses. From there, they could either take the stairs or ride a covered electronic lift or funicular (easily cable of holding 6 people) which was installed for a relative of Mrs. Post, who had heart trouble and couldn't walk the stairs. When Mrs Post was in Camp, it provided gainful employment to carpenters, painters, maids and general labor. For years, the caretaker of the camp and his wife would feed lunch to staff in a dining room in the caretaker's home and this was one of the benefits of working for Mrs. Post at the time.
The estate was designed by local builder Ben Muncil in collaboration with New York architect Theodore Blake.
Post left the property to the State of New York. The main lodge, most of the buildings and 105 acre (0.4249203 km²) were offered for sale, with the remaining acreage to be made part of the Adirondack Forest Preserve. It is now owned by Texas real estate magnate, Harlan Crow
Harlan Crow
Harlan R. Crow is an American real estate magnate from Dallas, Texas. He is the third son of Trammell Crow and the head of Crow Holdings.Crow was born in Dallas the third son of Margaret and Trammel Crow and has four brothers and one sister. Unlike his siblings, he attended high school at the...
.
The property is on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Sources
- Kaiser, Harvey H., Great camps of the Adirondacks. Boston: David R. Godine, 1982. ISBN 0-87923-308-7.