“Not very many years ago, a great captain of finance roamed through the majestic ranges of the Empire State in quest of a site where he might build a country estate. Many days he sought in vain and then he discovered a lake of unrivalled beauty, sequesterd [sic] atop a group of pine-bedecked hills. Here, after bringing a host of landscape gardeners and decorators to level lawns and plant flowerbeds, he built luxurious lodgings….If you find anything of charm, of refinement, of magnificence in the pages to follow, it will be well to remember that it is but a hint of what Totem Lodge actually offers in comfort and companionability.”
-“A Page of Reflections" Totem Lodge Brochure Totem Lodge began as the summer home of Matthew A. Larkin. Larkin, a well-known sportsman in the region, originally lived at Camp Gleason, a mile and a half up the road from the Totem Lodge land. Camp Gleason was sold to William P. Stanton of Troy in 1912, and Larkin moved to the woodsy Burden Lake location. Camp Totem was soon built, named after a totem pole given to Larkin as a gift. Camp Totem attracted many guests during the summer season: “Camp Totem was the scene of gatherings of sportsmen and local political leaders. On Aug. 24 1913, about 250 persons were entertained at ‘Camp Totem Day,’ including Johnny Evers, Troy's most noted baseball player and several members of the Chicago National League ball team” (“Totem Lodge Fire” 1). Unfortunately, Camp Totem was destroyed by a great fire in 1914 during its off-season. However, Larkin rebuilt and soon the lodge was in operation once more. Larkin passed away and Jacob Bashiem of New York City and Nathan Naum of Troy gained ownership of the property. In 1922, an amount between $50,000 and $100,000 was expended in order to improve the resort. Bashiem and Naum converted the site into an exclusive adults-only camp using these funds. The result of renovation was the exquisite Totem Lodge. The resort occupied 500 acres on the shores of Burden Lake. Visitors could choose to stay in bungalows, villas, or the main lodge. All rooms were equipped with running water and electricity. The amenities were endless: golf, boating, baseball, horseback riding, and ping-pong to provide a small selection. A nine-hole golf course and an indoor swimming pool were both on the property. Totem Lodge was built in the style of the traditional Catskill resorts. At one time, many mountain retreats lay tucked away in the Catskill region. Before the true advent of the automobile, such resorts presented the opportunity to explore a new environment. Vacation opportunities were much narrower, as people were limited by distance. As travel technology advanced, ease of access allowed a larger selection of vacation destinations. This marked the beginning of the decline of Catskill hotels. Many celebrities of the time entertained at Totem Lodge, including Eddie Cantor and Arthur Siegel, pictured on the right. However, the most notable guest was quite possibly Richard M. Nixon, who visited Totem Lodge twice. Nixon first came to Totem in 1952, while campaigning as General Eisenhower's running mate in the Presidential election. In 1954, Nixon visited again as Vice President in order to support the Republican senators during the Senatorial elections. To hear from a previous employee of Totem Lodge, please watch the video to the right. Barry Friedman, MD, funded his medical school expenses by working at Totem in the 1930s. He recounts his experiences as a bellhop in this clip. There are also two photos at the end showing Dr. Friedman in his uniform. (Video courtesy of Dr. Roger Friedman and Dr. Barry Friedman.) Totem Lodge formally closed its doors around 1956, but the property operated as a children's sleep-away camp during the summer of 1957. Berkshire Mountain Camp functioned without the necessary licenses, and subsequently was shut down due to an outbreak of sickness among the children. 190 children fell sick, and the Rensselaer County Courts ordered the camp to close. After the closure of Berkshire Mountain Camp, the property stood abandoned until the mid-1980s. The small bungalows were filled to the brim with supplies and furniture, and groundskeepers lived on the land to ensure the safety of the property. The golf course remained in use, and was expanded into an eighteen-hole course. Properties of America, a realty firm, purchased the land in the 1980s. The groundskeepers were released and the buildings were razed. Properties of America divided the land into 42 lots and began construction. The main road still remains from this phase of construction, although it is now unpassable. Properties of America went bankrupt shortly after they broke ground, and the land went untouched for another thirty years. The land switched hands yet again in 1993. Sheldon Gold, a realtor from New York City, bought the land from the bank. Gold revised the divisions of the land, and came up with a plan to develop 18 unique 5 acre lots. The housing market crashed, stalling the project once again. However, with recent market stability in mind, Gold has decided to go forth with the development. |
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