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Sagamore - one of my favorite cabins in the whole world!

I have always been fascinated with the Great Camps of the Gilded Age of American History.
Built of course with money made of the backs of laborers, they still were beautiful examples of craftmenship.

One of the greatest, and one of the few remaining was Sagamore. Built for Willaim Durant between 1895 - 1897. Bad legal issues and failing business ventures meant Durant did not enjoy it for very long.


Although Willaim was responsible for much of what became known as Great Camps. His personal and financial life never seemed to allow him to benefit from them.

Durant at Camp Pine Knot.

Purchased in 1901 by Alfred Vanderbilt it finally came into it's glory. Bad luck for Alfred with the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 meant even he did not get to enjoy it for very long.

His second wife did however.



On a trip a few years ago with my wife exploring the Adirondacks I was finally able to make the pilgrimage to Sagamore.







I have not found my photos yet, so this picture is from Sagamores web site.

Down near Elephant Rocks

Took this photo a few years ago.
The log building attached was not originally, well. . . attached to the main house.
But the addition works really well.
Love the faded red and the color of the wood.
Nice job John.

More Shepard of the Hills stuff.

 I got the book, now I just have to read it.

Have you been to Cabin Porn lately?

Cabin Porn

Another one saved. . .

Saved log building

A couple of old post cards for the cabins in Shepard of the Hills country.

Jonesburg Mo. Slave cabin

 This old slave cabin sits near the town center, and is a one day a week museum.
Love the fireplace and the configuration of the floor plan.
I don't know, and it doesn't say whether or not these two building set like this at their original location, but it does work on this site.

This is the east front and north side.

 The back side and north end.

 A little closer look at the front showing how the smaller cabin sits back a little from the front.

The lack of fine detail in the hewing and the knotching also suggest that it was not, to the land owner, a very important building and the slaves probably only got to work on it when they could.
The axe work on the masters house would have been a lot better.

 Front and south end.

This small building sits near by, original purpose unknown.

Bishops log cabin

 Although that is not the original name of the cabin, it is known as that for the man who rebuilt it and did much of the work for the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial float for St. Charles Mo. Glen Bishop.