Interior of the great room at Pine Rock Camp
Great Camps of the Adirondacks, Harvey Kaiser
Pine Rock Camp
Courtesy of Merrill Thomas Real Estate
From a 1912 map of Upper Saranac LakeCamp name: "Woodwil" (named for Woodrow Wilson)
Other names: Pine Rock Camp, Three Trees Camp
Location: Markham Point, Upper Saranac Lake
Town: Santa Clara
When built: 1926-28
Owner when built: John R. Dunlap until his death in 1937; owner in 1985, Edward D. Bickford of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Architect: William G. Distin. Woodwil cost more than $200,000 to build, in 1926.
Builder or contractor: For the Markham Point road, George A. Donaldson
The camp was owned by Edward D. Bickford in 1977.
Richard G. Bomyea was caretaker for many years. From 1986 to '96, Robert F. Patnaude served as caretaker.
Source:
The great room at Pine Rock Camp
Courtesy of Merrill Thomas Real Estate
"A Mountain View: A Memoir of Childhood Summers on Upper Saranac Lake" by Lewis Spence (Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2002). This book is largely concerned with John R. Dunlap and his camp "Woodwil."
New York Sun, July 17, 1931
Week-End House Parties Planned In Adirondacks
…John R. Dunlap of New York has leased his Camp Woodwil near Saranac Inn to Mr. and Mrs. Frank M. Gould of New York. Mr. Dunlap, his daughter, Mrs. Kenneth M. Spence of Cedarhurst and two sons, Kenneth M. and Lewis H. Spence, have taken quarters at Saranac Inn.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, August 13, 1962
JET AT AIRPORT
A Lockheed Jet Star landed at Saranac Lake Airport Sunday afternoon and caused almost as much excitement as might be expected if a flying saucer had landed. Jack Finnegan, manager of the airport, said it was the first plane of the type to land there and that he had not been advised of the flight. The plane came from Allentown, Pa. on what was a demonstration for the pure jet plane. The Jet Star carries 12 passengers and is used mainly by large companies to transport their executives. The only passenger on this flight was Edward D. Bickford, a Bethlehem Steel Co. Executive, of Markham Point, Upper Saranac Lake.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, November 25, 1987
…The APA has also approved a six-lot subdivision planned by John R. Dunlap on the shore of Upper Saranac Lake in the Town of Santa Clara.
The permit for the 23-acre property on Markham Point Road, located off Forest Home Road, allows the creation of one 4.4-acre lot with an existing house, four lots from 2.9 to 3.6 acres in size for single family homes, and one 5.8-acre lot to remain undeveloped but with the potential for a future two-lot subdivision.
Construction of septic systems on the site will be monitored by a state-licensed engineer, according to an APA memorandum. The permit requires future structures to be at least 75 feet from the lake's high water mark. Boat docks, but not boathouses, will be allowed at the site.
External link:
- Merrill L. Thomas, Inc Real Estate listing
- Google Books: selections from Lewis Spence's A Mountain View.
