The New York First Company - Impeccable Gifts and Unique Wonders

Built and decorated with the region's natural resources, the camps reflected the serenity and indelible power of their surroundings -- and the rustic Adirondack style was born. Construction made use of limbs and roots of the native trees; their natural curves and knots were used to create patterns used on Gables, Porch Railings outside the buildings and for all types of woodland furniture. Birch Bark was even used as wallpaper while native stones were used in fireplaces and chimneys.

The Great Camps inspired a chair that has all the earmarks of a legend. The combination of straight lines, flat planes, and gentle curves became the signature of a chair of these mountain retreats. Its low-seated, wooden-slatted design made perfect sense, since there is practically no level ground in the Adirondacks. When used on a hill, the chair sits upright; when used on level ground, it provides a deep, comfortable recline. Vacationers from the city fell in love with Adirondack chairs and brought them home by the station wagon-ful.

While many variations on the Adirondack chair can be found, its essential spirit has not changed much from its earliest form as outdoor seating for the elegant Great Camps. Adirondack chairs, built in natural splinter-free Northern white cedar, continue a century-old tradition of comfortable furniture that complements porches, lawns, campgrounds, cabins, bed and breakfasts, and private homes. Native cedar, lightweight yet durable, may be left untreated to weather to a silver gray or can be finished with stain, varnish, or paint, as you choose. Best of all, the foldaway feature now makes the chairs easy to carry and easy to store. The present is sometimes better than the past.