Back to The Lodge
Back to Home Letters

Courtesy Larry Pickett

VOLUME 23             July 12, 1949                   No. 1

INTRODUCTION AND EXPLANATION For the last 23 years it has been my custom to write all parents each week two typewritten pages to convey the information which a boy ought to send to his parents each week. Unfortunately, boys are far too busy to do this job completely in every case. The responsibility has naturally fallen onto the shoulders of the Director who is hereafter to be known as the Editor. Many parents in past years have expressed great appreciation for this rather unusual camp service. I hope you new parents will enjoy it too: To the old parents a sincere expression of pleasure in writing to you again.

THE ROSTER There seems to be a group of 74 boys at camp, 38 of them have been with us before. Almost without exception they have come to us through the recommendations of our friends, principally of boys who have been with us before. Over the years I have made the discovery that this is the finest way to select a camp. All I did this year was to write to the parents of the boys who were here last year. I owe an apology to the parents of previous years to whom I usually write.

STAFF George “Chiefie” Chandlee is Head Councilor, as has been his want for many years. Bob Pickett is the assistant to the Director, and his good wife, Betty, is once more the Camp Nurse. Al Kerr, veteran of many seasons, looks after the music and the drama. The redoubtable Evans brothers are once more busy about their tasks. Tom Shaw is with us again. Alan Hoblitzell, Bob Russell and Blaise DeSibour are councilors -- all have been with us as councilor and boy for many seasons. Edo Ackerson has risen from a UL to be a councilor. This able and efficient nucleus is supplemented by Ray Murray in charge of the horses who lives with his wife, Betty, in the cabin built for the Kips some years ago. Betty saves the life of the Director with secretarial assistance. Herbert Eckert is in charge of the waterfront after many years of experience in other camps. He is assisted by Julian Reed who is also the Headmaster of the little boy campers. These are ably abetted by Ned Jarrett, Tent 1; Sandy McCul1y, Tent 3; Dick West, Tent 5; Arthur Withington, Tent 6; Jimmy Kelsey, Tent 9; Angus McLean,

Page 2

Tent 10,(an old Hyde Bay camper). The efficient veteran key men have absorbed the new councilors into what is already a smoothly running machine.

EDUCATIONAL NOTE The summer school is exactly the same, as it has been for several years past with the addition of, maturity, skill, experience and urbanity, which only time can give to the trained mind. Headmaster Russell, once more in charge, lives as always with his good wife in the cottage by the willows. Hardby are the Mercers, who taper off through Carolyn, Tom and John to an elongated dog named Hans. Mr. Dresser commutes daily from his mansion at East Springfield, where his family lives at “Craig Lynn,” the ancestral home of the Picketts, in which they have never lived. Mr. Barriskill once more lives in his room in the tutoring school to which he affectionately refers as “Macy’s Basement” on account of the traffic which passes his door.

CREATURE WANTS Thanks to Gluttonius, God of Feasters Jimmy, Duffy, and Ernie are back with us in the kitchen. They are generally acclaimed as our best kitchen staff. These genial friends of ours are warmly welcomed once more by all hands.

ARRIVAL While Bob Pickett, assisted by Angus, was perspiring his way up from Washington, numerous and sundry parents brought their eager children in by car. By nightfall we were mostly here.

INEVITABLY, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY FOLLOWED WEDNESDAY The heat drove us into the lake where tests were administered to old and new alike.

HOT ROCKS On Saturday our annual Hot Rock contest took place. Stones were numbered and placed where stones normally never get all over camp. Prizes were offered for the retrieved stones according to the designation of each. Sandy Cochran was the winner, but many other boys collected sums ranging from a penny up.

DRAMA Under this we will include the most unexpected arrival of Commodore Walter Lord, our most distinguished visitor, as well as (Thank the Lord) among the more frequent. The drama which always accompanies Walter was augmented as the shades of evening fell as an impromptu show graced the boards of the theater featuring Julian Reed and his electric guitar, and Blaise DeSibour with his equally electric dancing. Al Kerr read the minds of many

Page 3

while others were skeptical. Bob Pickett “lifted” an incredible number of campers while the old penny in the funnel trick worked as well as over.

SUNDAY The Director preached. Older boys participated in the afternoon in softball game. As usual we sang hynms around the piano as Al Kerr played. The day featured a photography contest staged by Walter Lord who now sports one of those cameras that devvelops the picture before it is taken. Eddy Ruestow recognized more of the photographed places than any other boy.

MONDAY (OUR NATIONAL HOLIDY) Heb Evans and Pete Banker took two of the sailboats to Gravelly and Five Mile Point for lunch. Those under 12 played softball. Bob Russell and Walter Lord lead a crew in search of wooly ants which have eluded us since the camp as started. A few drops of rain fell but not enough to prevent our witnessing the splendid fireworks provided by Mr. Hyde, supplemented by supplies brought in by various boys.

JULY 5th This Tuesday saw some good sailing. Hobby took his tent to Gravelly while two other tents went on a supper trip.

THE NEXT DAY The Director and Directress came in with a new 17 ft. aluminum canoe atop their car. Angus and Jim lead out their tents for a supper trip. “D” tests were passed by Randy Barker and Ricky Donahoe. A slight rain was felt by those who hold their faces aloft.

JULY 7th We coated the tennis courts with red-ground slate guaranteed to make billard tables envious. The first round-the—lake trip, under the chaperonage of Hebb, Tom, and Edo circumnavigated the Glimmerglass. An innovation in this time honored town was a visit to Leatherstocking Falls. Lured by the promise of ice cream at East Springfield, many of the younger boys helped us weed the garden after supper. Only the new boys can be lured into this expedition.

THEN FRIDAY The busy Heberton took his tent to Gravelly for overnight. Jule and Dick took their tents out for supper. There was an expedition to the Sunken Islands, made famous by James Fennimore Cooper. In the evening the older boys made their usual trip into town to view the movies.

Page 4

ANOTHER SATURDAY (7—9) Such good sailing that two Comets upset. In the evening four tent plays were presented with the prize going to Hobby and his clients. It was a hot competition among excellent presentations. It rained a bit.

ONCE MORE,THE SABBATH What a splendid rain we had this day. It came in the nick of time. Most vegetables were completely discouraged and many farmers were worried. We had experienced so little interruption that it was most welcome to all of us as well. There was sailing, baseball and volley ball after the rain left us.

CHRACTERISTIC ERROR After announcing this as a two page publication, here we go into a fourth page. It is just the garrulity of old age.

BILLS You will find enclosed bills for the camp fee. Many parents have been worried by the delay in getting them. Additional expenses of a personal nature are charged on a bill sent at the end of camp. I mean candy, postage, laundry and that sort of thing.

GLOSSARY

Russell Orum: The house built to fit the wrestling mat where boys may be found wrestling and, squirming all day and far into the night; named after its patron saint, Mr. Russell.
Silver, Siesta, Pepper and Chips: Hyde Bay horses.
The Lookout: A high level spot overlooking the lake about a mile from camp.
Plumber: Anyone who makes the stupid error.
Heb: The older Evans boy.
Puffy: The younger brother.
Strawberry Mountain: The eminence 800 ft. above camp immediately back of it.
Rathbuns: A wharf and picnic ground to the south of us.
Gravelly: A lovely point on the wooded shore of the lake where tents spend the night.
Rum Hill: The loafty mountain on the other side of the lake opposite us behind which the sun sets. We climb to its summit.
Shadow Brook: A bayou like estuary of an otherwise babbling brook; home of turtles, pond lilies and adventure.

Back to Home Letters
Back to The Lodge