In our early summers as campers, canoeing was among my favorite activities. I credit Tom McCready
and Eric Naseman as my early instructors and leaders of various canoeing adventures.
After my dad donated our family’s Sunfish, sailing became one of my passions. Even today among my
favorite activities remains sailing up to the rapids and finding a spot just before the bridge where I can
get the boat into a state of equilibrium matching the wind forward momentum against the current. To
anyone who wants to test their sailing skills and find a relaxing “water treadmill”, I recommend it.
One of my dad’s sailing quotes came after I had a little snafu taking out my grandson. The wind caught
us before I could get the centerboard down and we flipped in shallow water by the boathouse. I
grabbed my grandson while I was under water and held him above water trying to protect the cast on
arm. He gave me credit for saving him without assigning me the blame for putting him in jeopardy in
the first place. My Dad reminded me “No one is ever there when you make a smooth, graceful landing,
but there is invariably a crowd when you do something wrong!”
I remember being out sailing on a windy day and I saw another Sunfish up by Beaver Camp. I sailed up
that direction, following my father’s mantra that “If there are two boats on the water, they’re racing!” I
got up to his vicinity and made a few tacks and then due to some wind change and a bit of poor
anticipation we ended up colliding, the only two boats in an otherwise empty lake. He would have just
shaken his head. I remember sailing back from one of my bridge trips and when I hit the lake an older
woman/fellow family camper (her name escapes me) was waiting for me and shouted at me, “We’re
racing back!” She clearly was from my father’s school of sailing!
Dad taught me many things about leadership and management, and one lesson tied to Camp has stayed
with me through-out my career. He was on the Board of Directors, maybe he was even the President
(Every Camp Director’s nightmare is probably managing children of board members!), and I was having a
personnel policy disagreement with the Camp Director. The Board was visiting that weekend and I
thought it would be a perfect time to get my powerful father to weigh in on my behalf and get the issue
settled. As I explained the issue, he basically told me to not bother the board members with such petty
issues. They hired the Director to decide such things he said, and what was I thinking trying to drag him
into my petty conflicts. At first I was like “Ouch!” but I realized that he had a role beyond being my
parent and protector, and he knew how to balance those roles, skills honed in many corporate
boardroom battles. I’ve retained that understanding and think that in today’s environment of
“helicopter parents” shielding their kids from all adversity, there are some other skills many need to
learn. Not everyone can be as lucky as me to have had such a great teacher and role model. This is
probably one of those moments that he doesn’t even remember, but that as stuck with me after 35
years.
I was on crew and my boss was Eric Antonsen. Eric was a hard working Swede, a genius grad student or
researcher at MIT whose real life ambition was to become a lumberjack. He convinced the board that
he could save the art shop from tumbling into the lake (there may have been some other engineer
involved in this, which my dad might remember. The project had us jacking up the building and tearing
out the existing supports (pictures made it look like the building was floating). Because he and I were
the only crew members that summer, he had some friends who were construction workers join us.
Pete, Bill the Pirate, some French guy (who the girls fell in love with) and Bob Stevens, who would
become Camp Director the following year. My brother Devin would also join us when his dishwashing
duties were complete.
We then built pilings to lower the building on, and built the entire foundation by constructing plywood
frames that we dug into the lake bottom. The outer frames had to be about 4 feet deep, which meant
digging underwater, holding our breath for each hard earned shovel-full and pitching it out into the lake.
Once the frames were in place, they were held together with come-along cables. The day the cement
truck arrived he drove down to where the canoes are stored today which was as close as he could get.
When asked, he provided the info that he hadn’t brought a chute, so we were stuck with the truck about
20-30 feet away from where we needed the cement Eric tried to improvise a chute with some roofing
material from the old boathouse but that was largely ineffective. We ended up carrying most of the
concrete in five-gallon buckets and dumping it into the forms to displace the water that was in them. I’m
not sure how many yards/toms we carried but it was a workout. As the concrete slowly displaced the
water inside the frames, we eventually smoothed it out and dove underwater to detach the plywood.
Then we had to build the cinderblock pylons and, having confidence that the concrete had set up
underwater, we lowered the boathouse, which had been floating over our heads the whole time onto
the pilings. I guess it worked since it’s all still there 37 years later.
It has always been my proudest contribution to the Camp and to see it restored to its old glory through
my brother’s vision, and to have my Father’s name attached to it, only deepens my pride. My grandkids
love Camp just as my kids and I do. I hope that many more generations will enjoy time there and share
in the pride that accompanies naming recognition that is such a deep part of Unirondack tradition.
Summer of 1977 two cement pillars were installed on the land side under the art shop. (seen in photo below) As the ice continued to push out the boathouse walls the crew was used in 1978 to remove it completely and add 4 more cement pillars. See the note below from Hank Bartosik upon a visit during the winter of '77-'78.
1978 Crew that took off boathoue and built cement pillars to save Art Shop (second sitting Bob Stevens, 3rd David Hollands, 5th Erik Antonsonn (see staff bio)
1978 Teardown and repair project. Cement pillar from summer 1977 are seen. Rest of art shop held up by temporary jacks. Each staff member had a jack and Erik Antonsonn directed each of us to turn the screw on command, gently lifting the art shop into the air.
Jacking up the Artshop over the new cement pillars. When high enough the beam (upper right corner) got twisted to stand up right. When jacking a staff person was on each jack post and turned on command as Erick A. orchestrated the lift.
Note from Hank Bartowsik after visit to the camp March 1978. The 2 pillars added over the summer worked to keep the building standing over the winter
to Camp, Renee, phil, leaders, lhunt12, campdirector
I did not mean to turn people off by trying to figure this out over email..
I was tasked with plans to rebuild the boathouse roof.. When I saw Pete build scaffolding and ordering siding and going to town on the artshop project I started to work to catch up to him. Talking to him and the architect and others I realized this is not really a Major deal but just a project for Pete. The concept for what could be done came together at the same time. I worked several routes on the financing as I realized it is not top on some priority list and we wanted to save $ this season and we want $ to come to the foundation.
So when board members are rejecting the financing avenues proposed it is important to understand why and to show there is not harm but extreme benefit to going down these untried avenues.
Yes I think it will cost less than $10,000 and here is how I figure it and I can send to Pete separate so he can review my numbers.
Cement for footers.. $600
footer Forms 300
rebar for footers 90
TRUSSES 4,000 (this is unknown but basing it on the massive trusses used in the pavilion) sides and front will be pre-built trusses.. with legs...
Siding 1,000 (based on cost Pete quoted for the siding on the artshop)
Roof Rafters 600 based on Home Dept costs for 2x10x16 need about 30
Plywood 600 home dept price 530 square feet
Shingles 600 home depot 530sq feet
tar paper & nails 100 same
Stain for siding 200
Nails 200
buffer zone 1,500
total $9,790
like any project we can let this one slip away and it will not happen or we can continue to go in the direction the arrows are allowing us to finally go.....
dh
40 years after ripping off the old boathouse Devin Hollands leads the push to rebuild the boathouse. As the camp always had other pressing needs for money a boathouse was never a priority and never received funding or attention from the camp board.
A deal was struck with the board for the Hollands family to fund most of the construction in return for the right to name it after their father. Devin worked with architect Chris Duer (who had already helped on Chadwick, Stevens and Anderson) to come up with a plan to restore the boathouse and improve the Artshop deck.
Local builder and staff member Pete Howlett was tasked with building the boathouse in the spring with a few helpers including Professor who was on staff that spring.
Plan was to Mirror the Stevens Building as both can be seen from the water at the same time. (color, large timber, cupola skylight on roof.
Architect Chris Duerr concept during discussion with Devin Hollands
to me, leaders, lhunt12, campdirector
Hi Devin,
I like the general concept.some questions:
does the existing boathouse/art shop have any structural issues that have to be addressed during any remodel?
What caused the failure and loss of the prior boathouse overhang? ice heaves? rot? storm? Let's consider this in any new design plan.
What year did the old boat house come down? Before we invest too much in the design process, are we fairly confident that APA and/or local zoning will allow rebuilding? (so many years have passed since the loss of the prior structure...)
peace, - Randy J
to ROJennings
Pete our builder is working on the existing issues.. replacing ant eaten beam. and cement columns that have heaved..
I have report from the guy who did all the prior demo and work. in the old boathouse under artshop. there was water pocket under the floor.. so in winter it would heave and push out the 2x4 framing on the walls... that is why he poured the cement column and skirt...
as far as boat shed.. with the change from wooden to aluminum boats there was not the great need to protect the boats, and he felt a porch would serve more use...
That work was done in 1978.. but the 2 cement columns that are heaving were done in 1975 prior to demolition.. (then the lodge burned in 1976) so he could not get back to this until 1978...
the new 1978 3 lakeside columns are connected with the foundation skirt as one big monolith.. so they can not heave or tip like the back stand alone columns..
1978 columns are 4' deep the 1975 tipping columns are only 3' deep...
as far as APA... I read nothing saying there is a time period and then you cannot rebuild/repair... I did not come out and clearly state the existing case...I can send a new form stating more clear that we are rebuilding... the RIGHT side foundation is still there so the structure never totally removed...
from APA.. " You now propose to undertake repairs to the bouathouse on the proporty. The boathouse was constructed circa 1929 Specifically you are poposing to replace beams/roofing and make repairs to the boathouse foundations as indicated in attachment.. YOu have indicated that there will be no expansion in size or height from the original structure."
Adirondack Park Agency
PO Box 99
Ray Brook, NY 12977
Unirondack Inc. 4-23-2012 Jurisdictional Inquiry form
D. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
We are seeking a building permit from our town to perform rehabilitation of our boathouse. The boathouse was constructed around 1920. We need to replace beams/roofing and repair foundations that have rotted/aged. We will need to upgrade and or repair existing cement footings and foundations. Some pillars are tilting and some wood beams rotted. All siding and roofing will be done in colors to blend in with the environment. There is no expansion in size or height from the original 1920s building. The repair/replacement work will take place over or inside the existing foundation perimeter. We hope to start work this spring before our campers arrive. Starting with removal and shoring up as needed with major replacement of removed and beams and timber and needed roofing to take place fall of 2012 and spring 2013.
Devin Hollands,
President, Unirondack
to camp and installing all in same day with Shayne Hollands
To Lauren,
Hey after demolition we burned the front deck and stairs and railing from the entrance to the art shop... (not your stairs on the side) pretty serious fire... we put buckets of water on it to chill it out....The roof is held up as the deck went away...the window on the other side (gilman side) will be replaced with matching window and frame... (it was all rotted) Dan was not too happy with the fire as it was so loud and hot...
I wanted to get rid of nasty wood so did not want to leave it...Pete is rebuilding everything real nice...
Devin May - June 2012
Repairs to new boathouse, piers poured during freezing April weather due to schedule constrants of summer camp caused them to fail. This one repaired during the covid summer when camp was closed.
Devin Hollands and Kris Fiore with Dale Sherman fixing the pier
The great Sunfish rescue day - using his drone with camera system Jordan Hollands located the yellow sunfish lost for years. The sunfish was a donation his grandfather gave to the camp in 1978 to restart the sailing program.
no contractor could be found to do the work