Whether it’s a historic site or a spectacular new design, individuals with noteworthy homes will host tours during the Annual Fulton Chain of Lakes House Tour by Boat to benefit View on Saturday, August 18th.
Beginning in Old Forge, participants will ride party barges from house to house as they explore local waterways and get a rare opportunity to view the interiors of the beautiful homes along the way.
Departure will be from the Old Forge navigation docks along Lake View Ave. at 10 a.m., returning sometime in the middle of the afternoon.
To ensure a smooth departure, guests are asked to arrive early, preferably beginning at 9 a.m.
This year’s tour will feature six great camps and homes including Berkeley Lodge, which was once President Benjamin Harrison’s Adirondack residence. What appears to be just a boathouse from the lake is actually just the beginning of Berkeley Lodge.
Former President Harrison (of Indianapolis) purchased the 20 acre peninsula between First and Second Lakes in 1895 from Dr. William Sweard Webb.
Berkeley Lodge was designed by a Herkimer architect, Charles E. Cronk, and built in time for Harrison’s return in the summer of 1896 after his second marriage to Mrs. Mary Lord Dimmick.The Lodge living room is flanked by twin octagonal towers at either end.
The exterior of Berkeley was sheathed with spruce logs at the bottom and shingles below the eaves. Attached to Berkeley was a cottage containing a kitchen, dining room, and office. The camp also had a house for guides and a boathouse.
In 1910 the property was sold to a New Yorker and then later in 1915, it was purchased by Horace S. deCamp who owned the property until his death in 1954.
The property was sold at auction and purchased by the Cohen family of Old Forge.
The Cohens sub-divided the property into several parcels before selling Berkeley Lodge.
The Lodge and several other buildings survive to this day.
The great camp is owned by Bob and Diane Wallingford, who have renovated a portion of the lodge that was added on in the 1950’s by the Cohens, made the icehouse/carriage house into a bunkhouse, added a garage and renovated the boathouse keeping all of the same flooring and beams.
Tickets must be purchased in advance and are $65/$50 for members. This is a rain or shine event. This event typically sells out, so please call View to reserve your ticket at (315) 369-6411. More information is available by email at: Info@ViewArts.org, or visit www.ViewArts.org.
