Simonds, L.C., Adirondack Cabin
Also known as: Breezy Bluff Cottage
Why it's listed
Built in 1910 on a bluff overlooking Lake Champlain near Clemons, New York, this log cabin was a seasonal retreat for Leon C. Simonds, a soda bottler from nearby Whitehall. Its walls are bark-clad spruce logs, saddle-notched at the corners and chinked with mortar. The cabin rests on undressed stone piers and has a rough-hewn stone chimney, diamond-pane casement windows and a wraparound porch. Inside, a pink granite fireplace, a cedar-pole staircase and exposed bark-covered joists and rafters survive, and there is no bathroom or running water. The porch was cut back in 1993 to prevent collapse, and deferred maintenance has caused deterioration, yet most original features remain. The cabin is considered significant as a rare Washington County example of Adirondack-style rustic design, a mode that began with large camps in the late nineteenth century. It is also linked to Simonds, whose Whitehall house and bottling works no longer exist. The period of significance runs from 1910 to 1940.
Significance in brief: The cabin is argued to be an early and exceptionally rare example of Adirondack-style rustic design in Washington County, where only one other example has been identified. It is also tied to Leon C. Simonds, a Whitehall soda bottler whose home and bottling plant have both been demolished. It keeps most of its original log walls, stone fireplace and interior features.
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 10000941, listed November 29, 2010. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 130 Cat Den Rd, Clemons |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | November 29, 2010 |
| Reference number | 10000941 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1910-1940 |
| Architect / builder | Barber, P.H. |
| Architectural style | OTHER: Adirondack style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Retains most original fabric but is deteriorated from deferred maintenance; the wraparound porch was truncated in 1993, with plans for restoration. Historic and current function is single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.61750, -73.42390 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 10000941.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6456390
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.