Hyde Bay Logo Hyde Bay Camp For Boys
Homeletter 1936 Vol. 9, No. 4

Back to The Lodge
Back to Home Letters

Previous Back to Index Next

Hyde Bay
CAMP FOR BOYS

HERBERT E. PICKETT,
DIRECTOR
Hyde Bay Logo COOPERSTOWN, NY
HYDE BAY HOME LETTER           VOLUME NINE          NO. 4  July 1936.

RAIN, RAIN, BEAUTIFUL RAIN!
    On Thursday night came the long awaited shower.  It rained most of the night and a part of Friday morning.  It did no end of good.  On Saturday afternoon came one of those sudden, fierce storms which we call "Otsegos".  A visible line of rain swept across the lake.  Wood was blown like feathers from Captain Hartzell's woodpile.  A new Oldtown was swept from the rack to the ground. Every tent held splendidly.  A huge Hickory was dismasted about twenty feet from the ground up near the driveway.  Both rains together have already transformed a thirsty country-side.

IN AND OUT.
    Leslie left us on Tuesday for the Continent and England.Mrs. Pickett, Walter Lord, Billy Lynn and the Director took him in style to Amsterdam where he boarded the Albany train while the others shopped.
Mrs. Huidekoper and her daughter Page dashed into camp on Saturday morning and bore away Prescott.  A telegram signed with the initials of Donald Bain and Joe Humphries, two of Mr. Huidekoper’s best impersonations, tells us of safe arrival in Ruxton.
    Mrs. Jenkins is visiting the Dressers at the Yellow House. She motored in from Philadelphia on Friday.
Late Saturday afternoon Mr. and Mrs. Higinbotham drove in from Buffalo to leave their son Ted and two friends of his, John Morris and Dean Richmond, who will be with us for a month.  Away back in 1928, Jack Higinbotham was with us for a few weeks, making a very remarkable record on the college examinations he took at the end of his stay.  It is especially pleasant thus to renew old assoc­iations.

SHOW.
    Never have the famous pair, Lord and Exshaw done themselves so proud as on Monday last when "Let's Swing It" was made into history by a masterly performance.  Author Lord enacted Dave Porter of the biceps.  Bobby Carton was his latest flame, Ava.  Notable work was done by Gordon Kinder as Dave's father, Colonel Pullman Porter.  Sir Roger looked like Tom Hardie.  Mose, the shuffling servant was richly portrayed by Billy Lynn with a section of inner tube to simulate baldness.  Frat boys were Kennedy Cromwell, Chauncey Hall, and Howdy Bubert.  Hunt Williams, Tommy Cassilly, and Bobby Pickett made a charming trio of girls, guests of the fraternity for the dance.  A very mirthprovoking episode was the appearance at the end of each act of Prescott as Donald Bain.  All in all it was a great success. After the show a collation was served by Lord and Lynn in the recrea­tion hall in honor of the departing Leslie.  The refreshments were cakes and a choice between Coca and Cola.  Not to mention cheese and pretzels.

HARD AND SOFT.
    Thursday was a great day.  After milk and crackers the entire camp, with the exception of the ball team proper, set off by boat and car for Fairy Spring.  Here a lunch was devoured in true savage style.  Then the group took a tour of historic Cooperstown, the museum, the park, and Sherry's.  After dinner all the rest of the camp (but the Captain) went in to see the game.  Played on the cradle of baseball, Doubleday Field, it was a thriller.  Hammy pitched great ball.  Mr. Marrian dashed about the outfield like Uncas after a Mingoe, making three great catches.  Billy Payne was on base every time.  Huidy bobbed up with impossible assists.  John­ny Chittenden played splendidly at second base. Westerlind at first, Kinder at third and Koppy in right field rounded out the team with Jack Young as usual behind the bat.  Everyone marveled at the progress made in the game since the General invented it in 1839.  But we had not come far enough to beat the Erstwhile Cooperstown Midgets.The little fellows of a dozen years ago had grown a bit.  The score was eight to three.  Home again with no incident.  Freddie Brune tried to make it in "Hi Baby" but was forced to put into Pathfinder Lodge by rough water.
Meanwhile the Delawares massacred the Mohicans at soft ball on Torrid Field to the tune of nine-seven.  Or was it seven-five? That was on Wednesday.  Monday had seen the Mohawks, steadied by pitcher Marrian, roast the Delawares at the stake.  As usual comment by the Captain decorates the lodge wall.

KYAK.
    Donny Tag has repaired the kyak so that it is better than ever.  It is in action every waking moment. During the Treasure Hunt Jake Classen employed it in an emergency message-to-Garcia trip to the sailboat.  He made the trip out but capsized and has to swim ashore amid the usual gibes and jeers.  A purse of four dol­lars awaits Mr. Russell if he will pilot it from our wharf to the Picnic-ground dock.  We would open the field to a few ambitious fathers too.

CINEMIGRATION.
    Some of us saw the pictures on Wednesday night and the rest saw "Sutter's Gold" on Saturday.  None of us got the bonus which was $175.00 on Saturday.

ALPS OR SOMETHING.
    A party consisting of Hammy's and Billy's tents plus Gor­don Kinder and Billy Hudson with Lawry Pickett slept??????? on Strawberry Mountain on Tuesday night.  It did not rain!  The local fire warden raided the camp when he saw their camp fire but no ar­rests were made.

TREASURE HUNT.  THERE IS GOLD IN THEM THERE HILLS!
    The July hunt has been raging with intermissions since Friday noon.  Codes have given up their lore. Maps have been de­ciphered.  Many mad miles have been covered.  The treasure goes to Jake Classen and his men, Freddie Brune and Albert Wampole. Others were close.  Walter Lord teetered on the verge of victory when he called the hospital for a definition and got the wrong one. Meanwhile Jake was deep in a medical tome of Charley's and found the word. It was a good hunt.

Back to Home Letters
Back to The Lodge