Aarch Matters Winter Newsletter 2018 Volume 27 Number 1
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AARCH MATTERS WINTER NEWSLETTER 2018 VOLUME 27 NUMBER 1 better known and far more well- established winter resort destinations. Given this trend, it was then a bit surprising that the third games were to take place in a remote mountain town in the Adirondacks without any sort of Olympic-quality infrastructure in place beyond having a perfect mountainous location with foundation of winter recreational activity and appreciation along with plenty of open space for cross country skiing. Although arguably not yet globally recognized, Lake Placid was at least nationally-known as a resort town. The presence of large hotels and good railroad access made travel to Lake Placid relatively easy, but it was the Lake Placid Club, a Lake Placid institution, that not only helped transform the village into a resort town but also recognized the The Oval in front of the 1932 & 1980 Olympic Arenas. Photo Courtesy of Whiteface Lake Placid opportunity to capitalize on the introduction of winter sports in the The Olympic Architecture of Lake Placid region. Much like the way Pyeongchang’s location sparked its development as a winter On February 8 the 2018 Olympic Winter Games transformation from sleepy town to global recreation town, the location of Lake Placid commenced in Pyeongchang, South Korea, a destination is not entirely dissimilar to the story nestled in the High Peaks of the Adirondacks relatively remote area located approximately 50 of the transformation of Lake Placid, our provided a natural backdrop for skating, miles south of the border with North Korea high region’s own Olympic destination, which hosted skiing, hockey, and other types of outdoor up in the Taebek Mountains. Pyeongchang is a the Games twice—first in 1932 and again in winter activities. Despite this pristine location, county in the Gangwon province, which is one of 1980. During this noteworthy year for winter the region was relatively underutilized in the least developed counties in all of South sports, we thought it would be fitting to reflect terms of formal winter sports in the early 20th Korea. For many years this area was virtually upon Lake Placid’s Olympic architecture, the century. Melvil Dewey, founder of the Lake unknown to the outside world; it was full of sometimes underappreciated sporting venues Placid Club (and inventor of the Dewey abandoned coal mines and reminders of hostile that all played a crucial part in Lake Placid’s role Decimal System) recognized the opportunity relations at the border such as barbed wire and as host village and, years later, continue to to capitalize on a new season of winter minefields. The introduction of winter sports to contribute to the special character of Lake recreation. Although Dewey’s leadership of the South Korean masses, however, changed Placid as a winter resort destination and as an the Club is controversial (he notably excluded the future of the region. Utilizing the natural Olympic training center. Jews and members of other minority groups mountainous landscape of Pyeongchang, winter Like Pyeongchang, Lake Placid was relatively from membership in the Club), his decision to sports became widely accessible, rather than unknown to the rest of the world and was open the Club in the winter set the backdrop just a hobby for the wealthy. This shift changed somewhat of an unconventional choice to host for Lake Placid playing host to the Olympic both the physical character of Pyeongchang the 1932 Winter Olympics. It was the third Games in 1932. Dewey’s son, Godfrey Dewey, and its identity from demilitarized zone to iteration of the winter games and the first on spearheaded the effort to secure the 1932 winter resort destination to host of the 2018 American soil and the road to Lake Placid was Games by strategically gaining support of Winter Olympics. full of controversy and questions. The previous Olympic officials, New York Governor Franklin Although separated by decades, time zones, two games were held in Chamonix, France D. Roosevelt, and other state legislators. This and culture, the story of Pyeongchang’s (1924) and St. Moritz, Switzerland (1928), two endeavor took strategic planning, incurred Continued on page 3 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Board of Directors Dear Friends, Pat Benton Blue Mountain Lake I hope this letter finds you well. Sally Berk In my opinion, one of the most enjoyable and valuable benefits of AARCH membership is Indian Lake receiving the many highly informative communication pieces generated throughout the year by Jennifer Betsworth our staff under the creative direction of our Deputy Director, Virginia Siskavich. Troy Of particular interest to me was the most recent AARCH Matters publication that presented a Robert Bick Lake Ozonia “year in review” of 2017. Specifically, this edition highlighted two outstanding examples of the exemplary preservation work of AARCH that occur on a regular basis and which demonstrate the Samantha Bosshart ability of the organization to nimbly and creatively respond to unexpected opportunities. The Saratoga Springs work done by Steven Engelhart and our staff to preserve “The Closet” at Seagle Music Colony in Eliza Darling Schroon Lake and with the effort to save the “Dr. Ferguson Office” in Glens Falls are merely the Northville latest examples of the organization successfully rising to the challenge of unexpected and critical preservation opportunities. I would urge you to go back and read the summary of these projects Susan Darrin to appreciate what a crucial role AARCH plays in assisting communities with historic Hague preservation. Edward Finnerty Lake Placid Much of AARCH’s ongoing and well-respected educational programming and advocacy take place on a relatively predictable schedule. For more than a quarter century this core work has Richard Frost Plattsburgh been the foundation of our success. But AARCH’s unique ability to recognize and respond quickly and collaboratively to unexpected preservation challenges requiring immediate action is quite Susan Harral remarkable and should make all members proud. Keene Valley Ed Hodges Going forward, I am confident that AARCH is well-positioned to deliver an even wider range of Boston historic preservation services. I am very pleased that Mary Cirbus has recently assumed the new Howard Kirschenbaum position of Preservation Services Director. Mary is already actively expanding AARCH’s technical Tupper Lake assistance program, increasing advocacy efforts, writing National Register nominations and Dean Melville raising awareness of historic preservation throughout the Park and beyond. As Mary takes on Upper Jay these new responsibilities, we recently welcomed Valerie Pawlewicz as our new Educational Programs Director following a national search process. Valerie brings experience, creativity, and Stefanie Noble tremendous energy to this crucial position. Combined with the experience, dedication, and vision Syracuse of Steven Engelhart and Virginia Siskavich, our staff truly carries out AARCH’s mission to Peter Sefton preserve the architecture and communities of the Adirondacks on a daily basis. Northville Thank you for your continued support. I urge you to renew your membership and generously Staff support our fundraising efforts and events. As a reminder, Richard Longstreth’s outstanding book, A Guide to Architecture in the Adirondacks, remains available and should be in every Steven Engelhart member’s library! Executive Director Virginia Siskavich Now, as always, AARCH MATTERS! Deputy Director Kind Regards, Mary Cirbus Preservation Services Director Valerie Pawlewicz Educational Programs Director Edward P. Finnerty Board President This publication was made possible, in part, through the generous support of the New York State Council on the Arts, Architecture + A World of AARCH exists online. Join us there. Design Program. 2 OLYMPIC ARCHITECTURE Continued from page 1 and one-half mile course was constructed in 1930 in advance of the Games as the first bobsled run of its kind and the only course of this length ever designed and built for Olympic competition. It was designed by one of the premier bobsled-course designers in the world, Stanislaus Zentzytsky, and it exceeded European bobsled courses in terms of length, steepness, and drops in elevation. Constructed of earth and stone, the course maintained a sophisticated system consisting of 8,000 feet of pipe laid below the ground that provided fresh icy surfaces to the course by pumping 20,000 gallons of water per day to a storage tank which then iced the course through a spray system. This 1932 course is the only remaining historic bobsled run at the Mount Van Hoevenberg site. Also constructed for the 1932 Games was the Lake Placid Olympic Center, designed by noted regional architect William Distin. Best known for designing camps, lodges, and 1932 Bobsled Run at Mt. Van Hoevenberg is on the National Register of Historic Places. churches, the arena was a significant Photo by Richard Longstreth departure from Distin’s typical work. The arena was designed as a neoclassical building debt for the town, and led Dewey to make issue occurred prior to the 1980 Games when with a symmetrical ochre-colored brick promises he almost could not keep in terms the design of the Intervale Ski Jump was façade that perhaps more resembles an of providing necessary infrastructure. Lake embroiled in a battle with environmental institutional building rather than a sporting Placid ultimately beat eight other sites— groups, including the Sierra Club, over the venue. At its time of construction, this arena Yosemite Valley, Lake Tahoe, Bear argument that the construction and height of was one of the first in the nation to have been Mountain, Duluth, Minneapolis, Denver, Oslo the towers would detract from the unspoiled constructed solely for athletic purposes and (Norway) and Montreal—and was selected by vistas and natural beauty of the High Peaks. the first indoor Olympic arena. Distin utilized the Olympic Committee in 1929 thereby In addition to contributing to the stories of steel arches to create an expansive interior securing its position in Olympic history.