WHITE PINE CAMP Help Rebuild After Horrific Fire

Katherine Hamer is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Dale Willman.

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White Pine Camp is one of the few remaining Adirondack Great Camps of the post-Gilded Age. Its unique architecture combines the traditional “Adirondack Great Camp” design with a pre-modern architectural style. In 1926 it served as the summer White House for Calvin Coolidge, and for more than a dozen years it has been lovingly restored from near ruin by a small group of owners to become a historic site and small Inn. Thousands of people have stayed at White Pine, calling the camp their home for a day, or for weeks, as they relax and enjoy the wonders of the Adirondack Park.

On the evening of June 7, a fire that began as a small spark in the 112-year old workshop quickly grew and burned out of control, consuming several buildings in just a matter of minutes. The camp’s Innkeeper’s Residence was damaged, and the Great Room threatened. Given the speed of the flames, it is nothing short of a miracle that no one was seriously injured. A beautiful row of guest cottages known as the Lodge Buildings were lost, but what was damaged beyond the structures was a part of Adirondack history.

Due to the quick and brave actions of guests, staff, and more than 100 firefighters from many volunteer fire departments headed by Paul Smith’s FD, much of the camp was saved. But the Woodshed and Lodge buildings were totally lost. Those buildings will need to be restored, and the Ice House received extensive damage.

We ask your help in recovering from the fire.

While the camp has insurance, the money will not cover all the expenses required to fully restore what was lost. The aim is to restore the lost buildings to make the camp whole again. But to do this, we need your help. Even a small amount will be appreciated.

We will rebuild and look forward to seeing you in camp!

To learn more about the buildings lost in this fire and others along with the complete history of White Pine Camp, Howard Kirschenbaum's book "White Pine Camp: The Saga of an Adirondack Great Camp and Summer White House," is a must read. Howard rescued the camp when it was falling apart, and has led the effort to restore White Pine. His book is a loving tribute to this camp’s place in history.

Contributions of $1000 or more will receive a free copy of Howard's book as a thank you for your generosity.