Camp Pinebrook
Location: Gilpin Bay, Upper Saranac Lake
Other names: Howell Camp, Pinebrook, Pine Brook, Pine Knot Camp
Year built: 1898, rebuilt after 1913
Architect: William L. Coulter
Camp Pinebrook is a Swiss chalet style great camp designed by William L. Coulter on Gilpin Bay on the west side of Upper Saranac Lake. It is similar in style to nearby Moss Ledge, another Coulter design.
Pinebrook was originally built for former New York Governor, U.S. Ambassador to France, and U.S. Vice President Levi P. Morton in 1898 on the site of an older camp, on land that had belonged to William West Durant. When built, the camp could only be reached by water; the road that would become New York Route 30 did not extend to Saranac Inn until 1909.
Morton sold Pinebrook to Mitchell A.C. Levy in 1903 and subsequently built Eagle Island Camp nearby. Most of the original buildings constructed for Morton burned to the ground on Friday, September 5, 1913. Mr. Levy and his guests, Mr. Robert Golden of New York and William Dean of Philadelphia, were reported to have narrowly escaped being buried under the falling roof of the house.
The property was subsequently purchased by Herman S. Rosenbaum, who retained Coulter to design the current buildings. Morton's original single-story boathouse, which survived the fire, was demolished and replaced by the current, much larger boathouse with living quarters on the second floor. Rosenbaum also built the gravel Gilpin Bay Road out to the state highway. It is believed that the three-bedroom sleeping cottage known as Whiteface is the only surviving building built by Morton.
The camp was bought by James Laughlin III of Jones Laughlin Steel Co. in 1931, and three years later it was acquired by Carl Loeb. The Loebs gave the camp to Syracuse University in 1948 along with Moss Ledge. After many years as a conference center, Pinebrook was sold in 1972 and is again a private camp.
Recent owners include Judith and Irving Cohen.
New York Times, Sunday, September 7, 1913 [Sunday NY Times Parts 3 & 4, page 5; digital archive page 57.]
MORTON'S OLD CAMP BURNED
Fire Does $50,000 Damage to Levy's Property on Saranac Lake.
Special to the New York Times.
SARANAC LAKE, N.Y., Sept. 6.-
The camp on Upper Saranac Lake, at which Levi P. Morton once entertained scores of prominent men, was destroyed by fire last night. The camp has been the property of M. A. C. Levy of New York for the last few years, and was occupied by him at the time of its destruction, while a party of New York friends were his guests.
The house caught fire from sparks from the open grate in the living room. The flames spread so rapidly that there was no hope of saving the camp buildings. Valuable curios and furnishings were carried from the main building by servants and neighboring campers, assisted by Mr. Levy and his friends. Besides the main building, which was burned to the ground, the servants' and guides' quarters were destroyed. The sleeping pavilions and the boat house, which stood at some distance from the main structure, were saved.
The loss is estimated at $50,000.
New York Evening Post, July 14, 1900
CAMP BUILDING IN THE ADIRONDACKS
Great Activity This Season—Some Big Camps Described.
The beginning of this article can be found on the Lower Saranac Lake page
The Howell camp on the Upper Saranac Lake, which was purchased two years ago by ex-Gov. Levi P. Morton, and which he has named “Pine Knot Camp,” has undergone many changes, and is now one of the prettiest summer places on the lake. It is located on Gilpin Bay, and contains about twenty-five acres of land. It is a series of low, one-story buildings picturesquely arranged near the shore, and has several very unique shingle buildings finished simply on the inside, the beams having the bark left on. Each of these buildings has a large stone fireplace, and the furniture is made in rustle style from the unfinished product of the woods. The camp has five or six large tents, in addition to the buildings, including a launch-house and a separate boat-house. Perhaps the most unique feature of this camp is its large living room, with open rafters and abundance of window space.
New York Times, August 21, 1901
The beautiful camp owned by Levi P. Morton at Saranac Lake has just been completed. It is situated on Gilpin Bay on the Upper Saranac. The buildings are all one story high and arranged in a picturesque plan near the lake's shores. Some of the cabins are formed of rough shingles with the bark left on the outside, and are simply finished on the interior. The fireplaces are of stone in the rough, and the rustic furniture is bark-covered. There are also several large tents, a launch house, and a separate boathouse. The camp contains about twenty-five acres and is called Pine Knot Camp.
Plattsburgh Sentinel, May 16, 1902
...Another of the beautiful camps but recently completed is that belonging to ex-Governor Levi P. Morton. It is situated on Gilpin bay in upper Saranac lake, and contains about 25 acres of land. It is a series of low, one-story buildings, picturesquely arranged near the shore of the lake, and has several unique shingle buildings finished simply on the inside, the beams having the bark left on...
New York Times, July 30, 1902
NEWS OF LAKE PLACID.
Special to The New York Times.
LAKE PLACID, N. Y., July 29
…Mr. and Mrs. [Wikipedia:Jacob_H._Schiff Jacob H. Schiff] of New York have taken possession of the camp of ex-Gov. Morton on the upper Saranac Lake…
Malone Farmer, November 26, 1902
Ex-Governor Levi P. Morton has sold to Mitchell A. C. Levy, Pinebrook Camp, Upper Saranac Lake, Adirondacks. The camp comprises numerous houses and covers sixteen acres. Mr. Levy will occupy the camp. The purchase price is said to have been $50,000 .
New York Times, July 26, 1903
CAMP LIFE AT SARANAC INN.
Special to The New York Times.
...Mr. and Mrs. [Wikipedia:Percy_Rivington_Pyne Percy Rivington Pyne] of New York are expected at the camp formerly occupied by the Mortons on the Upper Saranac Lake on Aug. 1.
Tupper Lake Free Press and Herald, August 30, 1956
On Saturday evening, Sept. 1, at 8:30 a program of popular and semi-classical music will be presented in Loeb Lodge at Pinebrook Camp, Syracuse University cultural and conference center on Upper Saranac Lake. Participating will be Mrs. Elisabeth Mulfinger, pianist, wife of Professor George Mulfinger, who will assist as cellist; Joan Mulfinger. violinist, and David Mulfinger. pianist. Source