Historic Places of New Castle
1 Cabin Ridge Road
The Camp Fire Club of America was founded in 1897 by William Hornaday, first president of the New York Zoological Society. Its mission, in his words, was to “bring together men who subscribe to the principles of adventure and fellowship in the great outdoors, to share their experiences, and further the interests of hunting and conservation.” Its most famous member was Teddy Roosevelt, but others included Gifford Pinchot, father of the National Park system; Ernest Thompson Seton and Dan Beard, founders of the Boy Scouts of America; and David Abercrombie, proprietor of Abercrombie & Fitch (and a New Castle resident). Although primarily an organization of hunters, the club was in the forefront of wilderness and wildlife conservation efforts such as the rescue of the buffalo from extinction, and the end to the slaughter of birds for their decorative feathers.
Starting in 1917, the club purchased a large tract of land on the road that now bears its name. The purpose was to provide a place where its members could experience the outdoors simply and directly. A rustic clubhouse was built, and a stream was dammed to form a large lake. Fencing turned much of the property into a wildlife preserve. But part of it, on the north side of the road, was set aside for members who wanted to build their own seasonal retreats in the vicinity. The area was named Cabin Ridge, and the houses built there gradually evolved from seasonal cottages to year-round homes. In 1975, the formal connection with the Camp Fire Club came to an end, and Cabin Ridge now consists of privately owned properties on a private road.
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