William G. Distin (1884 – 1970) was a pioneer of what we now refer to as Adirondack Style architecture and an associate of William L. Coulter, another respected architect working in the Adirondack Great Camp Vernacular.

Born regionally and attending Saranac Lake High School where he graduated in 1900, Distin was exposed to the various origins of Adirondack Style construction found originally in functional hunting and fishing camps as well as the relatively new concept of cure cottages specific to Saranac Lake. Native building materials, a rustic complexion and uncompromising craftsmanship exemplify the Adirondack aesthetic.

Camp Clearwaters Designed by Architect William Distin on Upper Saranac Lake

William Coulter hired Distin as a draftsman after high school and his apprenticeship lasted several years. Coulter died in 1907 which gave Distin the opportunity to attend Columbia University, graduating in 1910. After a short stint in Chicago working for S. S. Beekman where he designed houses, Distin traveled Europe. Returning to Saranac Lake short after circa 1912, he joined forces with Coulter's former partner Max Westhoff who had taken over Coulter's architectural firm. In 1917, Distin left again going to work for the Army building hospitals in Washington, DC. He returned to Saranac Lake after the war to reopen Westhoff's firm.

Camp Moss Rock Designed by Architect William Distin on Upper Saranac Lake

During the early 1930's Distin had commissions for camps on Upper Saranac Lake including the noted Camp Mossrock with it's unique octagonal dinging room. His mastery of blending architectural design and view sheds with a locations unique topography is evident here. Distin designed Camp Wonundra for William Rockefeller in 1934. In 1937 he designed "Eagle Nest" at Blue Mountain Lake for Walter Hochschild, and in 1948, Camp Minnowbrook, in the same area, for R.M. Hollingshead. There were also several great camps on Lake Placid, and work on the Lake Placid Club.

The remoteness of camp locations and the Adirondack Park in general, coupled with naturally difficult building sites the Adirondack Mountains provide, necessitated the use of native materials, particularly the naturally abundant granite fieldstones. These fieldstones, and often cut stones, became one of the central design principles of Adirondack Style. Soaring great rooms, outdoor screen rooms and numerous sleeping quarters common to this style were anchored by massive fireplaces and chimneys constructed of these stones that became a dominant design feature. Accompanied by cedar shingles, bark-on siding, peeled logs, birch bark and intricate twig work, each camp came to symbolize unique variations on an emerging style of architecture.

The Island Chapel on Upper Saranac Lake Designed by William Distin

Distin was also recognized for his contributions in church design long beloved by residents in the Adirondack Park. Saint Barnards Catholic Church in Saranac Lake, Saint Eustace Episcopal Church in Lake Placid, St. John’s in the Wilderness Episcopal Church in Paul Smiths, and the unique Island Chapel, on Upper Saranac Lake. The famous original Adirondack Loj burned in a terrible fire that ravaged Essex County in 1903 and Distin designed it's replacement.

The contributions of the cure house concept to Adirondack Style Architecture were obvious in the increasing incorporation and focusing on porches, decks, screen-rooms and outdoor living spaces. The idea of indoors-out truly started in this melding of traditional building techniques and the idea of healthy living requiring natural air flow. While the design contributions of the fresh air house are obvious, another contribution is often overlooked. Saranac Lake was quite literally the leader in tuberculosis care pioneered by Edward Livingston Trudeau. Large, intricate private cure houses were constructed, numerous doctors, authors, artists, celebrities, patients and the most affluent of Americas industries had collectively enjoyed therapeutic respite in the Adirondacks. In the end, many never left. This paved the way for substantial private commissions, massive architectural undertakings and a pure design concept that is now referenced as Great Camps. This building boom continues today, all referencing the masters and originators of Adirondack Style Architecture, most notably, William G. Distin.