In the Spring 1906 issue of American Carpenter and Builder there’s a fascinating article about the new presidential retreat, built for president Theodore Roosevelt.
This rustic retreat was situated on a 15-acre compound in the Piedmont area of Virginia known simply as “Pine Knob.”
From what I can glean, it was very close to the Virginia/West Virginia border, not too far from Harrisonburg, Virginia. This wonderful article also included pictures of the staff (shown below). This was a pretty rugged looking bunch, and no one had matching uniforms. And where’s the Secret Service? Maybe that’s what the bloodhounds are for?
I’ve never been to Camp David, but I’m willing to bet that it looks a little different than Teddy’s old place and I’m also willing to guess that the buildings are not heated by a cast-iron wood stove.
If you’re looking for Rose’s book, click here.
To read part II of this piece (and see more photos), click here.
Exterior of the Presidential Retreat.
Interior of the "retreat." Note the wood-burning stove and very primitive (more than rustic) furnishings.
The staff is fairly rustic, too.
Close-up of the staff at Pine Knob
Another close-up
Last of three slices of the original photo.
Original article as it appeared in the 1906 American Carpenter and Builder magazine.
part 2 of the original article
And part 3
part 4
And I found this in the December 1905 New York Times.
And I always thought Kermit was a made-up name for a frog!
Part II of this story is here.
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To buy Rose’s book, click here.
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Another nearby point of interest is Herbert Hoovers Rapidan Camp. What most consider to be the original summer white house. You can hike to it off of the Skyline Drive. http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/presidents/hoover_camp_rapidan.html