Tahawus in Essex County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Club Era
Photographed by Steve Stoessel, March 28, 2020
1. The Club Era Marker
The Tahawus Club
The Adirondack Club was one of the first hunting clubs in the Adirondacks, formed in 1877, occupying the deserted Village of Adirondac under a lease agreement with the descendants of the iron works. The club members created a community of lodges, some built on the foundations of iron-era structures. The club was re-named the Tahawus Club in 1898 and is still vital today, now located on private property at the Lower Works.
Birdseye View c. 1935
Once a bustling industrial complex, the village of Adirondac was re-purposed to become a hunting and recreational community from the 1878 until 1947. The locations of the cottages are still evident today.
From North to South (Top to Bottom)
Coe Cottage Built in 1899 by E. Holloway Coe. Bought in 1916 by Walter D. Edmonds, author of "Drums Along the Mohawk." Built on the foundation of an 1830s iron-era structure
Terry Cottage
Built in the 1880s by Alexander Taylor, this is the oldest cottage of the club era. Occupied in 1934 by John T. Terry, Jr. and family.
Lipstick Cottage
Built in 1933, the small annex behind the Terry Cottage was used by Terry's
this page online
Jennings Cottage
Built around 1899 by Walter Jennings. Accessed by a bridge across the Hudson River. Built on an iron-era foundation, possibly for an early forge.
"New" Cottage
Built some time between 1935 and 1947, little is known about this cottage.
W.R.K. Taylor Jr. Cottage
Built in 1932 by W.R.K. Taylor, Jr., a third generation resident of the Tahawus Club community.
Savage Cottage
Thought to have been built after 1906. Named for club member, Presbyterian minister Theodore T. Savage, but who actually occupied this building is unclear.
Lazy Lodge
Original core built before 1906, expanded by Alexander Taylor Jr. Occupied by W.R.K. Taylor Sr. 1910-33. In 1935 referred to as "Lazy Lodge.
Abbott/Lockwood Cottage
Built in 1899 by Gordon Abbott. Later became known as the Lockwood cottage for the final owner, William A. Lockwood.
Clubhouse Annex
1880 renovation of an earlier house, referred to as "the new clubhouse.” Held lockers for club members' equipment.
MacNaughton Cottage
Built in 1834, the only intact building remaining from the iron era village.
Photographed by Steve Stoessel, March 28, 2020
2. Remnants of the Houses from the Club Era
The marker is in front of the ruins.
Tahawus Clubhouse Complex
The center of communal activity during the club era. Originally built as a boarding house for mine workers in the iron era, remodeled as the clubhouse. Contained several fireplaces and a walnut staircase. For a short time, the complex housed tanks for rearing fish. Demolished in the 1960s.
Debevoise Cottage
Built in 1900 by George L. Nichols. Named for the final owner, Thomas M. Debevoise.
Williams Cottage
Built in 1901 by Dr. George E. Brewer. Named for Thomas R. Williams who occupied the cottage in later years.
Bateson Cottage
Built in 1932 by E. Farrar Bateson, using a pre-fabricated building system.
Upper inset
Painting by Ethel C. Yates, copied from a ceiling fresco found during a renovation of the Adirondac Clubhouse, c. 1877. Original fresco thought to have been painted by Cyril Burnell.
Erected by Open Space Institute.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1877.
Location. 44° 5.219′ N, 74° 3.353′ W. Marker is in Tahawus, New York, in Essex County. It is on Upper Works Road 9˝ miles north of Blue Ridge Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Newcomb NY 12879, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York, in the Adirondacks & North Country, and in the Champlain Valley. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in North America, the Great North Woods, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, New Netherland, and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: An Abundance of Ore (a few steps from this marker); MacNaughton Cottage (within shouting distance of this marker); Abbott/Lockwood (within shouting distance of this marker); Adirondac (within shouting distance of this marker); Three Communities (within shouting distance of this marker); Tahawus Clubhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Taming the Wilderness (within shouting distance of this marker); Lazy Lodge (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tahawus.
Also see . . .
1. Tahawus Club. (Submitted on April 6, 2020, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York.)
2. Open Space Institute. (Submitted on April 8, 2020, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 8, 2020. It was originally submitted on April 5, 2020, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. This page has been viewed 692 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 5, 2020, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. 2. submitted on April 6, 2020, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.
