Flat Rock Camp

History

In 1885, Augustus G. Paine, Jr. (1866–1947) moved to Willsboro to manage a local pulp mill, and began buying land in the area, eventually amassing about 1000 acre, including 3 mi of Lake Champlain shoreline.

Flat Rock Camp, which was named after the flat shelf of Potsdam sandstone the house is built on,

As originally constructed, the camp consisted of numerous buildings, including the main house, two cabins, a chapel, an icehouse, servant's quarters, and other service outbuildings, many of which were demolished after Paine's death. The main house, which still survives, is a single story building, with seven bedrooms, a dining room and a large living room with a vaulted ceiling. In its heyday, up to thirty guests could be accommodated at the compound, along with the staff. The camp was supported by orchards, a dairy farm, and a 3 acre vegetable garden.

The compound also featured extensive gardens, planted on topsoil laid over the sandstone, which were maintained under the guidance of Paine's first wife, Maud Eustis Potts, and, after her death, his second wife Francisca Machado Warren and their daughter, Francisca Warren Paine. The gardens are listed in the Smithsonian Archives of American Gardens.

The camp and its surrounding property, which includes wetlands, farmland, orchards and forests, are still owned by the Paine family, but in 1978 they were placed under the stewardship of the Adirondack Nature Conservancy to ensure that the land will not be developed in the future.

References

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References

1. Steven C. Engelhart and L. Garofalini. (May 2005). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: New York MPS Flat Rock Camp". National Archives and Records Administration.
2. (2010-11-15). "National Register Information System". National Park Service.
3. Loughrey, Janet. ''Gardens Adirondack Style''. Down East Enterprises (2005). {{ISBN
4. (2010). "Flat Rock Camp". Adirondack Architectural Heritage.