10. Marjorie built an Adirondack camp for summer use
The wealthy often escaped the dog days of summer and its oppressive humidity in pre-air conditioning days by resorting to “rustic camps” in the Adirondacks, Catskills, Poconos, Berkshires, and the Green Mountains of Vermont. Marjorie Post bought her rustic camp in 1920, spent three years expanding and renovating the site, and first used it during the summer of 1923. The camp comprised 68 buildings and over 200 acres, at first only accessible by water. Her yachts delivered guests to the camp, and in later years she flew her guests to the site, in her own private plane. Each residential cabin came equipped with its own butler for the convenience of her guests. She called the facility Camp Topridge.
A Russian-style residence known as a dacha was built at the camp for the use of Joseph Davies, who had enjoyed staying in such buildings during his stays in the Soviet Union. In many ways, Camp Topridge served as the summer equivalent to Mar a Lago, though the entertainments were less spectacular, and the guest lists shorter each season. One perk Marjorie offered, currently running full-length feature films available at the camp, sometimes featured one of the guests. Cary Grant visited the camp during his marriage to Barbara Hutton, Marjorie’s niece. Some of the films featured appearances by her daughter, Dina Merrill. Marjorie left the camp to the State of New York in her will. It has subsequently changed hands several times, and is once again privately owned.
