New York at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis 1904 Part 26

A SPORTSMAN'S CAMP

A modern sportsman's camp of rustic design, fourteen feet by seventeen feet in size, was constructed and furnished after the general style and appearance of the usual summer residence in the Adirondack mountains.

The contractor for the erection of this camp was the firm of Messrs. D.

B. & D. F. Sperry, of Old Forge, N. Y. Mr. D. F. Sperry, "Frank," as he is known to visitors to the Adirondacks, had personal charge of the construction and was something of an exhibit himself. Being a lifelong Adirondack guide, and having been employed by many prominent people, among others, ex-President Harrison, any rustic work from his hand was sure to attract attention.

It was unfortunate that it was impossible to have him, or some other Adirondack guide, in attendance at the "camp" all through the season, as many visitors wished to see and talk with some such person. Some of them, seeing the Sperry name-plate on the end of a log of the camp, inquired for "Frank," expecting to find him in attendance. He has had many inquiries from people residing at widely separated places in various parts of the country, for duplicates of the camp exhibit, or for some other design of rustic building.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE CAMP

The camp was constructed of Adirondack spruce logs and the chimney was of the same external construction. The roof was covered with spruce bark. All the material showing inside the camp was, as far as possible, left in natural condition, the logs with the bark on, and the underside of the roof boards unplaned, showing the coa.r.s.e saw marks.

Innumerable inquiries were made by interested visitors, particularly those coming from the southern and western States, as to the species of timber used in constructing the camp. When informed that the logs were of spruce much interest was shown. Many had never seen spruce before.

THE FURNITURE

A part of the furniture was built by Mr. Sperry, and the remainder by another Adirondack guide, Mr. E. E. Sumner, of Saranac Lake, N. Y. Mr.

Sperry made the bedstead, the window settee and the center table, after a style that is common in the Adirondack camps. The woodwork was of spruce, turned smooth and stained a light smoke color to give it a finished appearance. Mr. Sumner constructed the other furniture in the best rustic style, the framework being of white cedar with the bark on, and the bottoms of the chairs and settees of white birch bark. Both of these guides have had many inquiries for duplicates of their handiwork as exhibited. The "atmosphere" of the camp was that of everyday life in the forest. The bed was "made up" as though the owner was expected to occupy it at night. Garments and articles that had seen service, such as a leather hunting jacket, a gun case, "pack" baskets, fish reels and snow shoes were hung on the walls in proper places.

ATTRACTIVE FEATURES

The mantel and fireplace particularly attracted attention. The mantel was of spruce with the bark on, and the fireplace was constructed with a stone facing and lining, showing andirons and birch logs in place as in actual use. In one corner there was shelving for bric-a-brac, fis.h.i.+ng tackle, ammunition, etc., constructed by utilizing a discarded fis.h.i.+ng boat, cutting the same across the center into two parts and placing shelves at convenient intervals, fastening the same on the ribs of the boat.

In another corner was a swing table that could be hung up against the wall when not in use. On the mantel were placed articles of rustic work that harmonized with the surroundings--a rustic clock, wooden pipes and smoking set to match, a stein and mug of wood, together with other articles of ornament and utility. A piece of library shelving of unique design and special construction was provided and furnished with standard publications on fish, birds and animals, and stories of life in the forest and of the chase. Thirty books were shown, a number of which were kindly furnished by Messrs. Doubleday, Page & Co., of New York city. On the center table were kept the current numbers of the leading sporting magazines, both weekly and monthly.

WALL DECORATIONS

The walls were decorated with bright colored Indian blankets, flags and souvenir paddles, on which were painted various national flags and camping scenes. The paddles being of a very white spruce and the background being the spruce logs of the camp with dark colored bark, the effect was pleasing and attracted much attention.

An interesting and valuable feature of the furnis.h.i.+ng and decoration of the camp, and, incidentally, souvenirs of the chase, were a large fine moose head over the mantel, an elk's head on the gable outside, bucks'

heads at the sides of the porch in front of the camp, and the furs of red foxes, deer and black bear. Some of the furs were specially prepared for rugs and placed on the floor of the camp, giving the interior an air of comfort and cheerfulness.

HUNTING AND FIs.h.i.+NG OUTFIT

The hunting and fis.h.i.+ng outfit consisted of two repeating rifles, one a Savage and the other a Winchester, a double-barreled shotgun, three fis.h.i.+ng rods, one each of steel, split lancewood and split bamboo, and a collection which included trout flies, landing nets, minnow pail, reels, lines, cartridge belt, loading set and other paraphernalia. A guide-boat of the latest style and of superior workmans.h.i.+p was a part of the sportsman's outfit. This boat was kindly loaned by the manufacturer, Mr.

Fred W. Rice, formerly of Saranac Lake, N. Y., but now living at Seattle, Wash. His son continues the manufacture of guide-boats at Lake Placid, N. Y.

BALSAM PILLOWS

On the settee and bed in the camp were a number of balsam pillows. A large and particularly fine one came from the Higby camp on Big Moose lake in the Adirondacks. It was made by Miss Lila Daisy Higby, a little lady only seven years of age, whose needlework decorating the cover showed artistic ability of great merit for one so young. Many visitors admired it, and some of them have written her in complimentary terms.

The odor from these pillows filled the camp, and instantly attracted the attention of visitors. One of the questions usually asked first of the attendant was where the perfume came from and what it was. Some supposed it to be from the logs of which the camp was constructed. Many visitors wanted to know where they could obtain such pillows. Those purchased for the camp came from Mr. A. M. Church, Boonville, N. Y., who also furnished the gun rack so much admired, and also the fur rugs.

FIRE NOTICE

On the side of the camp in a conspicuous place was posted a fire notice such as may be found in thousands of places along the trail throughout the Adirondacks and Catskills. Visitors that had been through our mountains recognized this feature instantly, for these notices may be found at all the hotels and public places, and also on a great many of the private camps. This little placard printed on cloth attracted much attention. It contains our forest fire rules and much of the law relative to woodland fires. Many persons interested in forestry, many of them from foreign countries, copied the notice verbatim. It is probable that similar rules and regulations will be incorporated in the forestry laws of other states and countries.

An attendant was employed at the camp who answered the numerous questions as to where the various articles of furniture and decoration might be obtained. Much information was also sought by visitors in relation to the Adirondack forests and the summer resorts of New York in general.

This sportsman's camp was the only exhibit of the kind shown at the Fair. Sportsmen and lovers of life in the woods from all parts of the land visited it; many were ecstatic in its praises; some complimented it by saying it was the most artistic feature of the whole forestry, fish and game exhibit. It was photographed perhaps more than one hundred times during the season and in one instance by nine different persons on a single day.

ANIMALS AND BIRDS

The fur and game animals and birds of the State were represented by mounted specimens prepared by professional taxidermists. In many instances they were shown in pairs, male and female.

The s.p.a.ce in front of the camp and also at one side was inclosed by a rustic fence built of round spruce. In the yard at the side was placed a tree about twelve feet high, and under it was prepared an artificial ground work in imitation of a woodland area after a recent snow storm.

In and about this tree, and forming a part of the picture, were placed in position, as true to life and natural conditions as possible, specimens of practically all of the birds that remain with us during the winter season, as follows:

Bald Eagle Golden Eagle Osprey Red-tailed Hawk Cooper Hawk Marsh Hawk Ruffed Grouse Spruce Grouse Quail Kingfisher Three-toed Woodp.e.c.k.e.r Pileated Woodp.e.c.k.e.r Goshawk Red-shouldered Hawk Sharp-s.h.i.+nned Hawk Broad-winged Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Duck Hawk, Gray Gyrfalcon Snow Owl Barred Owl Great-horned Owl Long-eared Owl Short-eared Owl Acadian Owl Screech Owl Great Gray Owl Hawk Owl Barn Owl Richardson Owl Hairy Woodp.e.c.k.e.r Downy Woodp.e.c.k.e.r Flicker Pine Grosbeak Red-winged Crossbill White-winged Crossbill Redpoll Blue Jay Horned Lark Lapland Longspur English Sparrow Winter Wren Chickadee Northern Shrike Snowflake Moose Bird Raven Crow

SONG AND PERCHING BIRDS

In and about another tree placed in front of the camp were shown practically all of the song and perching birds of the State other than the ones shown in the winter scene at the side of the camp. The birds in this collection were as follows:

Cardinal Summer Tanager Scarlet Tanager Yellow-billed Cuckoo Black-billed Cuckoo Red-headed Woodp.e.c.k.e.r Red-bellied Woodp.e.c.k.e.r Yellow-bellied Sapsucker King Bird Cat Bird Towhee Robin Meadow Lark Prairie Horned Lark Baltimore Oriole Orchard Oriole Whip-poor-will Night Hawk Pigeon Hawk Sparrow Hawk Mourning Dove Rose-breasted Grosbeak Evening Grosbeak Purple Finch Red-winged Blackbird Rusty Blackbird Bobolink Mocking Bird Starling Purple Grackle Humming Bird Yellow-breasted Chat Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Tufted t.i.tmouse Brown Creeper House Wren Marsh Wren Brown Thrasher Wood Thrush Hermit Thrush Wilson Thrush Water Thrush Chimney Swift Bank Swallow Rough-winged Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Song Sparrow Tree Sparrow Blue Bird Indigo Bunting Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Oven Bird Yellow Throat Goldfinch Bohemian Waxwing Cedar Waxwing Phoebe Wood Pewee White-eyed Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Yellow-throated Vireo Warbling Vireo Black and White Warbler Worm-eating Warbler Myrtle Warbler Prairie Warbler Palm Warbler Tennessee Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Cerulean Warbler Prothonotary Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Hooded Warbler Golden-winged Warbler Connecticut Warbler Mourning Warbler Canadian Warbler Blue-winged Warbler Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Ipswich Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Olive-sided Flycatcher Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Loggerhead Shrike Purple Martin Cow Bird Pine Warbler Kentucky Warbler Nashville Warbler Parula Warbler Cape May Warbler Yellow Warbler Black-poll Warbler Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch

GAME BIRDS

In cabinets within an inclosure near the camp were shown our game birds, such as the web-footed wild fowl and sh.o.r.e birds which may be hunted, grouse, marsh birds or waders, and water or sea birds, as follows:

_Wild Ducks and Geese_

American Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Hooded Merganser Mallard Pintail Black Duck Widgeon Green-winged Teal Blue-winged Teal Shoveler Wood Duck Redhead Canvas-back Broadbill Lesser Scaup Duck Whistler Buffle-head Ruddy Duck Old Squaw Harlequin American Eider King Eider Black Coot Sea Coot White-winged Scoter Canada Goose Greater Snow Goose Blue Goose White-fronted Goose Brant Whistling Swan

_Sh.o.r.e Birds_

Woodc.o.c.k Wilson Snipe Upland Plover Black-bellied Plover Golden Plover Semi-palmated Plover Belted Piping Plover Wilson Plover Piping Plover Killdeer Willett Greater Yellow Legs Summer Yellow Legs Turnstone Red Phalarope Northern Phalarope Avocet Oyster Catcher Long-billed Curlew Jack Curlew Hudsonian G.o.dwit Sanderling Black-necked Stilt Dowitcher Knot Stilt Sandpiper Solitary Sandpiper Spotted Sandpiper Red-backed Sandpiper White-rumped Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Buff-breasted Sandpiper

_Grouse, etc._

Ruffed Grouse Quail Spruce Grouse Mongolian Pheasant English Pheasant

_Marsh Birds or Waders_

Great Blue Heron Little Green Heron Black-crowned Night Heron Yellow-crowned Night Heron Egret Brown Pelican Bittern King Rail Virginia Rail Yellow Rail Clapper Rail Carolina Rail Little Black Rail Florida Gallinule Mud Hen