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ADIRONDACK HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION VITA

HOWARD KIRSCHENBAUM
 

 

HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROJECTS AND POSITIONS

 

1971-1976           Co-owner, Director, Co-Director, National Humanistic Education Center (formerly

                             Adirondack Mountain Humanistic Education Center), Upper Jay, NY, including:

 

                             Preserved historic farmhouse and barn and adaptively used for educational

                             conference center.

 

1976-1989          Executive Director, Co-Director, Sagamore Institute (formerly National Humanistic

                             Education Center), Raquette Lake, NY, including:

 

                             Preserved and steadily restored Sagamore Lodge and Conference Center, former

                             William West Durant/Vanderbilt family Adk. Great Camp. A National Historic

                             Landmark.

 

                             Initiated and co-led with Preservation League of New York State successful campaign

                             to amend NYS constitution to save endangered caretaking complex of buildings at

                             Sagamore.

 

1976-2017          Owner or Co-Owner, Camp Uncas, Raquette Lake, NY, including steady restoration of

                             this former William West Durant/ J.P. Morgan family Adk. Great Camp.  A National

                             Historic Landmark.

 

1990-Pres.          Founder (1990), President (1990-97), Board Member (all but three years from 1990-

                              present), Secretary (2008-2011), Adirondack Architectural Heritage, the non-profit,

                              historic preservation organization for Adirondack Park, including:

 

                              Led campaign to save Camp Santanoni, historic Adk. Great Camp; gradually stabilize

                              and preserve it, and have it classified as a National Historic Landmark.  Continues to

                              work with AARCH, NY State and Town of Newcomb on Santanoni's preservation and

                              interpretation.

 

1992-95               Stabilized historic Warren Point Lodge on Tupper Lake and found compatible purchaser

                              to subsequently rehabilitate the lodge.

 

1993-Pres.           Owner, Director or LLC Manager (1993-2008; 2012-14), Steering Committee

                              (2009-2020), Advisor, White Pine Camp, Paul Smiths, NY, a historic Adirondack Great

                              Camp and Summer White House of Pres. Calvin Coolidge, including purchasing

                              property, forming investment group to own and operate it, gradually stabilizing and

                              restoring 20 buildings, operating property for historic tours and lodging for the

                              public.

 

2005-09              Purchased, restored and resold classic 1900s home on Park Avenue, Saranac Lake, NY

 

 

CONSULTANT

 

Worked with many private owners and non-profit organizations to find solutions to insure the future of their historic properties.  For example:

 

2014-2018          Co-led a four-year process in which the retiring owner and approx. 60 long-time guests

                              of the historic Hedges Resort, Blue Mt. Lake, NY, formed a company to purchase the

                              property, preserve it, and keep it open to the public.

 

 

BOOKS

 

White Pine Camp: The Saga of an Adirondack Great Camp and Summer White House. (Adirondack Architectural Heritage, 2018).

 

Santanoni: From Japanese Temple to Life at an Adirondack Great Camp.  With Robert Engel and Paul Malo. (Adirondack Architectural Heritage, 2000. Second edition, 2009).

 

The Story of Sagamore. (Sagamore Institute, 1990).

 

The Adirondack Guide: An Almanac of Essential Information and Assorted Trivia. With Susan Schafstall and Jeanine Stuchin, co-editors.   (Sagamore Institute, 1983).

 

The 1500 Most Interesting Inns, Lodges and Guest Houses in the United States.  (National Travel Publishing Company, 1980).

 

 

ARTICLES, BOOK CHAPTERS

 

Served as first historic preservation columnist for Adirondack Life magazine (1993-95). Wrote about a dozen articles on historic preservation in Adirondack Life magazine to date. 

 

Introduction to F. Fitzgerald, Adirondack Style: Great and Rustic Camps of the Adirondacks. New York: Rizzoli International Publications, 2011.

 

 

TOURS, INTERPRETATION

 

Conducted numerous week-long, weekend, and day tours of Adirondack Great Camps Sagamore, Uncas, Pine Knot, Santanoni, White Pine, Topridge, Moss Ledge, Eagle Island, Eagle Nest, Kildare, Albador, Debar, Wenonah, William Distin camps of Big Wolf Lake, and others, for:

  • Sagamore Institute
  • Adirondack Architectural Heritage
  • Smithsonian Institution
  • National Trust for Historic Preservation
  • Audubon
  • National Geographic
  • Society of Architectural Historians (national organization and many chapters)
  • Many historical societies

Given numerous presentations around the Adirondacks, New York State and beyond on the Adirondack Great Camps.

 

 

HONORS

 

2011    Award for Individual Excellence in Historic Preservation, Preservation League of New York State,

             Albany, NY.

 

2013    Feature article about HK's historic preservation work in the Adirondacks, Adirondack Life

             magazine, March-April issue. 

 

2015    Adirondack Architectural Heritage received award for Organizational Excellence from National

             Trust for Historic Preservation.

 

2015    Adirondack Architectural Heritage, Town of Newcomb and DEC received award for preservation

             of  Camp Santanoni from New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

 

Also:    Featured in many documentaries on Adirondack history and architecture, including nationally

             distributed PBS documentary on the Adirondacks.

 

 

CONSERVATION

 

1990-96      Board Member and Vice-President (2 years), Adirondack Nature Conservancy and

                      Adirondack Land Trust (dates approximate)

 

1995            With three partners, donated 52 acres and half-mile of shoreline on Tupper Lake to NYS

                      Forest Preserve, while placing an additional 401 acres under a conservation easement

                      insuring no further development.

 

 

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

 

1971-83       While Director/Co-Director of National Humanistic Education Center and Sagamore

                      Institute sponsored a summer, Human Relations Youth Adventure Camp for boys and

                      girls, 11-14 years olds.

 

1972-89       While Director/Co-Director of National Humanistic Education Center and Sagamore

                      Institute sponsored numerous environmental education workshops, programs and

                      projects.

 

 

COMMITTEES

 

1992-93       Citizens' Advisory Committee on the Remsen Lake Placid Railroad Corridor (help draft plan

                      for preservation and revitalization of train service along the corridor.

 

1990s           DEC advisory committee on Adirondack fire towers.

 

1990s           DEC advisory committee on the Future of the Adirondack Park in the 21st Century.

 

2015-Pres.   Co-chair, Trails Committee, Big Wolf Lake Association.

 

 

PERSONAL

 

2010             Finished climbing the 46 Adirondack peaks over 4000 feet in elevation.  Became an

                      "Adirondack 46er".  

 

2017             Completed the Adirondack 90-Miler in a four-person canoe, a three-day race following  

                      the classic canoe route from Old Forge to Saranac Lake.