October Challenge, Day 4

Summer cabin, Adirondack Mountains Lake
Built in 1923 for a General Electric Vice President, the cabin was constructed primarily of logs made from native pines. The two-story building is large, compared to others nearby. Surrounded on three sides by pines and ashes, the cabin was used by the family for 55 years, until the last son passed away.
Inside, the openness accommodates a kitchen, living space for a couch and two chairs, an end table and a coffee table. In the back sits a master bedroom, a queen-sized bed inside. On the second floor are two more bedrooms and one full bath.
The exterior is three-quarters surrounded by a porch, several chairs on the lakeside to view the dawn coming over the mountains and reflect off the lake.

Schenectady NY single-family house, three stories
Built in the mid-1950s, the original intent of the house was to be a single-family, living on the first two floors, with an in-law apartment on the top. Before the Vaughn family purchased it in 1974, the estate of the late owner converted it to a single-family entirely, removing the separation walls and door.

Albany Convention Center
The intent of this center was for conventions, but tonight, the arena-style seating and dais were removed. In their stead are tables and dance floor, a bandstand near the dance floor was added. Crape-paper streamers, flowers on the table, atmosphere created so couples could remember this night for the rest of their lives.

Albany NY single-family home, two stories
Constructed in the mid-1920s, this home was the first on the street, a small side road off the only route from Albany to the small community of Glenmont. As the years passed, more were built.
A small but warm living area welcomed friends and family. Down a small hall was the in-eat kitchen. Beyond that was a bedroom, bathroom, and pantry.
On the second floor are three more bedrooms, two bathrooms, one for the master.

Central Park, Schenectady NY
A wooded oasis in the middle of the city. Pines, red maples, sugar maples, birches, and ashes were planted and allowed to thrive. Three play areas for children were originally constructed, though one was torn down in 1980 and replaced with a covered picnic area.
A country-style swimming hole allows children and adults to cool off in the summer. It sits between two other water areas: A large pond with a fountain in the middle, stocked with fish; a natural pond, expanded to accommodate more fish and returning waterfowl.

Linton High School, Schenectady NY
In its 25th year of existence, the single level school has educated thousands of children, including a few professional athletes.
The classrooms could comfortably have between 20-30 students.

Professor’s office, Union College
Stereotypical small office, papers, books, and file folders in every available space. The desk is old, 1800s oak. The couch is new and leather. The chairs are 1960s plushy.

French-type pastry café/bakery
A recent addition to the downtown Schenectady businesses, the café serves up a variety of old World pastries, especially award-winning fruit filled croissants. It holds eight, four-person tables, four, six-person tables and four booths that can hold six people, but are usually filled with students from Union College, Schenectady County Community College, and the high schools.

Farm, Schoharie County NY
The farmhouse is old, built in 1878, with six bedrooms. The barns are relatively new: The dairy barn finished in 1968, the hay barn in 1969, and the equipment barn the previous spring.
There are three large fields, one each for hay, corn and different vegetables, the later a new purchase, for the grandchildren.
Less than a quarter mile from the farmhouse is the Schoharie Creek, the main source for fish for the family. Half-mile in the opposite direction is a hillock and heavily wooded area, owned by the Vaughn-Pettijohn clan.

Coffee shop, Potsdam NY
A small café, the shop serves coffee, tea, and hot chocolate for the SUNY-Potsdam students and locals alike. The limited menu includes breakfast staples and sandwiches, though the students mostly come for the seating and bottomless cups of coffee.
There is a diner-style bar, several 4 and 6 person booths, and two large corner booths, constructed for students.

Bonus:
Central Park:
Around Iroquois Lake – actually just a large fishpond – is a walking path. For years, runners used it, but since its discovery by Hollywood-types in the city to look at locales for a movie, the path’s been used for walkers and lovers alike. It is not unusual to see couples, young and old, walk hand-in-hand around the lake, looking not at the water or fountain, but into each other’s eyes.
On the non-water side are pine trees, giving shade and comfort for those that wish to picnic or just side and watch others. The slight-grade hills add to the comfort level, the angles are perfect for sitting.
The smell the pines and other trees give to the walk makes the experience more of something out of the 1880s and less the 1980s. They cover up all the pollution smells. They mask nearby construction and asphalt being laid. The pine straw on the path can make for a somewhat dangerous walk, but it can add to the experience.