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HYDE BAY HOME LETTER                Volume XX 1946                        No. 5

20-YEAR RECORD BROKE: For the first time since camp was founded, a contageous disease has spread. Last year we had one case of mumps, but no other campers followed suit. Several years ago we had one case of polio. No other cases developed, and the boy concerned made a speedy recovery; in fact, was able to play football that fall. The measles have broken our record. As this edition goes to mimeograph there are four boys in the infirmary. We normally keep three beds set up there with a fourth in a recess ready for use. Since the building was built this has never been used before. The residents of the infirmary are Jander Linen, Charlie Riepe, Kenny Palmer, and David Farrar. All are having light cases. They are under the expert care of Mrs. Robert Pickett, who is a registered nurse. She says that it is a much easier assignment than caring for some of the wards full of sailors who occupied her attention for several years during the war. Dr. Johnson of the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital staff is the attending physician. With a trained nurse, a radio, and the company of other boys, measles are being endured under almost ideal circumstances.

WEATHER: Until Saturday our weather has been perfect for camp purposes. It has been hot on some days, but that is a stimulus to jump in the lake. Saturday and Sunday were cloudy, finally breaking into rain.

MONDAY: The feature of the day was a trip to Cherry Valley, where ee had dinner in the beautiful Cherry Valley Gorge and then proceeded to beat their Cherry Valley contemporaries in soft ball. The battery of Shreve to de Sibour performed admirably. For his prowess in devouring this type of food, Blaise came back with the soubriquet of “Cookies.”
 
TUESDAY: Puffy Evans, aided by Al Hoblitzel, took Puffy’s tent to Gravelly for the night. The ten-of—the—week went off to Cooperstown by motor boat but had to return by car when the motor boat refused to function for the return trip. Our Reporter has neglected to tell the Editor the name of the tent.
 
WEDNESDAY: Tents 7 and 8 under the intrepid leadership of their councilors, Mickey Stephenson and 0llie Thomson, climbed to that lovely spot overlooking the lake known as The “Look-out.” Here they spent the night and returned safely to camp. To quote Day Man, Heb Evans, in his daily log: “3:45-- Commanders Stephenson and Thomson forged (sic) off into the jungle of Strawberry Mountain followed by their tents equipped with knives and blankets (more knives than blankets). The day was featured also by a swimming meet in which the camp was divided into chromatic divisions, one labeled “GREEN” and the other “BLUE.” The “Greens” scored twenty—eight points, leaving the “Blues” very blue indeed, with twenty. The score was in doubt until the very last event, the relay. To quote again from Heb’s log: “McRae Williams swam his team to victory in the final relay.”
 
EMISSARY OF GOOD WILL: In the evening Al Kerr fared forth to be the Best of Pathfinder’s Lodge -- a neighboring camp for girls, in case you have not appreciated that fact. There he was dined, entertained, and then prevailed upon to speak before a charming audience. We should be glad to book Mr. Kerr for further appearances. All requests should be directed to his manager.

TINY CREATURES: For the first time in several years, the completely delightful Russian puppets returned to camp. Basil Milovsoroff was alone this time. He gave a splendid production of “The Fox and the Crow” using rod puppets. After the performance he popped up in front of the curtain and gave us a very interesting demonstration of, how each puppet worked.

AROUND THE LAKE: The second of the round-the-lake trips was led forth by Al Kerr, ably shipped by Jim Waters and Tony Bogatko. They reported an excellent time.

FRIDAY: in the morning the baseball team went off with Mr. and Mrs. Pickett in the two station wagons for practice on famous Doubleday Field, where baseball was invented. Your Editor’s observation would be that if baseball was invented there, our team certainly modified it. Jim Waters and Ed Maxson led out their tents to Gravelly Point to spend the night. Two carloads of young men went off to the Carnival, which was being held at Cooperstown.

A MOVING EXPERIENCE: Several councilors and U. L.s spent most of the day moving two tourist cabins which were torn apart on their original location and then re—assembled along the road leading to camp. They will eventually house various married councilors and teachers. At the play that evening, the Sextette sang, among other things, the following ditty:
“I been working on the cabins all the live long day
I been working on the cabins just try to get away
Can’t you hear the Director callin’ lift it up a little more
Can’t you hear us shouting Prunie blow your horn.”

ADDITION: Toward evening visiting Lawry Pickett, with Bob and the old man, took a group of pea-pickers down to the farm where they garnered a delicious two bushels for Sunday dinner. The Picketts then went on to purchase and bring back to canp a new trailer for future canoe trips.

THE DRAMA ONCE MORE: Three tent plays were produced in competition. The program will be enclosed for your edification. Mr. and Mrs. Kiphuth, assisted by Mrs. Lawrence Pickett, acted as judges and gave the box of Hershey bars to Tent No 1 with a special commendation for the acting of Ned Elmore, who took the part of Sherlock Holmes’ right bower, Dr. Watson.

UPSET: For the first time this year, the experiment was tried of sailing one of our boats with the keel in the air. Once more we are pained to report that the experiment was not successful. The mariners were Mickey Stephenson, assisted by Peter Veit and Buzzy Williams. They were hauled from the Glimmerglass by a rescue squad of visiting firemen assisted by Al Kerr and “Chiefie,” as our distinguished head councilor is known locally.

A CALM DAY: Sunday was featured by an emergency erection of one cabin. We have to catch a carpenter then we can find one. It also rained in the afternoon. Between these two events came a delicious dinner of turkey, candied sweet potatoes, and peas harvested as previously mentioned.

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