RESUME: This is the last real camp Home Letter for 1955. You will get another when I get the bills for incidentals made out and get the time to write some personal letters. I note that I dated this post—camp letter last year on September 5, 1954. I do not know when it was mailed but I am sure was later. The enclosed are the last reports. Your next information will come from your son. I hope it will not be too much out of harmony with the councillor’s point of view, which you have been receiving all summer.
YOUR PLANS: Not all parents have returned the cards. We are still in the dark about some travel plans. We are not sure how many welcome guests plan to come to the barbecue, Monday night August 22nd. If this paragraph causes your ears to burn, please act promptly. We need this information. We hope you come to the barbecue.
RESERVATIONS AND THE LIKE: I have tried to inform all parents of the reservations we have made at their request. I will recapitulate on these reports. Rooms are getting tight in the Cooperstown area for this date.
TRAIN TRIP: Councillor George Ruestow assisted by Senior ULs Jay Alexander and Charles Classen, both veterans of many such trips, will leave Ft. Plain at 5:57 a.m., standard time on August 23rd, arriving at Grand Central at 10:55. They should catch the 12:35 p.m. for Washington and way stations. All parents potentially concerned were alerted last week by a special insert.
LOST AND FOUND: American boys are supposed to be trained to be good losers. Your sons certainly qualify. I wish you could see the elaborate precautions we take to make sure that a boy returns with all his possessions. The process started yesterday and will continue until the last boy departs. When we tear down the tents, articles of a relatively recent archeological nature are packaged by Mrs. Pickett personally and mailed to you. In due time we get sundry letters inquiring about valuables which escape this elaborate dragnet.
IMPORTANT HEALTH DATE: Our doctor diagnosed a case as mumps. There is little, if any, substantiating evidence. There have been some swollen glands. To play it safe, Betty suggests you have a prompt medical check on any swollen glands which develop after your son returns.
MORE HEALTH: During the camp, we have had more than the usual number of sore throats. These have been reported to you individually each week. Five out of some twenty-five throat cultures sent to our doctor revealed the strain of streptococcus which may, but does not necessarily involve serious complications. Betty strongly urges that any camper who develops a sore throat anytime within three weeks following the close of camp, have a culture taken by his doctor. We have followed
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here the prescribed penicillin treatment. All parents concerned have been notified. Some boys may come home in the midst of the regime, in which case you will be notified.
MONDAY: Very clear and cool. The last long three day Susquehanna carried off Heb, Tom Offutt, George Ruestow, Eddie Brown and the usual complement of campers. The river proved to be quite low. Councillor Powell abandoning the bat for the paddle, assisted by Tom Sargent and Warren Hills, battled furiously around the lake. A numerous group, under Harry Bowdoin and Red Banker, assisted by Ben Jones spent the night on Nebo. One group rode up on horses, another rode back.
AUGUST 9th: Same weather. The Racoons defeated the Beavers, 7 - 5.
WEDNESDAY: No change of weather. In a magnificently pitched and played game, Hyde Bay defeated the Cooperstown team on famous Doubleday Field. Jay Alexander pitched a no hit game with 13 strike outs. The Jr. and Sr. Life Saving courses for the 2nd half were finished with the success we have come to expect in this department. The day eased into night with a film featuring Tyrone Power as “Pony Soldier”.
RAINY (BELIEVE IT OR NOT) THURSDAY: Trips without number to the Cooperstown museums. The mast which I found last Monday was shaped and installed by the hard work of the sailing council and the White Comet re—entered competition this day. Skip Mills, who had been in the local hospital with an asthma attack since Monday, returned to us. The evening was spent in a giant quiz show in which candy and pop rained lavishly on the well informed.
RAINY SUCCESSOR TO THURSDAY: More trips including one to the famous Cherry Valley Gorge. Regional meeting of the Star boats filled our bay with flashing white sails. Our own Comets indulged in some races. The Otters humbled the Muskrats in softball. Heb’s splendid pictoral history of the recent years at Hyde Bay kept a large audience in the theater much of the day. In honor of the birthday of Timmy Allen, his parents provided us once more with unlimited ice cream at supper. All hands enjoyed this TO THE FULL!! The movie trip went off to town.
SATURDAY: Rain and wind. Museum trips; a wrestling tournament; sixty people off to Howe caverns; taking advantage of the high water of Shadow Brook, many canoe loads made the exciting three—mile journey in the afternoon.
DRAMATIC FINALE: Dramatic Director Kerr surpassed all his previous splendid efforts with a magnificent musical. Developed in a week with words and music written by Al, and the parts beautifully acted by an all—star cast selected from the tent players, this show would have placed high in any competition anywhere. Real Genius.
SUNDAY: Cloudy and warm. Pete Macky preached very ably in our church. The Commodore, who had arrived late Friday, conducted a riotous regatta of eight inch boats. The “Rusty” Nail won a disputed decision. Perhaps the best movies we have enjoyed, closed the day.
Barbecue will start about 6:20.
