EXPLANATION: Hyde Bay was founded in 1927. Since 1931 this weekly communication has ben written to all parents by the director. The home Letter is designed to give parents the information which a small boy is far too busy to impart each week. Material for this publication is gathered by head councilor Chandlee and the day men. If there are relatives or friends to whom you would like to have this chronicle sent, please advise us.
REPORTS: You will find enclosed the first set of reports from the tent councilors. Comments are added occasionally by Betty Pickett, the camp nurse, on matters of health and by the head councilor and director.
NEW LAW: New York State has this rear passed a law defining the work and sa1arie of camp councilors. Six of our staff are classed as trainees, candidates for the high office of councilor. They are each under the supervision of the senior councilor who is technically in charge of two tents. The reports for the tents thus affected are made out by the trainee under the direction and approval of the senior councilor, who signs the report. We are hoping this conforms to the new law.
BILLS: You will find enclosed a statement of the camp tuition. As some boys are here for four weeks only, to simplify bookkeeping, all parents are charged for the first four weeks at the weekly rate, or $240. The second half bil1 for boys who are staying the full eight weeks is $160.
INCIDENTALS: Instead of requiring a cash payment upon purchase, we charge on the boy’s account such personal expenditures as laundry, candy stationery and various supplies. The bill for this is rendered shortly after the boy leaves camp. There are no extra charges at Hyde Bay.
NUMBERS: Last Year we started with 99 boys. This year we were obliged to take 106. Of these, 104 are in residence with 2 coming in in a day or so. This is our largest camp in our history. We could have had 25 or 30 more campers. I refused everyone I could. I tried hard to keep to number below 100. No promotional work was done other than to send a camp folder to the parents of Gilman School in Baltimore. The boys are here because they are old campers or friends of those who have asked me to accompany them. An unusually large number of old campers returned this year. The new ones have fitted in splendidly. I hope this enrollment keeps faith with the many parents to whom I promised to keep the camp small. At least I tried.
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COUNCIL: Once more we have 20 tent councilors and 3 others who are married and living in cabins on the grounds. Many of our old campers had to go into activities, such as the armed forces. But we have a nucleus of veterans among whom are councilors Andrew Bowdoin, Evans, Garver, Jencks, Kerr, Powell, Pratt and deSibour. Promoted to be senior U.Ls in training for full councilorships are old campers Ken Boyd, Phil Schwartz, Robert Twigg and Charlie Webb. Dave Arnold and John Webster who are cousins are new councilor candidates. The new councilors are Charlie Broun of Princeton, Phil Eastabrooks, Bob Gilmor, Paul Samborski and Bob Wynne, all of Harvard, recruited by Bob Pickett, who is varsity wrestling coach at that University. Peter Wells is also new. He came through son, Herb Pickett and is a graduate of Wyoming Seminary. This completes an extremely satisfactory council who have started to work as smoothly and efficiently as any group which has been my pleasure to observe.
SUMMER SCHOOL: Once more the same experienced staff are teaching 25 campers and one day pupil. Messrs. Barriskill, Dresser, Mercer and Russe1 headed by the 1ast named who is director of the summer school.
TUTORING REPORTS: These will come next week.
CAMP FAMILY: George Chandlee is once more Head Councilor. Mrs. Chandlee prints this letter and does other secretarial work. Bob Pickett is Assistant Director. His wife, betty, is camp nurse as well as mother of Rusty and Sandy. Mrs. Director Pickett again does the buying and supervises all food affairs. Hard by the Chandlee cabin is the Garver home, where Mrs. Garver and very small Kristin and our artist and handicraft man live. Then comes the Mercers with Mrs. Mercer & Carolyn. To E. T. Russells are neighbors. And far off on the hill above the tutoring school reside Mr. & Mrs. Albert L. Kerr, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Dresser with their five children have bought a house over the lake up on the hill. Mr. Dresser commutes in a mature Dodge truck.
KITCHEN: To our joy, Henry and Grover are back with another good man, LeRoy Bell.
ARRIVALS: Cooperstown old campers, Bordley and Mithoefer were the first to arrive on Tuesday morning. Then followed a steady stream of cars bearing excited campers until long after dark. Shortly before 8:00 p.m. the bus and attendant taxi lumbered into camp with the 47 eager boys whom Bob Pickett had collected on that day along the line of the Pennsylvania and New York Central Railroads. These arrivals found the camp in spotless condition due to the tireless efforts of the council, who had been here since early Friday morning, June 25th, busy at this sort of work and engrossed in getting acquainted with each other and with. Hyde Bay.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30th: It was an overcast and cool day given over mostly to swimming tests interspersed with a multitude of informal softball games. All our craft but the four sailboats were very active. These were waiting on the passing of certain other tests. In the evening we were thrilled by a movie depicting the activities of the so—called Frogmen of our Navy.
THURSDAY: The diving tower and slide which had been wrecked by a sudden storm was re-established by councilor Evans. The swimming tests continued as did the softball games. Riding and tennis began with much enthusiasm. It was a day of mixed weather finally culminating in rain during the night.
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JULY 2nd: This Friday dawned fair and windy which stimu1ated much sailing. It was cool and comfortable. Late in the evening the justly famous Commodore arrived. The yearly visits of this ancient Hyde Bay institution are always eagerly awaited. This year his residence is a small tent on the hill above the tutoring school.
SATURDAY JULY 3rd: More good sailing weather. The famous Waterme1on league opened with the softball team known as the Leopards under Captain Hawks defeating Sandy Cochran’s Lions by a formidable score. Stellar picture R. L. Smith wavered a bit in one inning to allow 17 runs to score.
THE DRAMA: A very impromptu and equally amusing Variety Show was produced by impressarie Al Kerr. We discovered that we had an amazing amount of talent, musical, histrionic and athletic. This successful evening gave no end of stimulation to the oncoming tent plays. Every tent produces a self-written play in competition with other tents. Every Saturday night is thus occupied.
THE GLORIOUS FOURTH ACCOMPANIED BY THE SABBATH: At breakfast the director read a stirring message from his English friend, Tom Benson who had addressed a similar gathering four years ago. At 10:00 a.m. the director conducted our simple camp service. Thorough inspection of tents and all bunks, trunks and campers. This was a a clear warm day featured by the advent of water skiing back of the Hacker, our large motorboat. Softball followed with the Jaguars beating the Cougars 23 to 6. Captain Jones thus routed his apposite number Roszendaal. At 8:30 p.m. we showed movies depicting the the birth of a Ford motor block followed by a colored film showing the delights of life on the French luxury liners. We then adjourned to quiet fireworks on the beach. There was a rumor that any other kind invoked a fine of $500 in New York state. At 6:15 we ate our outdoor supper. These come once a week for the sake of variety and to relieve our faithful kitchen staff for a brief interval.
NEATNESS REWARD: The Hacker trip to town with the Sunday mail was taken by tents 53A and 9. The former is populated by the youngest boys in camp, while ob Gilmore’s boys in number 9 are somewhat older. Campers seem to get less neat as they grow older, culminating, of course, in these extremely untidy individuals known as husbands and fathers.
