74 During <strong>20</strong>18, <strong>the</strong> Newcomb His<strong>to</strong>rical Museum celebrated <strong>the</strong> 125 th anniversary of <strong>the</strong> opening of Camp Santanoni with an exhibit entitled “The Pryns of Camp Santanoni.” Focusing on <strong>the</strong> life and times of Robert C. Pruyn, an Albany banker, his wife, Anna Williams Pruyn, and <strong>the</strong>ir four children, this exhibit highlighted many family pho<strong>to</strong>graphs, documents, and artifacts, some <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> public for <strong>the</strong> first time. The exhibit featured family traditions and <strong>the</strong> ways <strong>the</strong> Pruyns shared <strong>the</strong>ir Adirondack lives with extended family and well-known guests. Mrs. Pruyn was particularly noteworthy because she, more than her husband, loved <strong>the</strong> wilderness and actively enjoyed her time in <strong>the</strong> mountains, especially trout fishing. Mr. Pruyn’s preoccupation was establishing a working agricultural complex that was architecturally beautiful and would feed all who lived and visited his manor house deep in <strong>the</strong> woods of Newcomb. Incidentally <strong>the</strong> farm also fed his Albany family and <strong>the</strong>ir servants for most of <strong>the</strong> year. Art Tummins made weekly trips from Newcomb <strong>to</strong> Albany with <strong>the</strong> Larrabee truck full, including chickens, hams, bacon, eggs, dairy products, vegetables, spring water—basically whatever was requested. Although <strong>the</strong> Pruyn farm was an impressive experiment and <strong>the</strong>ir hospitality legendary, several questions continued <strong>to</strong> surface about <strong>the</strong> full-time and seasonal work force: Who did all <strong>the</strong> work? Who cared for those Wyandotte chickens, <strong>the</strong> Black Berkshire pigs, <strong>the</strong> Black-faced Highland sheep? Who coordinated large dinner parties? Were <strong>the</strong>re head waiters who supervised <strong>the</strong> dining room and kitchen? Who embroidered “Santanoni” on all those <strong>to</strong>wels and made sure <strong>the</strong>y were laundered for <strong>the</strong> next round of guests? Which carpenter built <strong>the</strong> Farm Manager’s House that was sold as a kit house? Who cut 450-600 ice cakes out of Newcomb Lake each January or February? Who were <strong>the</strong> talented s<strong>to</strong>ne masons, teamsters, barn builders, and cooks? The list of tasks seems endless. The valuable resource, Santanoni: From Japanese Temple <strong>to</strong> Life at an Adirondack Great Camp, started <strong>the</strong> search, but how could we learn more about <strong>the</strong> women and men not yet identified? “BEHIND THE SCENES” answers <strong>the</strong>se and many more questions, not only about workers from <strong>the</strong> Pruyn Era, but also those who were employed by <strong>the</strong> second owners, <strong>the</strong> Melvin Bro<strong>the</strong>rs from Syracuse, and finally, for <strong>the</strong> State of New York (DEC). These loyal employees came from all over New York State and as far away as Georgia. Many were recent immigrants who eventually sent for family members, set up <strong>the</strong>ir first homes in America, and had children at Santanoni. They were Irish, Italian, Bulgarian, Russian, and more. As an exhibit poster now clarifies, <strong>the</strong>y were <strong>the</strong> “COMMONFOLK,” in contrast <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> wealthy owners, and <strong>the</strong>y came <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Adirondacks</strong> by way of Santanoni employment. Many of <strong>the</strong>ir descendants are still here, or nearby. We encourage everyone <strong>to</strong> visit Camp Santanoni. It’s a moderate walk or bike ride (4.9 miles one way), but visi<strong>to</strong>rs can also reserve a horse-driven ride by calling teamster, Larry Newcombe at 518-639-5534; 518-480-1743. BEHIND THE SCENES is open now thru Columbus Day (Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 14th). Hours are Monday- Friday 12-5; Saturday 10-5; Sunday closed. Please call 518-582-2274 with questions or <strong>to</strong> make a reservation for a large group. Reach our advertisers at: ADKDining<strong>Guide</strong>.com • ADKS<strong>to</strong>resandGalleries.com • ADKEntertainment.com • ADKAccommodations.com
Reach our advertisers at: ADKDining<strong>Guide</strong>.com • ADKS<strong>to</strong>resandGalleries.com • ADKEntertainment.com • ADKAccommodations.com
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