Wiawaka Holiday House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Wiawaka Holiday House
|
|
Fuller House, July 2006
|
|
 Location in New York
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | NY route 9L, SE of Lake George, New York |
|---|---|
| Area | 59.6 acres (24.1 ha) |
| Built | 1873 |
| Architectural style | Second Empire, Colonial Revival, Adirondack |
| NRHP reference No. | 98000874 |
| Added to NRHP | July 15, 1998 |
Wiawaka is a special holiday house just for women. It sits right on the beautiful Lake George in New York. It's one of the few places left from the early 1900s that still offers vacations and retreats. These places were started during a time when women were fighting for more rights.
Mary Wiltsie Fuller started Wiawaka in 1903. She wanted to offer affordable vacations. These were mainly for immigrant women who worked in textile factories in Troy and Cohoes, New York. They often didn't have enough money to go on vacation anywhere else.
Today, women from all walks of life and from all over North America can enjoy Wiawaka. It runs as a non-profit organization. This helps it continue offering "affordable vacations" for all women, just as it did in the past.
Contents
Wiawaka's Early Days and History
The first mentions of the Wiawaka property are in old tax records. These records call it the "garrison ground." This might mean that soldiers were active there long ago. Some sunken boats, called bateaux, have also been found nearby. However, no special study has been done to learn more about this history.
The first private owner of the land ran a hotel called the United States Hotel. Then, in 1848, F. G. Crosby bought the land and building. He had some money problems later. So, in 1855, he rented the building to the Lake George Young Ladies Institute. But it closed after only one year.
Mr. Crosby then made the hotel bigger and renamed it Crosbyside. Many city people came to stay there for country vacations. Tourism was growing, and Mr. Crosby became very successful. He soon built several Victorian cottages. These were for his best and most loyal guests. Two of these are Mayflower Cottage and Rose Cottage, both built around 1873. He also built a house for his own family in 1876. This house was later named Fuller House. It still looks much the same today. In the 1890s, Crosbyside was sold. It became less popular compared to bigger hotels like the Fort William Henry Hotel.
The "Great Spirit of Woman" at Wiawaka
In 1902, Katrina Trask and her husband Spencer Trask bought the property. They built Wakonda Lodge in 1905. They first used it as a place for artists to stay. Later, they created Yaddo, a famous artists' retreat. The well-known artist Georgia O'Keeffe even stayed in Wakonda Lodge.
Katrina slowly gave the land to her friend, Mary Wiltsie Fuller. Mary had a dream to create a peaceful place for women factory workers from Troy. These women worked in busy, polluted cities. Mary Fuller opened her retreat center in 1903. She used the buildings Mr. Crosby had built. She named it Wiawaka Holiday House. The name Wiawaka comes from an Abenaki word. It means "The Great Spirit of Woman." Mary showed this "Great Spirit" by forming a group of women. This group helped run Wiawaka and looked out for its guests. Over time, Wiawaka also started offering workshops. These workshops taught guests different skills during their vacations.
Wiawaka Today: A Place for All Women
Mary Fuller passed away in the 1940s. But her idea of providing vacations for hard-working women continues today. Now, women from all backgrounds are welcome at Wiawaka. Wiawaka is also proud to keep offering many different workshops. These have been a part of the center since it first opened.
Wiawaka's main goal is to help women. It aims to make their lives better and support women who face challenges. This includes women with disabilities, those with less money, and older women. Wiawaka helps them learn new skills and find personal strengths. It also works to protect and care for its historic property.
To make sure all women can visit, the cost of staying at Wiawaka changes based on what a person can afford. All three meals are served each day. Guests eat in the same dining room that has been used since 1903. Today, many different workshops are offered. These are now open to the public. You can find a list of them on Wiawaka's website.
Some recent workshop topics have included:
- Creative writing
- Poetry readings with Yaddo poet Joan Murray
- Holistic healing
- Yoga
- Quilting
- History talks
- Jewelry making
- Tours of the historic property
Workshops are not the only things open to the public. Wiawaka also offers day passes. This means people who aren't staying overnight can still enjoy the peaceful property. Many guests return to Wiawaka year after year. They come to meet friends, attend workshops, volunteer, and enjoy the peace and history of the place.
Why Wiawaka is Important
Wiawaka is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is very important historically. The National Park Service has even called it a "Place Where Women Made History." Being on this list shows how much historic value the site has.
Wiawaka's old Victorian cottages, Adirondack lodge, and the House of Trix are all special. The House of Trix was built right over the water. These buildings are important examples of historic architecture. They are also listed on the National Register. A marker on the shore shows where the Wiawaka Bateaux are located. These sunken boats are also on the National Register of Historic Places.
Images for kids
-
Mayflower Cottage with the lake in the background
-
The dock and boat house on Lake George
-
Historic Marker for Wiawaka Bateaux
