Werrenrath Camp
Why it's listed
Werrenrath Camp is a summer estate built in 1928 on a one-acre island in Chazy Lake, in the northeastern Adirondack Park near Dannemora, New York. A causeway marked by stone pillars links the island to about 7.5 acres of wooded shoreline. The estate has a three-story main house with limestone lower walls and cedar-shake upper story under a multicolored slate roof, plus a boathouse and an ice house in matching materials. Architect Lionel Moses designed it for the baritone Reinald Werrenrath, whose career in recording, radio, concerts and opera spanned the early twentieth century. The buildings mix Shingle, Tudor Revival and Arts and Crafts features and recall the larger Adirondack Great Camps without their many outbuildings. Inside, the great room has a 17-foot ceiling, a stained glass window with a musical theme, and a limestone fireplace with a Danish inscription. The camp was listed for its architecture and for its link to Werrenrath.
Significance in brief: The camp is argued to be an intact early twentieth century Adirondack summer estate that blends Shingle, Tudor Revival and Arts and Crafts styles and echoes Great Camp traditions on a smaller scale (Criterion C). It is also significant under Criterion B for its association with baritone Reinald Werrenrath, who built it and whose career in recording, radio, concerts and opera spanned the first third of the twentieth century.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 10000943, listed November 29, 2010. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 55 Island Dr, Dannemora |
|---|---|
| County | Clinton County |
| Listed | November 29, 2010 |
| Reference number | 10000943 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1928 |
| Architect / builder | Lionel Moses (architect) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Tudor; Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements: Arts and Crafts (also described as influenced by Shingle style) |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, Performing Arts |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Main house described as in excellent condition and largely original apart from the kitchen and attic suite; boathouse and ice house have been altered and refurbished. The property is currently used as a summer camp. |
| Acreage | 8.5 |
| Coordinates | 44.75742, -73.80044 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 10000943.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q23092156
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.