Excerpts from "The Great Camps of the Adirondacks"by Harvey H. Kaiser

camp Pine Knot
Rustic Gable and fan at camp Pine Knot.


Generations of experience taught builders to use oversize timbers to support roofs that had to carry over ten feet of drifted snow. Roofs, extending far beyond exterior walls, precluded a buildup of ice and snow pressure against foundation walls, Logs were flattened and joined tightly, then chinked with caulking of hemp or plaster to keep out the wind-driven rain and cold. A knowledgeable builder raised all logs off the ground onto stones to prevent dampness and rot, and metal shields were used to discourage carpenter ants.

The aesthetic virtue of the Adirondack style lies in the deft combination of subtle but pragmatic details that both protect a building against the elements and harmonize with the environment. Buildings grew to 'fit,' gradually acquiring a patina that matched the surrounding landscape. A dash of color, usually red, seen on window frames, provides an occasional contrast to the neutral, natural materials.

the Adirondack Style


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