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Sanbar 2014

John Mercer's photographs: Samples of Savannah architecture can be found here.

      What is a “Sanbar”?
      Well it is not a Durbar, since that name had already been taken. But it was like a Durbar in that it was a gathering of Hyde Bay councilors and campers. How did we get the name? Well, I wanted to call it the “Mini-bar”, but since we had several non drinkers in our group, we thought that would be inappropriate. So please read on and it will all become clear.

     Since 1961, when several of us left Hyde Bay Camp for the last time (except for an occasional visit), there had never been a reunion of the “Fab Four or Five”, a self-named posse of hombres who hung around the theater, the tennis court and the baseball diamond of Hyde Bay in those years of yore. By name, we were Mac Mellor, Jim Main, Doug Coupe and Jock McQuilkin, but others were added to complement (and compliment) the four. Though Durbars were assembled on a regular basis in Cooperstown, the Fab Four or Five had never reunited as a group since our last year at camp. So it was decided that it was about time we got together before we all died. When I heard that the Low Country was the decided venue for this event, I immediately thought we would be going to Amsterdam and pulled out my wooden shoes; but lo, it turned out that, because so many lived in the Southeast area of the US, the Low Country they were referring to was the beautiful coastal areas of South Carolina and Georgia. Hence the name “Sanbar”, since there were so many sand bars amid those beautiful beach front vistas.

     Savannah was our hub, and what a magnificent spot for this great reunion. Unfortunately, Jock and Rusty “the Director” Pickett couldn’t make it at the last moment, so 3 “campers” jumped in to fill their spots, John "Dayman” Mercer who succeeded Mac and Jim as the impresario of the Hyde Bay Theatre, Todd “Fluh”
Mulvenney who brought with him his lovely wife Donna and Archie Coupe who joined us for our final “banquet and bonfire.” Sightseeing was our daily routine, Savannah the first day, and Beaufort, and Bluffton, SC, the second. Hop-on & off trolley scooted us around Savannah while a horse drawn wagon rambled us through the historic streets of Beaufort. For evening fare, we enjoyed our first repast at the renowned 18th river front, we went Italian the second at the awarded Leoci’s Ristorante, and our final “banquet and bonfire” was held in our host hotel’s celebrated 700 Drayton (cleverly named after its address). The magnificent Mansion on Forsyth was our headquarters hotel with its amazing Bohemian Gallery art collection displayed on every wall in our rooms and in every hallway. There was a welcome sign for our group, but either they didn’t use “spellcheck” or perhaps it may have been for another group. It proudly read, “WELCOME HPC 2014”. We were convinced that they must have meant “HBC” for us.

     But all in all, it was a fantastic reunion, wonderful stories, amazing reminiscing and fond memories rekindled. Isn’t that what a reunion is supposed to be about? Thank you, Mac and Doug, for putting it all together. It will always be remembered with justified reverence.

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