High in the northern Catskill Mountains, a remarkable 1896 Victorian summer retreat sat vacant for a decade before new owners recognized its extraordinary potential. Built originally for Joseph Keppler, the founder of Puck magazine and one of America’s most celebrated political cartoonists, this mountain house embodies the theatrical spirit of the Gilded Age summer colony movement. Its preservation story offers valuable lessons for anyone undertaking restoring period details in historic homes while adapting them for modern living.
The Catskill Summer Colony: A Gilded Age Tradition
During the 19th century, before air conditioning made city summers bearable, affluent families escaped the heat and humidity by retreating to cool mountain enclaves. In 1889, a group of wealthy German immigrants formed a summer colony high in New York’s northern Catskill Mountains. They called it Elka Park, a name derived from the letters L and K of their LiederKranz social club, a music and arts organization that remains active today.
The colony purchased 115 acres of cleared mountain land and, between 1889 and 1896, constructed 22 Victorian summer homes. An elaborate Clubhouse was built for communal dining and events, with rooms for overnight visitors. Though that original Clubhouse was lost to fire in 1949, its replacement remains the social center of the community today, hosting dinner dances, parties, charity events, and children’s programs throughout the summer season.
Key characteristics of the Elka Park colony included picturesque siting on steep, wooded hillsides overlooking the Indian Head Wilderness and Plattekill Clove, where “clove” is the Dutch word for canyon. The emphasis on shared communal facilities around the Clubhouse created a unique social dynamic. Preserved viewscapes across 1,100 acres of protected land meant that no additional houses were built for over a century, maintaining the original rural character.
Only a few descendants of the original families remain today, yet the spirit of the colony endures. The active social season runs from late June through Labor Day, when the woodlands are in full bloom, and continues through the autumn when leaves drift across winding roads and evenings invite sweaters and a fire in the hearth.
Architectural Character of the Victorian Mountain Retreat
The house that Joseph Keppler built reflects his background as an actor before his publishing career, which may explain its theatrical layout. Octagonal and circular alcoves, some with raised floors, resemble stages where impromptu performances could take place. The striking great room is ringed with romantic alcoves and nooks that create intimate spaces within a larger volume, a technique that makes the house feel both grand and cozy at once.
Key Architectural Features
| Feature | Description | Preservation Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Octagonal alcoves | Theatrical raised-floor spaces arranged around the great room | Retained original configuration, cleaned and refinished woodwork |
| Dual towers | Two towers flanking the northwestern facade | Preserved exterior massing, future third-floor reading room planned |
| Full-length porches | Porches running the length of the northwestern facade | Curved porch roof and soffit replaced due to rot, stone pillars repointed |
| Hemlock wainscoting | Original hemlock paneling and trim never painted | Cleaned and treated with hemp oil to restore luster |
| Polychromed plate rack | Carved Bavarian furniture made for the house in 1896 | Preserved in place over the kitchen sink as a historic focal point |
| Fir flooring | Original fir boards throughout main living areas | Sanded and refinished once found salvageable under later coverings |
The house retains two towers and porches running the length of the northwestern facade. The interior was remarkably original when discovered; its hemlock wainscots, paneling, and trim had never been painted. The only previous alteration, a 1960s kitchen renovation, had to be removed entirely because it compromised the historic character with a dropped ceiling, particleboard cabinets, and resilient flooring that had rotted from moisture exposure.
The Bavarian Influence
A set of carved, polychromed Bavarian furniture was made specifically for the house in 1896. The most prominent piece, a decorative plate rack, was installed over the kitchen sink and remains in place as a striking focal point. This European artisan influence reflects the German heritage of the Elka Park colony’s founding families and adds a layer of cultural significance to the architectural narrative. The piece required careful cleaning to remove decades of accumulated grime without damaging the original polychrome paint.
Restoration Strategies for the Historic Victorian Home
Lewis Remele and his husband James Danner purchased the house in 2017 and spent six months supervising full-time restoration crews. The house had not been maintained for decades, requiring significant intervention while respecting its original character and craftsmanship. Their approach demonstrates how a Victorian renovation can honor original fabric while integrating modern systems for year-round comfort.
Structural and Systems Upgrades
The restoration addressed critical infrastructure needs in a prioritized sequence:
- Electrical modernization Old knob-and-tube wiring was completely replaced to meet modern safety standards and support contemporary electrical loads for appliances, electronics, and lighting.
- Plumbing overhaul Outdated plumbing was replaced throughout, and three small bathrooms were added where none previously existed, bringing the house up to modern standards of convenience.
- Heating system Central heat was installed to replace the original fireplaces as the primary heat source, with plans for a future geothermal conversion that will further reduce energy costs.
- Insulation and weatherization New insulation was added to walls and attics, and 52 new storm windows and screens were fitted to make the house comfortable year-round while preserving the original single-glazed windows that define its historic appearance.
Exterior Restoration Work
The exterior required extensive attention to bring it back to its original condition. The curved porch had suffered from decades of moisture exposure, with rot affecting both the roof structure and the soffit. These elements were replaced while preserving the original profile and proportions that define the porch’s character. Crumbling stone pillars required careful jacking to stabilize them before repointing with compatible mortar that matched the original formulation.
The exterior color scheme was carefully selected to honor the original Victorian aesthetic. The lower clapboard body was painted in Benjamin Moore’s Hunter Green, a deep, natural shade that blends with the surrounding forest. The upper-storey shingles received a custom-mixed green stain that allows the wood grain to show through. All trim was finished in creamy Mascarpone (AF20), creating the crisp contrast typical of Victorian-era paint schemes.
For homeowners tackling similar projects, understanding historic homes exterior paint strategies is essential. Matching original color schemes and using period-appropriate finishes preserves the architectural integrity while protecting the structure from the elements.
Interior Preservation Techniques
Most of the interior woodwork required only cleaning and hemp oil to restore its natural luster. The hemlock wainscoting, paneling, and trim had never been painted, which meant they had not suffered from the layers of incompatible paint that plague many historic interiors. The fir floors were uncovered from beneath later coverings and found salvageable, requiring only sanding and refinishing rather than replacement.
The 1960s kitchen was removed down to the studs. New custom cabinets with practical butcher-block countertops were installed, painted Webster Green from Benjamin Moore to complement the historic character of the house. The polychromed Bavarian plate rack was cleaned and preserved in its original location over the sink.
The kneipe, or bar room, off the kitchen presented a more serious challenge. Black mold had developed in the wood paneling due to moisture infiltration, requiring hours of careful cleaning, stripping, and refinishing. This type of moisture damage is common in historic homes and must be addressed thoroughly to prevent recurrence and protect occupant health.
Lessons for Modern Historic Home Preservation
The restoration of the Keppler house in Elka Park offers several transferable principles applicable to any historic home project. Understanding porch design principles helps when evaluating and repairing original porches that may have suffered decades of weather exposure, as was the case with the curved Catskill porch.
Prioritize Original Fabric
The most cost-effective and historically responsible approach is to preserve as much original material as possible. In this project, hemlock woodwork, fir floors, and even the 1896 Bavarian plate rack were retained and restored rather than replaced. Cleaning and oiling proved sufficient for most surfaces, avoiding the substantial expense and character loss of replacement. This philosophy of minimal intervention respects the craftsmanship of the original builders while stretching the restoration budget further.
Address Moisture at the Source
Previous owners had improved drainage around the foundation to keep it intact, a critical intervention that preserved the house through its decade of vacancy. Without that work, the foundation would have deteriorated and the entire structure might have been lost. Mold in the bar room paneling and rot in the curved porch demonstrate that moisture is the primary enemy of historic structures and must be addressed at its source, not just its symptoms.
Key moisture management strategies for historic homes:
- Maintain positive drainage away from the foundation on all sides of the building
- Inspect and repair roof flashing, soffits, and gutters on a regular schedule
- Address mold immediately with appropriate cleaning methods and ventilation improvements
- Use vapor-permeable paints and stains that allow wall assemblies to breathe
- Install storm windows to manage condensation on historic single-glazed sash
- Keep exterior wood surfaces well painted or stained to prevent moisture intrusion
Plan for Phased Improvements
The owners approached the restoration methodically, tackling critical systems first. Wiring, plumbing, and heating were addressed before cosmetic improvements. Future plans include adding a third-floor reading room in one of the towers, where the Kepplers apparently never installed bookcases because their substantial library remained in their New York City home. This phased approach allows the budget to be managed effectively while ensuring the structure remains sound and weathertight throughout the process.
Design for Year-Round Comfort
Originally a summer-only retreat, the house was transformed into a year-round home through strategic interventions. Fifty-two new storm windows, upgraded insulation throughout the envelope, and a modern central heating system made winter occupancy possible and comfortable. Plans for a future geothermal system point toward long-term energy independence and reduced operating costs. This balance of preservation and modernization ensures the house remains viable and useful for another century of occupancy.
The Elka Park Victorian demonstrates that historic preservation is not about freezing a building in time as a museum piece. It is about understanding what made the original design exceptional and making thoughtful, respectful updates that honor that legacy while serving contemporary needs. When autumn leaves drift across the winding mountain roads and nights invite sweaters and a fire in the hearth, the restored Victorian stands ready for another season of warmth, character, and community life.