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_________________Comments 2013_________________

Dave Winne 12/14/13 (in an email to John Mercer) - Hi John, I grew up in Cooperstown and have memories of the old Ford Woody Wagon that Mr. Pickett drove. I have been into old cars all my life and am currently restoring a ’36 Ford Coupe. Do you have any idea what became of the old Ford? Last time I saw it, it was at Earl’s Garage in East Springfield for repairs… Happy Holidays,
Dave Winne, Liverpool, NY

Rusty Pickett 12/14/13 - My father sold it out from under me at Auction after camp closed. I would have bought it, but he didn’t offer – still a very sore point in our family. After that who knows. I have toyed with the idea of going to NY DMV and seeing if I can get the serial number from an old registration and doing a search – on my list for Durbar.

Tom Lynn 12/14/13 - That's the one we just called (obviously) "They Woody," right? (A name that was possibly not the best for use around sophomorically-minded boys.) Was there also a vehicle called the "Buzby"? I recall the green vehicle called "The Green Hornet" or "Green Arrow" because of the movie serial we were seeing in camp the summer it arrived. Any other named vehicles?
      I, too, (along with Dutch Master who was hoping to buy a Comet) was disappointed not to be alerted to (and invited to) the auction. I think the Picketts could have made a LOT more money off it with some better advertising/inviting!

Dave Winne 12/14/13 - I believe that the Hyde Bay Woodie could have been built by the Campbell Body Company in Waterloo, NY. Cheers, Dave Winne

Rusty Pickett 12/14/12 - Well done John.  The vehicle was originally the bus for Cooperstown Academy!

Tom Lynn 12/14/13 - Also had the ahead-of-the-curve cool LAND Rover (not the pompous Range Rover of today). Loved riding on the back jump seats in that. And there was the International Harvester, right? That was ahead of the curve, too. I thought that was a station wagon on steroids -- of course, in recent years its effect has been seen on k-12 campuses in the guise of the Suburban, etc. Then there was that white pick-up truck in the last years. I remember riding in the bed of that thing as a UL -- especially for trips to clear Beaver Valley or to do the haying at Farmer Brown's (and getting the big-ass cookie and the big-ass bottle of Coke.

David Dube 12/15/13 - Ok guys, color me dim, but what about "The Rover"? D2

Blake Goldsmith 12/15/13 - Rusty I feel the need to defend Moldy without knowing the story but I do know that it takes a lot of money to keep them in good shape. Classic cars are becoming more popular. My friend Jeff is now renting his collection to folks for special occasions and it takes a lot to keep them running
      Maybe we can rent rebuilt Green Hornet and cruise Cooperstown during Durbar looking for old girl friends a. Bye Bye Miss American Pie
      American Pie is not quite as good as the Kingston Trio’s song "Charlie on the MTA," which we used to sing in the theater but still a classic
      PS .Dee Dee & Jeffy that goes for you looking for any old boy friends as well. Blake

Rusty Pickett 12/15/13 - Blake, I just got a DVD of “Forbidden Planet” – Robby the Robots’ first movie. We will have movie night at Durbar!Blake, I just got a DVD of “Forbidden Planet” – Robby the Robots’ first movie. We will have movie night at Durbar! Rusty

David Dube 12/16/13 - I still think that 'Time Machine' was the best movie from movie night... I saw it again wih my now grown son last winter -- it still has a certain magic. He is quite a critic of old movies with cheesy costumes, and lousy plot lines. Though it has been over 40 years I was still moved by The ending when Rod Taylor returned to his house just to move the time machine 20 yards so he could be outside the Morlock stronghold with ''Weena'. What think all? (Of course I may have already recounted my 'Time Machine' magic a few years ago....) 'CRS' D2

Tom Lynn 12/16/13 - Definitely a classic. I'm going to have to go through the Homeletters from my/our era to see what the other movies were that we watched. And the serials, too.

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Tom Lynn 10/24/13 - Jeff Rice passed away at 8:45 PM tonight (Wed.) with Drum and Burge at his bedside at Gilchrest Hospice. Many of you may have known that Jeff had been fighting cancer over the past 10 years. Within the past 3 years he suffered setbacks and had several surgeries, while undergoing more chemo as well. He spent 6 days last week at Meg's house under in-home hospice care, then moved to Gilchrest this past Monday. His care at Gilchrest was excellent.
     Though Jeff was bedridden, heavily medicated, and unable to vocally communicate, there was a steady stream of visitors to both hospice care locations, including both family and friends -- a good number from Gilman and Bryn Mawr Schools. Lots of the humorous "Jeff stories" were told, and he seemed to be aware of the goings-on. It will be unusual to think a world without the likes of Jeff in it. Fortunately, he did not linger too long and passed away peacefully. Meg said, "Jeff has left the party."
     At this point arrangements are incomplete, but the family is hoping to have visitation on Friday with a funeral service on Saturday, both in the Baltimore area. Notes of condolence for the family -- including the children, Meg, brother Bruce, and father Romney -- may be sent to Meg at 7121 Rodgers Court, Baltimore, 21212.

Obituary from The Baltimore Sun

     On October 23, 2013 David Jeffrey Rice, beloved father of Drummond Shipley Rice and Elizabeth Burgess Rice, loving son of Romney Wilbur Rice and the late Betty Jane Rice. Also survived by his devoted brother Bruce Shipley Rice and sister-in-law Susan McFadden Rice, niece Molly Satterfield Rice, nephews Evan Shipley Rice and Colin McFadden Rice. Also survived by his partner Paul Etzel Kustes and many cousins.

      Friends may call at the family owned Mitchell-Wiedefeld Funeral Home,Inc. 6500 York Rd., 21212 on Friday, October 25, 5-7p.m. A memorial service will be held at Grace Methodist Church, 5407 N. Charles St., 21210 Saturday, October 26 at noon. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Gilchrist Hospice Care, 11311 McCormick Rd., Suite 350, Hunt Valley, MD 21031 or Human Rights Campaign, 1640 Rhode Island Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20036 or the charity of your choice.

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Colin Murray 09/03/13 - Steve, I liked the horses, too.  The exact details are a bit sketchy, but It's possible you may have been one of the two guys who rescued me during a traumatic equine episode in the open thickly weeded field near the main road.  Meandering aimlessly in the warm sunshine, I became drowsy on my mount.  Something startled the animal, causing me to slide off to larboard.  It was a new saddle and the safety stirrup failed to release.  I was dragged - now fully awake - for a distance, left hiking boot snagged and my right pushing away from the flank, thus clearing the hind legs.  My upper back and head bounced in the grass as the animal kept going at a trot.  That part of me would surely be bruised and bloodied, but as it turned out, my auspicious landing squarely on fresh manure lubricated my path so effectively, there was nary a scratch.  Sadly, the dragging was the ruination of a Pendleton shirt; a favorite aunt gave me one each Christmas.  (I gave my daughter the very last such shirt, still pristine with my name-tag sewn in the collar per regulation.)  You or maybe Doug Coupe - or both - rushed to stop the horse.  I was hosed off, examined and pronounced fit.  Being chubby, I took some ribbing for being saved by my own blubber.  Mark Twain wrote, "Children have such little charity for each others foibles."  Funnily enough, there were some female friends in my life even before the rolls fell off, so I couldn't have been a complete dweeb... just a klutz.  Colin

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Tom Lynn 09/02/13 - I really want to have a night at Durbar VII where more of these stories can be told/shared in a more structured way -- i.e, where people have planned out a little in advance to make them tellable "tales." I very much want to hear the stories about the days -- and characters -- between my father's (and Walter's/Bucky's) time and my brothers' and my time. And of course, those of us from "the last days of Pom-Bay" can share our tales for those who left in the late 50s and early 60s. (Perhaps it can be done in a PowerPoint kind of way with photos of people/places/artifacts [or props!] from the HBC archives to accompany the new Leatherstocking Tales, HBC-style.) -- Lynn, T.

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Jerry Downs 09/02/13 - [Note from Jennifer Downs]: I am pasting in a memory from AJ Downs (my Dad) who was a tutor and frequent director of plays, illustrated by this collection of remembered scenes! He gets the posts but asked me to send this in..
"Jeffie"

To HBC
MY my, the wild and wonderful goings-on while I spent my days in that dank tutoring school with one reluctant scholar after another. I did do what we called make up for the "plays" "So, what are you?" " I'm a Japanese beetle" "OooKay." I do remember sending shoemaker on a treacherous dive from the stage out the side window onto a mattress. I also "directed" a version of Peter and the Wolf, Shoemaker as Peter, Chiefie as grandfather, Pope Brock as bird. We stitched Pope into a burlap envelope tacked to a 2x4, which was hooked to a cable about ten feet up. Took about ten minutes to get him sewed into the rig. Just before curtain, Pope announced he had to go to the bathroom. "O NO YOU DON'T" He gave the performance of his life --up to that point. Now he is a big-time author. BUT, who played the wolf? the cat? also, Mouldy, aware that certain ULs had over-imbibed the night before, staged a boat race, Woozy ULs vs. Hunt H. and me. We won by so much--given UL, capsizes--that we had time to don coats and ties to sneer at the losers as they draggled in. And Chiefie--"Where you sposed to be?" he would say to aimless wanderers Back at Gilman, eminent math teacher Chandlee missed school, snowed in in W. Va. We tried to get Gamp to send a telegram--"Where you sposed to be?"
     HBC--a Never Never Land, where kids grew up without knowing it.

Steve Cunningham 09/02/13 - Jerry Downs was one of the most memorable figures for me at Hyde Bay. Whenever I smell cherry tobacco, I think of him.

Deidre Minton 09/03/13 - What I remember is Mr. Downs wonderful smile! Dee-Dee

David Dube 09/04/13 - His last line says it all -- "HBC -- a Never Never land where kids grew up without knowing it" (Still working on the 'growing up' part).

Brax Andrews 09/06/13 - Frank Deford dedicated his memoir, My Life as a Sportswriter to Jerry Downs and another man. If I recall correctly, Deford cited Mr. Downs as an inspirational figure.
Jerry Downs also wrote a beautiful eulogy for my father in 1975. I have saved it and have always been so thankful fro his kind words.

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Steve Cunningham 09/02/13 - Campers, Who remembers my brother Bob?
      I remember he was an excellent sailor, equestrian, baseball player and councilor at camp. This was unfortunately curtailed by a hardball hitting him in the eye which very nearly cost him his life. Steve

Bob Cunningham 09/06/13 - Thanks for your kind remarks. Still alive and kicking. Shirley and I spend 6 month or so cruising (most years) and the balance of the time either in VIrginia Beach (golfing, volunteering, etc.) or traveling. We are sorry to have missed the last reunion, but delighted that Steve was able to be there. We are looking forward to next year and anticipate being at the reunion. I do follow the Hyde Bay blog (at least some of the time) and will check back into camp at some point. Mac, we both enjoyed seeing and being with you for dinner in Cooperstown and hope we can do it again. Bob

Dave McManus 09/02/13 - I remember that afternoon and often think of that horrible image.

Charles Burnham 09/02/13 - Me too.  We thought it was just a bloody nose.

Charles Burnham 09/02/13 - Saw Bob at my 50th high school reunion last month!  He is alive and well!

John Mercer 09/02/13 - I remember him well - you left out that he was a very handsome guy as well. And the top water skier in camp.

Jim Main 09/02/13 - Steve, I remember your brother Bob and the awful day that we all were rushed down to the Imogene Bassett Hospital to give blood.  I remember being typed for the very first time and thought all my life that I was AB+ only to find out in the Navy that I was A+ ... I was never allowed to give blood that day as I kept passing out when they tried to find my veins ... Is Bob still with us, Steve? He hasn't checked back into camp. Would you please bring us up to date with him.  Jimain

Steve Cunningham 09/02/13 - Bob has pledged to check back into camp but has not yet found the time.
      He, and his wife, Shirley, are happy and content. Living in Va Beach affords them plenty of time to go out on his boat or play golf to their heart's content.
      Bob was owner and supervisor for a programming team who wrote the programs for LabCorp. When sold, he made plenty of money to retire.

Mac Mellor 09/06/13 - I haven’t replied to your email up to now, Jim, but your memory is very sharp. I would have said the same things exactly as you except:
      My wallet and blood type card were stolen in the late 1970s from a locker room at a Purdue gym, so I never learned if that Bassett blood work was accurate;
I too could not give blood for Bob; I recall spending time with and getting to know his parents, more fun than watching you pass out over and over (I made the last part up); At the last reunion I attended, perhaps in 2006 or 2007, there was a table for four set up for the first dinner, so Bob, Shirley and I took it;
we and had a wonderful time talking about the beaning and every other HBC morsel we could recall; The next day they went off to play golf and I saw little more of them, unfortunately. Regards, Mac

Doug Taylor 09/02/13 - I remember Bob from BHS, and hearing about the accident. I wasn't at camp when it happened. The 2 guys I remember most at camp were Jocko and Doug C.

Mac McCLelland 09/02/13 - My second year (1962), I remember Bob. He was a kick-ass water skier. In fact, he came out to the waterfront in jeans and a t-shirt one day. Someone rowed him out to the tower. He then proceeded to take off his shirt, leaving on this jeans. He sat on the end of the diving board w/just one ski on… the one that had the back foot half boot for slalom… and took off from the end of the board! He took a couple of turns around, showing some impressive rooster tails, came back and let go of the tow rope w/enough momentum for him to come back and sit down right on the tower. Very cool.

Rick Coupe 09/02/13 - Saw the name Mac McClelland below and was reminded that Mac and I had a run for a few years where we switched off winning the wind-up for swimming and water skiing every other year for our age group. I think Mac became the more accomplished water skier. I don't know how the swimming turned out.
      Regardless, Bob Cunningham a better water skier than both of us.
      As to the bathrobe, I remember it well, red with yellow lettering and trim. I always associate it with "Super" Schwartz although I'm sure it appeared in many plays after 1957.

Mac McClelland 09/03/13 - Bob was absolutely better than either of us... by a long, long shot

Mike Hilliard 09/02/13 - Steve, I remember Bob as being the really cool guy I wanted to be like. After reading the posts about how good looking he was, what a great athlete and water skier he was, it must have been really tough to follow him as his younger brother.

Steve Cunningham 09/02/13 - Yup. Bob always bested me in athletics. Though we are of the same parents, we are of different stock.

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Jim Main 08/31/13 - Hi Campers, As camp is now closed down for another summer, I can't help but remenisce about all of the great theatrical performances we've witnessed during the decades of Hyde Bay Theatre ... When I first came upon the scene in 1955 Al Kerr was the director of the theatre. In 1957 Phil Schwartz took the helm with myself and Stan Heisler backing him up; '60 &"61 were the years of Mellor and Main with Ned Atwater and many other assisting; I understand that John Mercer took over in '62 with such stalwarts as Josh Shumaker, John Diamond, and Jolly Schmick falling in succession after John ... Would anyone like to fill in the earlier years or make corrections to my recollections ... The Academy of Fine Arts somewhere must be interested in these fine thespians; but when you think of it, the real thespians were all the campers who treaded the boards each week ... In fond recollection ... Jimain, Jimain.

Stan Heuisler 09/02/13 - Okay, the famous bathrobe. When Super Schwartz was running the theater and I was assisting him, one remembers the trunk(s) of costumes backstage. One was Moldey's robe from his marine years, a bright red robe with yellow lapel and cuffs and "Treasure Island Gym" on the back. Campers used to fight to wear it in plays. Years later I walk onto the field to help coach young men at Towsontowne lacrosse, one of whom was young John Schmick. His Father Jolly makes the mistake of telling me (and here it gets mysterious) that EITHER he had the bathrobe OR knew where it was. Thus began an interchange that continued through the years my wife Betsey headed Gilman's art department whilst Jolly headed the Upper School. They were great collaborators. BUT THE BATHROBE NEVER MATERIALIZED! I am thinking of writing a short story for the New Yorker called "Lies Over Shadow Brook." Or "(Buried) Treasure Island Gym. "
BTW--I am aghast at reports of drinking and chasing Cooperstown maidens, but by that time I was in the US Army tending nuclear warheads amidst the Cuban Missle Crisis (could have used the bathrobe.)

Tom Lynn 08/31/13 - Of course, in the last years, Shoemaker & Schmick were ably assisted by the apprentice producers/writers Turner & Hebb. It would be good if we could write up some sort of "family trees" of descent for each of the departments/areas of camp. And, I absolutely KNOW that each department has its favorite stories. The last year alone, I know that Dutch Master and I had at least three good "Archery Department" stories (involving the likes of Artie Hahn and also the Horse/Riding Department). The same probably applies to the Sailing, Swimming/Waterfront/ Tennis Departments. Likewise, I know there are UL stories, Head UL stories, DayMan stories, NightMen stories, ad infinitum/nauseum... (Let the writing begin!)

Steve Cunningham 08/31/13 - Perhaps most of these stories ought best be saved for Durbar.

Mike Hilliard 08/31/13 - Oh Steve, you've got to know Tommie can't last until June.

Tom Lynn 08/31/13 - Absolutely. Fine-tuned stories by then -- and not clogging up the internet now. Don't want the NSA to go bonkers trying to figure out Woolly Ants, Perfigliano, and the like...

Deidre Minton 09/01/13 - Yes, Even the female "mascots" have wonderful memories! I too remember the little dams in the stream. And I had the joy of being in at least two plays that I remember with Josh and Jolly as directors. In one I was one of the seven dwarfs in a Snow White spoof and in another a go-go dancer (cage and all)! Such wonderful chilhood summers! I also have great memories as a camper at Minnetoska down the road from Hyde Bay but am sworn to secrecy there; part of the girl scout code of honor ;)
Dee-Dee

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Tom Lynn 08/30/13 - All this back and forth merely demonstrates one thing -- Durbar VII can't come soon enough!

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Doug Cornish 08/30/13 - Those trips to town and the cracker gunpowder balls that one could throw at the ground and hear a pop. Don't forget the pork rind bait bottles that we used to fish with.
Yep, there are quite a few memories listed presiding in my mind set.
Douglas "Corny Cornball" Cornish

Doug Cornish 08/30/13 - Opps,  PS....forgot the notes.  Doug Cornish
[ Doug's poen and musical score has been added to our "Camp Cheers and Songs" page.
http://www.hydebay.net/Cheers-Songs/CampCheers.html ]

Steve Cunningham 08/30/13 - Gentlemen, Doug Cornish's poem and musical score has been added to our "Camp Cheers and Songs" page. For those of you who are sitting at your piano, go to:
http://www.hydebay.net/Cheers-Songs/CampCheers.html
Steve

Jennifer Downs 08/30/13 - Hey Guys (Gentlemen), There are a few "women" out here too getting these e-mails every few hours....so just keep that in mind when you address the throngs scattered out across the country.... We are watching you, as we did back in the day...
Jeffie (Jennifer) Downs and Suzie (Susan) Carlton. We are blocking off the dates in June of 2014 and seeing if we can have out own little walk down memory lane....
All the best, gentlemen
Jeffie (Jennifer ) Downs :)

Bruce Rice 08/30/13 - My bad – adolescent thinking took over for just a moment. Bruce

Mike Hilliard 08/30/13 - Yea, and you're sending all this filth to my pure little sister, Deidre Hilliard, shame on you!

Bruce Rice 08/30/13 - My bad. Instead of getting senile, I momentarily got adolescent, maybe both. Bo

Mike Hilliard 08/30/13 - No sweat, I bet Dee-Dee got some great laughs out of it.

Colin Murray 08/30/13 - Dear Ladies, As I pointed out the other day, most of us guys never really grow up.  In addition, we're linear thinkers; we tend to gnaw at one chew-toy at a time until it's used up.  The most powerful distraction will, of course, appeal to a baser instinct.  So now, as we age more and more toward decrepitude, the 'diet' is indeed strict... but we can still read the 'menu.'  An apology, however, can also be interpreted as an excuse.  So it is what it is, ladies.  God made only two varieties, only one of which is perfect.  Respectfully, Colin

David Dube 09/01/13 - Bravo! Fine response!
     I must say however, that as I age I am not only prone to more 'typos' but also what I will gently refer to as 'reado's. So I read Jeffie's words "throngs scattered out across the country" as "thongs scattered out across the country". My brain then did an "Oh my!" Until I reread it, second time as it was written. Apologies to all, especially Jeffie, but clearly there is still a raging adolescent lurking somewhere beneath this camper's surface here... D2

Don Pete 09/01/13 - lol

Steve Cunningham 08/30/13 - Dear ladies and gentlemen, Leave it to a women to make all of us guys feel guilty about what we have commented, but I believe Jennifer was referring simply to my salutation of "gentlemen" instead of the above - not the reminiscences of bawdy nights with beer and local girls, gross memories, etc. Steve C.

Jennifer Downs 08/30/13 - Oh my...well, it was the word "gentleman" and not any bawdiness. Just want you to know that you have a mixed audience. Thanks to Dede for speaking up too.
      When Suzie and I met this summer we spilled over with memories and laughs..especially the lake, and making dams on the little stream by the Rustleorum (sp?)
      We all remember the time Doug Coup was in a play and as the character, got so rowdy that the actor who played Mr Hilliard, stuffed him into the "kiln" on stage. After a few minutes, out walked my 4 year old, blond blue eyed brother John in Doug Coup's gigantic boots, looking like Doug had shrunk to a fraction of his former size. Brought down the house and started my brother on his short but illustrious career on the stage.
      Such a great place, that camp...very vivid in so many ways. I have always loved the dark, rich soil in that part of the world, so different from the orangish clay in Maryland. Ahhh well.. Cheers
Jennifer (Jeffie) Downs

Susan (Carlton) Hopkins - NO CENSORSHIP....much too amusing and interesting!! However, it is causing my husband to have some second thoughts on my "stroll down memory lane" this summer with Jeffie!! :) Great memories flooding my mind here in Sarasota!

Deidre Minton 08/30/13 - I can handle it!! :) Though I do love that I still have a big brother who protects me! :) Just wish I could be there in June 2014; however, I will be on an international flight back from the Holy Land as you all gather.
Dee-Dee

David Dube 08/07/13 - One of a few lines that I have yet to erase from my head (though I have tried mightily) -- "Ostentatious whippersnapper, on your head I'll crush a clapper, from a nearby churchyard steeple, that I've used on other people." Was it Tim Bennet's line in the play, or was it Josh's line? Ahhh, the vagaries of memory (Methinks I did recite these lines once before on these pages. The line I recall, penned by Josh, but coulda been Jolly).
      What about the song and dance routine at the beginning of each night's plays -- others can adjust the words, but went something like:
     "Something for Mouldy,
      Something for Betty,
      Something for everyone--
      A COMEDY tonight!"
So, how did it go really? DHD

Doug Coupe 08/30/13 - Hey all, while we reminisce. How good were the "fizzies"? What was Chiefie's deal with the white towel around his neck? How about the Director's call for UL's? How about "edging"? (placing two of the legs of a bed at the edge of the tent platform and watching the result when an unsuspecting tent mate tent sat on his bed). How about those guys who received "care packages" from home every week only to have tent mates consume the contents, with or without the recipient's knowledge, within 8 hours! The grinding of gears on the old Chevy truck as runs to the dump began and some great lines on the Hyde Bay stage." Bread, Bread, the actor cried and the curtain came down with a roll"! "Sire, Sire, the peasants are revolting, the peasants are revolting." "Of course they're revolting, that's why they're peasants! And you all thought Rodney Dangerfield had something on the esteemed Hyde Bay Players! Just a few musings while traveling on the Rhine to Amsterdam, on a ship, not by canoe! Keep all the good memories alive and plan for Durbar next year.
Doug Coupe aka Plop

Stan Heuisler 08/30/13 - The line was "Sire, the peasants are revolting." Then the King said "of course they're revolting, they're disgusting."

Colin Murray 08/30/13 - A memory from the theater: Ricky's manic/celebratory 'dance' made it to the stage to the delight of all. I've forgotten the context in which it occurred, but the accompanying lyric was, "Ra-cha-cha-cha-CHUNG-gay & ditto. Colin

John Diamond 08/30/13 - And I recall lyrics to a song set to a Beatles number that never made it to the stage. Perhaps David Pickett can fill in the lines I've missed:
He was only 33 
When they nailed him
To the tree
Insert missing lines
Oh how could I worship another
When I saw him hanging there...
Regard,
John D.

John Mercer 08/30/13 - A great set of memories, Doug. But if you were in a canoe, couldn't you strap several canoes side by side and use a poncho for a sail? Just sayin'.
jon-jon

John Mercer 08/30/13 - Hyde Bay Quiz of the Day - Department of Definitions. Define "grotch house"? Or is my memory deluding me?
jon-jon

Scott Carlton 08/30/13 - John, et al: Near to the besstest I can recall a "grotch house" was a large assemblage of ponchos collected from many individuals and then spread out together as if they had, 1) no seams and 2) not much in internal support. I think they were intended to float somewhere around 3 1/2 to 4 feet off the ground and were wishfully considered to be waterproof. Silly us.

Winston Wood 08/30/13 - In a variation of a grotch house, Fluh and I built -- well, we tried to build -- a sauna on a Trenton Falls trip, snapping together a couple of those heavy Marine ponchos we all had. As they say on TV, don't try this at home.
I was a first-year UL and we were on that island in the middle of the Hinckley Reservoir we always camped on before heading on to West Canada Creek. We'd settled in early, still plenty of daylight, and Fluh noticed lots of nice bowling ball sized rocks scattered around the island. I don't remember what inspired him -- maybe he wanted the kids to keep busy before dinner or maybe it was his Finnish genes kicking in-- but with me leading one group and him the other, we told the kids to start collecting rocks which we used to build a circular wall maybe eight feet across and four feet high. We "roofed" it with the ponchoes, leaving a vent for the smoke to get out from the fire we lit to heat other rocks on which to splash water from the lake to create steam to,... well, you get the picture. It sort of worked, but truth be told it was as smokey as it was steamy and the day was so warm that you'd have worked up a good sweat just sitting in it for half an hour as with the steam bath. Then we ran to the lake and jumped in. Oh, the happy long ago.

John Mercer 08/30/13 - Scott Carlton wins the Tootsie Roll, but not for his cynicism, which, while hard earned through experience, no doubt, does not become a camper. In his defense, I will point out that no matter how great the internal support nor how strongly imagined was the seamlessness, grotch houses proved themselves always to be first cousins to the showers adjoining the mechanical kooks: think wet and unpleasant.

Blake Goldsmith 08/30/13 - Wow what memories from the great picture of the iconic Indian Hunter with his loyal dog –to Bruce and Jolly drinking beer chilled in Lake Otsego- to Doug writing poetry and downing fizzies-
      I will add one more good one. I was watching John Mercer (or was it Tom) playing tennis in the finals of the counselor match. He was playing poorly and in cosmic frustration he threw his racquet out of the court and into the woods –never saw a tennis racquet fly that far into the air. He calmly picked up another racquet and without saying a word proceeded to make a startling comeback and win the match.
BTW would love to see Roger Federer win one more US Open next week although Murray is looking very solid.

John Mercer 08/30/13 - Since it was the finals, it must have been tom-tom, who was by far the better tennis player, though both of us were capable of the poor sportsmanship described.
jon-jon

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David Dube 08/29/13 - All, Once again, the New York State Fair is beginning to wind down, the nights are shorter and cooler, and wind-up week, and wind-up activities are over (at least in my mind) -- camp is 'over'. But, clearly as this conversation suggests, it is NEVER OVER for us all.
      And to throw another recollection into the pond of memories to see what might ripple across the surface -- does anyone out there still have their Hyde Bay Camp 'trunk'? I have spent a lot of time pondering the imprint of THAT camp on my 'development', and last night I was struck with just how mighty the sub-liminal effects of living out of a trunk for a summer have been. I had no idea when I was 9 years old what it would require to 'go to camp'. Yet, for many summers managed wonderfully to 'live out of a trunk'. A small non-delux model at that. For those glorious months of summer, living a minimalistic life, and totally 'evolving', what could have been better?
      Down-sizing, small footprint? I think that trunk living allowed me to develop a hearty sense of self-reliance, and security. Though I have had the luxury at times of owning a lot of stuff, NEVER needed it. ?Off to college? That same trunk fit EASILY in the back of my VW beetle, and I could get my 'whole life' back and forth to college. Without any fear or concern that my 'stuff' might not be enough.
      Now, when I vacation (except if I need to bring golf clubs), I NEVER bring more than 'carry on'. No matter how long the stay. One can always find a way to clean the clothes.
      And, I STILL have that beat up old trunk. I keep old pictures in it now. Isn't that co-incidence? And maybe now that I understand why I haven't parted with it -- perhaps it is now expendable. It served me well.
Still rippling, DHDube

Tom Lynn 08/29/13 - Good question! Of course, we/I still have the old Hyde Bay trunks. When we cleared out my parents' house, in the attic there were the trunks -- along with the bunk sheets and laundry bags on the top "level"! With our names nicely printed with those old "laundry pens." I will still occasionally come upon some long-ago undershirt with the same inked name -- as well as, perhaps, a small shirt with a name label ("Tommy Lynn") sewn in. Ah, the ongoing artifacts of a glorious "civilization." And, David, I trust you didn't "live out of" that one trunk alone. No self-respecting experienced HBC camper wouldn't have created that most utilitarian of "pre-recyclable era" recyclable: the night stand! -- Lynn, T. (<-- imagine this written in black laundry pen ink)

Phil Claussen 08/29/13 - Dr. Dube, Hope this finds you well and enjoying the NY State Fair which I always used to race at during Labor Day. Amazingly I still have my trunk, brought it to college, and still keep pictures in it. It is tucked away and still has a worn sticker in the upper left of the Hyde Bay logo. I can remember using it also as a safe to keep care packages safe from wandering skunks. As usual you are right on target and thanks for the memories.
Best Regards, Dr. Phil Claussen D.C.

David Dube 08/29/13 - Thanks Phil, Of particular interest to me is the area on the inside of my trunk where some of the cheap finish coat has been ripped off. As I recall, when I went to college I felt that I had grown out of that Hyde Bay Logo, so I tried to peel it off. Naturally, I would love to have the thing back on there now!
      So, you still have your foot lockeer as well. Would be interesting to poll the crowd to see how many still have theirs. Can I mention to the HBC blog that you sent me this note, and that you still have yours? D2. PS -- thanks for the reply.

Phil Claussen 08/29/13 - You certainly can use our memories. My foot locker was also used as a "coffee table" with a towel on it throughout the college years. Now they have IKEA. In my trunk they had the thick cardboard tray. The paper is peeling slightly but the outside has remained unmarred despite basement floodings and garage varmints. Be that we could get value out of all our objects for all those years. Best Regards, Dr. Phil Claussen

Page West 08/29/13 - I still own a marine poncho with the name label "Tiger Reid" stitched into it.
      And yes, I too still own my trunk. It still has the deerslayer sticker on it.
Strawberry shortcake, huckleberry pie, Page West

Jim Main 08/30/13 - Add one more to those still hanging onto their ole Hyde Bay trunk complete with the Pathfinder sticker (or was it the Deerslayer or deerstalker sticker) on it. The trunk dated back to 1949 when it was first seen at the end of my bunk at a YMCA Camp on Lake George ... It wasn't until 1955 that it found its way to Ft Plains station on the NY Central Line ... Ah those train rides from New York and/or Baltimore ... Brings back a whole new world of smells and memories ... Jimain

Tom Lynn 08/30/13 - Actually, it's "Indian Hunter" -- as in a Native American, hunting with his dog. It's often been misidentified over the years as "our" Deerslayer/Hawkeye/Leatherstocking/Natty Bumppo.
http://www.centralparknyc.org/visit/things-to-see/south-end/indian-hunter.html

David Pickett -8/30/13 - Of course, the local copy of that sculpture inspired the Camp Logo:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27332539@N07/4664795168/

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Rusty Pickett 08/28/13 - Campers, next year is the 45th anniversary of the closing of HBC. Accordingly the contract with the Otesaga has been signed for Durbar 2014. Save the Dates: Thurs June 25, 2014 through Sunday June 29th. SAVE THE DATES! I will have registration info out soon! Thanks! Have a great day,
Rusty

Tom Lynn 08/28/13 - Not to look too far ahead, but I'm assuming this means the following Durbar would come, after a 5-year hiatus, in 2019 -- to coincide with the 50th? God willing and the Lake don't rise, of course...  (Now where's that 2019 calendar of mine...?)

Rusty Pickett 08/28/13 - We’ll determine that at Durbar! Rusty

Blake Goldsmith 08/28/13 - Rusty -The Otsego sounds good to me instead of a tent for any future reunions !

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Blake Goldsmith 08/27/13 - Hi Campers, Thanks for rekindling powerful memories. For me the sense of smell is a driver to harken back to our camping days by the great lake.
      Someone mentioned the smell of aluminum and grit when you drank from a canteen. How about the smell of the tents after a rain, the Hacker gagging you with gas as you aqua- planned through Lake Otsego, the smell of seaweed as you raked muck as a UL or raced in the regatta, the smell of Henry’s great food as you walked into the dining room starving after 4 hours of running around, the smell of the old Woodie bus (not my favorite smell) as you drove to Natty Bumpo’s cave, the smell of dust as you swept the wooden tent floors, the smell of the clay tennis court as you kicked up dust sliding for a cross court forehand from Freddy Gale, the smell of horse poop as Steve saddled you up for a ride on the old baseball field ruled by Fleur (AKA Todd Mulvenny who once saved me from getting my butt kicked by mouthing off to someone much bigger than me), the musty smell of Shadowbrook after a rain as you paddled down the river looking for clues during the Nature Hunt set up by Frank Pine –I believe we won one year and got go into town and watch Gregory Peck and Anthony Quinn scale a mountainous cliff in The Guns of Navaronne.
      Perhaps my favorite memory was the sight and smell of the great bonfire at seasons end with Henry’s barbecue chicken sizzling. Moldy was a great MC for this spectacle and kept us all excited and laughing. It is Bonfire season for ghosts of memories past somewhere in upstate New York.
      One last thought –in the picture above I just reunited with my high school roommate last week who I had not seen since 1967. The joy of seeing him after all these years is reflected in the picture above and the reason why staying in touch with old friends is so important to us old geezers.

      PS --A shout out to Hunt Hilliard as a great math teacher at Gilman who tried to teach me how to work with my hands. I was not a good student but he got me and many others to step up to the plate.
Best wishes, Blake

Jim Maine 08/27/13 - Blake ... I had a math teacher once who taught me how to work with my hands, but I couldn't get past 10. There's a tent play in there somewhere ... Jimain

Mike Hilliard 08/27/13 - Blake, Thanks so much for mentioning my father in such a positive note. One of the things that thrilled him was his ability to connect with kids who were more successful in the shop than they were in the classroom.
      You can relive the smell and taste of the barbequed chicken served at the camp's final barbeque. The recipe is available on the Hyde Bay Camp web site at: http://www.hydebay.net/FinalBBQrecipe.html thanks to the efforts of our fine web master, Steve Cunningham. I made it this weekend, and it is delicious. Mike Hilliard

Tom Lynn 08/27/13 - Good reminiscences, Blake! These days, as summer winds down, I will often go outside during the day and feel just enough of a nice warm sun on the back of my neck during a less-humid, "cooling" day and feel like I've just stepped out of Tent 14. Or, the night breeze will hit me in such a brisk way that I'll feel like I've just awoken in the middle of the night while on my bunk in Tent 4 -- and being a little scared of what sounds coming from that path up to the kooks and the stables might have awoken me ... -- Lynn, T.

Don Peet 08/27/13 - Wow. All those smells bring back memories of those wonderful days at Hyde Bay. Thanks for sharing. I remeber one treasure hunt that required a snake. Me and my partner, Butch O'Dell (?), could be called Indiana Jones when it came to snakes. We found one, a big garden snake, that neither one of us dared pick up until one of us bashed its head with a big rock. We brought it back to camp barely alive!
      I remember the year I passed the sailing test and took out one of the Comets the next day after milk and cookies. The wind was from C-town, and I headed for Clark's Point, a solid beam reach, and we brought the sails in for going to weather. We made it to the, o, maybe the raft before capsizing. After we got the boat bailed I went to Dayman, Eddie Brown, to check in, and he told how much he enjoyed watching my first sailing adventure, and explained to me the reason for the capsize.
      Ah, the joys of days of yore.

Charles Burnham 08/27/13 - The smells keep coming back! The tooth brush/paste cubbies at the wash stands. The box of new gimp opened to dole out to campers. The chocolate smell in your trunk from the hidden goodies. The sugar babies. Henry had some cooking smells the northern boys had never smelled such as the greens, corn bread squares, hominy grits. Once we even had some sort of deep fried corn pone. The fresh laundry as it came back toward the end of the week. Ginger snaps with milk! The three-holer above UL City. The musty book smell of the tutoring rooms. The mat smells at the Russelorium. Even the hymnals in the theater had an odor (which I still relate to religion!) The skunk cabbage up from the beach-muck shores. One year we had a new tent with a STRONG canvas waterproofing smell (creosote?). I'm sure I missed a lot but enjoy hearing from others!

Tom Lynn 08/27/13 - Best smells were of those Sunday lunches (more like a dinner) of either Henry's fried chicken or roast turkey wafting up the main grove from the kitchen -- or, the warm-surge-of-the-smells of breakfast (pancakes, eggs, bacon, coffee, oatmeal/mush) that pulled you out of the brisk morning air as you dragged yourself through the swinging dining room doors at 7:45 AM when that cloud of white mist hung over Otsego.

David Dube 08/27/13 - One more smell to add to the list -- I remember going out with Mr. Hilliard to harvest clay. We went in an old pick-up next to the covered bridge over Shadow Brook. There on the creek bank he showed us campers the grey slimey mud. We walked 30 yards, slid down the side, then began digging buckets of grey clay/mud. Does anyone recall the smell of that clay? It was both musty AND earthy. Almost the same smell after an Otsego when all of us would make damns on the little drainage ditch.
       And then of course, that same mud would smell so different any time that the kiln was opened.... Often with creations that had exploded because we hadn't completely 'pounded out the air' before making our masterpieces.
      One of many lessens in working through failure, to finally achieve an 'un-exploded' masterpiece.
DHDube

John Diamond 08/27/13 - I don't want to spoil the party talking about smells, but may I add to the list the subject of sounds? For me it was sleeping in a canvas tent on a rainy night. That sound is still magnetic.

Mike Hilliard 08/27/13 - I remember that smell & digging that clay with a post hole digger. The few pieces of pottery I made never blew up, but I had the master consistently reminding me what would happen if I did not pound it long enough. I remember checking it by slicing the clay ball in 1/2 with a piece of wire. Mike Hilliard

Blaise deSibour 08/27/13 - Greetings Hyde Bay Alumni, It has been wonderful to read all the comments and memories about camp. Being a youngster here and having only gotten to go to the last three years of camp at age 7-9 it is fun to relive the past that I don't remember all that well until someone jogs a bit of a memory that lies way in the back of my brain. If my dad (Blaise deSibour Jr. aka, I Think, Diz) were still with us and computer literate he would have loved the stories and would have certainly added many of his own. Some of my memories were aqua plaining, trying without success to water ski, the water ski instructor doing a dock start off the top of the tower/slide and actually succeeding, and mucking and making dams in the stream by the craft shop. Another fond memory was deciding to swim my A test at age 7 and when I got to the end deciding to swim back. We were a little late to dinner but I could then canoe to shadow brook alone. Thanks for bringing these wonderful times back into the front part of my brain. I wish camp could have run for many more years for me to enjoy like my dad and many of you did.
Thanks for the good times!!! Blaise deSibour III

Tom Lynn 08/27/13 - Luckily, I was one of the few councilors who can proudly claim to have had young Blaise as a camper. Blaise was the quintessential Hyde Bay camper -- even as one of the youngest of campers. It's sad that you were so young that you can't quite remember all the wonders of those years, but everybody who was there certainly remembers you. As the youthful trio of deSibour, Ewing, and Reid covered every inch of that camp and waterfront, it was a joy to experience. Whenever some of the "older" campers get together to tell the old stories, Blaise, please know that your name often comes up! Hope to see you at the Durbar next year. -- Tom Lynn

William M. Ewing 08/27/13 - Hey Blaise: Like you I was a late comer during 1965-1968 and have enjoyed reading the remembrances of so many. For me the smell of that pizza that Pierre Black and Pitts brought to the tent in the middle of the night was one to remember! By the way has anyone heard the whereabouts of my old friend Tiger Reid? We lost touch about 20 years ago.
Best regards, Bill

Tom Lynn 08/27/13 - Most interesting that I responded to Blaise's email and mentioned Billy Ewing and Tiger Reid just as Billy was responding to Blaise and mentioning Tiger Reid -- as the Circle Of Hyde Bay Life...

Paul Pickett 08/27/13 - I have many cool memories of Hyde Bay (as another young end-of-camper), but one of my favorites was building dams in the creek by the Russelorum during a rain storm. We had fun trying to build one above the others, building them really big, then breaking the top-most to wipe out the ones below. Should it be surprising that I turned to an engineering career? Or that I conducted water quality studies of the dams on the Columbia River system?
      One other cool side note was that as I was digging clay out of the stream bank for a dam, I found a beautiful Indian flint spearpoint. I kept it for years until it was stolen along with a few other priceless treasures. Paul

Bruce Rice 08/28/13 - As Blaise’s first councilor, I still can hear his screams as he arrived (at lunch a day late), which were audible as soon as they turned into the Hyde Bay driveway, and did not stop for two days. Only thing worse was Whit Fish’s waking the camp one night with his screaming from a nightmare. Bo

Colin Murray 08/28/13 - Very comforting to learn the camp 'experience' continued unchanged for the young'uns after '64, my last summer there. Odd circumstances prevented my return for more - like being forced to get married (Just kidding on that count: t'was nothing so dramatic).
It's true, smells will evoke very early memories. Those mentioned pretty much 'cover the waterfront.' As curious young cubs, we stuck our noses into everything. It's a wonder some of us didn't contract aspergillosis (King Tut's curse) from the ancient piles of costumes. But Nurse Betty, Mother-to-us-all, probably had a cure for that, too.
      I can imagine that in mid-decade with the proliferation of mass media (live and in color), pop culture found its way onto the HBTheater stage more than ever before. Surely there were some vignettes poking fun at grungy hippies. Given the 'solid' background of most campers, the drug culture remained an area that likely presented no temptations. We were smarter and better directed than that, right?
      Again, thanks to all for the viscerally evocative memories. Colin

John Hebb 08/28/13 - From Tent 17: The only sound better than the wake-up horn in the morning was hearing a muted wake-up horn. Knowing that someone had climbed on the roof of the dining hall and stuffed the horn always made me laugh.

Jim Lynn - 08/28/13 - Skip, how about the sound of your counselor saying "wake up, I have the pizza" as he opens up the Pratt pizza box?

John Hebb 08/28/13 - Skip, how about the sound of your counselor saying "wake up, I have the pizza" as he opens up the Pratt pizza box?

Brax Andrews 08/28/13 - I remember playing lovie dovey with on of the Pratt girls in 1966. She used to send me perfumed love letters which Moldy would share with everyone at mealtime. He did not read the letter, but he let everyone know about it. Man, she dumped me like a hot rock near the end of the summer. Probably a smart move. Brax Andrews

Tom Lynn 08/28/13 - And Mouldy very angry, right?

Rusty Pickett 08/28/13 - I was doing my walk in the rain the other day with an umbrella and felt the same thing – very cozy and comforting feeling for me! Rusty

Mike Hilliard 08/28/13 - When I hear rain on a roof at night, it always reminds of the rain hitting the tent's canvass at Hyde Bay. Such peaceful sounds and thoughts. Mike Hilliard

Colin Murray 08/28/13 - El & I camped under canvas when our daughter was a child.  I passed along what I learned about tents at HBC:  Do not touch the  interior canvass when it's raining.  Of course, she had to confirm my admonition a the wrong time under the worst conditions.  An uncomfortable night was had by all.  Colin

Blake Goldsmith 08/28/13 - Ditto for me Colin, I took my son for his intro to Boy Scouts and he strategically started a leak above my head after I had told him not to touch the inside of the tent as it would cause a leak. The leak was major and only over my bed as he slept soundly as the water was dripping on my head and feet. This was like a scene from a Chevy Chase movie as I tried to position myself away from the leak.
      I eventually had to build a makeshift tent outside with a poncho and strings attached to nearby trees as the rain continued to pour at 3 in the morning. I was 55 years old at the time and had not camped in 20 years . I put the bed (the same type of bed we had at Hyde Bay underneath the new gerry rigged poncho. The poncho /tent collapsed on me 30 minutes later. It was like throwing a bucket of cold water on my head at 4 am just as I had finally fallen back to sleep. My wife of course though it was hysterically funny since she stayed home and figured a good bucket of cold water was just what I needed to end delusions that we would ever go any future camping trips.

Jim Main 08/28/13 - It took 52 years for me to camp out under a tent since Hyde Bay, but last weekend, my wife and I took out our tent, sleeping bags and cots to share a night "under the stars" at Foster City's second Relay for Life, raising money for the American Cancer Society. She is a phase IV lung cancer patient and an ovarian Cancer survivor of 18 years, and this was her first time ever camping out. Everything was fine until the 5:00AM kooks call with the portable potties across the meadow and the dew heavy on the lawn with a slight mist falling. That may be our last camping out, but it sure reminded me of my nights on Mt. Nebo, along the Susquehanna and on Iwo Hinkley near Trenton Gorge ... Smells? Ah, the roar of the grease paint and the smell of the crowds in the back stage area every Saturday night; I'll never forget it ... Jimmain

Bruce Rice 08/30/13 - Ah those nights down by the Susquehanna, a six pack (probably bought by Pierre or Jolly) dangling from a string in the cool waters), you with Ms. Pratt, and me with Paula (the police chief’s daughter). I learned a new word that Summer – blueballs.
      Perhaps another opening (after smells, trunks, etc.) for ongoing discussions of Hyde Bay memories – The Ladies of Lake Otsego – perhaps led by Chooch, who I believe got a little further than the rest of us. Bo

Brax Andrews 08/30/13 - Well We had to try and carry on a tradition. BA

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Charles Burnham 08/27/13 - As many Hyde Bay Alumni may recall our Al Kerr went on to become Headmaster at Berwick Academy in South Berwick Maine. Because of his influence many Hyde Bay alumns went to Berwick including myself, Kent and Brad Damon.

     A new portrait of Al Kerr will be unveiled at a reception next month. The reception will be in the Commons Lounge at Berwick Academy on Friday, September 20 from 5:30 - 7 p.m. Head of School Greg Schneider will say a few words, as will Bob Acheson, who painted the portrait. Others who wish to offer a memory of Dr. Kerr are encouraged to do so but I ask that they contact me beforehand. Refreshments will be served. There is no charge for the event, but alumni may make a contribution to the Kerr Scholarship Fund if they wish.

     The Kerr family will attend, including Dr. Kerr's wife Rae and his daughter Jean. His son Stuart may be able join us.

     Please RSVP to Kathryn Strand at kstrand@berwickacademy.org or 207-384-6307.

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Peter Callahan 08/25/13 - Hello all X Hyde Bay Campers!
      Your comments bring forth many fine memories of my four summers at Hyde Bay: riding the "Woody" into Town and watching the pavement through the floorboards, tennis on clay courts, sailing comets, stuffing the horn the last morning of camp and the great bonfires ending the summer,all good.
Best Regards,
Peter Callahan

Colin Murray 08/25/13 - Methinks there are no Ex-HB campers... but that's merely a technicality. Former, maybe; but all except sourpusses would consider themselves active-for-life in their hearts; the memories are just too good. Surely that's what you meant. BTW, were you once part of a small cadre - including myself - who refloated the African Queen? She sank once more during the Regatta, so it wasn't a complete failure.
Greetings back at you, Colin.

Mike Hilliard 08/25/13 - When I was a young cop in Baltimore, I received a royal chewing out by a Sergeant when I referred to him as an ex Marine. He let me know in no uncertain terms there are no ex Marines. There are former Marines.
     I agree with Colin. We are not former campers. We are all still campers. My wife loves watching a group of mature men become Hyde Bay Campers when she shares Durbar with us.
Mike Hilliard

Tom Lynn 08/25/13 - And my dad was a 91-year-(and 3-and-a-half-month)-old "Hyde Bay Boy" when he breathed his last. (Dad was 88 at his last Durbar. Perhaps we should have an award at each Durbar for the oldest returning Hyde Bay Boy -- to go along with the Plumbers Award... ) -- Lynn, T.

Rusty Pickett 08/25/13 - Great idea Tommy – I’ll have to come up with something!
Thanks! Have a great day, Rusty

John Hebb 08/25/13 - Mike: Point well taken.

Deidre Minton 08/25/13 - Just my opinion, but I don't think it takes a Durbar for you guys to change from a group of mature men to Hyde Bay campers. Judging from all the back and forth in these emails, it just takes a little nudge and I too love watching it! :) My big brother and my adopted big brothers make me smile! Love you guys!
Dee-Dee (Hilliard)

Colin Murray 08/25/13 - Didn't you know, DeeDee, that most guys never really grow up; we just collect bigger toys, is all. That three-year maturity advantage you gals have in childhood, I believe remains for the duration. "...iss true, the woman is, houh, smahtah." - H.Bellafonte

Bill Bergstom 08/27/13 - "Mature" (hee hee) men or campers, any nightman can tell you the back and forth never subsides.....

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Tom Lynn 08/24/13 - Very ticked off when reading this week's Cooperstown Crier. The top front page story is "Memories of lake, camps shared at meeting." Although these "camps" were mostly concerning the lakefront cabins built in the late 1800s and early 1900s and called "camps" (because people were really "camping" when they stayed/convened at those cabins), they did mention of few of the camps that we know. However, HBC was not mentioned. They mentioned Camp Minnetoska, both Boys & Girl Scouts camps, Ethical Culture, Pathfinder Lodge, Camp Fenimore, and, yes... even Camp Chenango. Probably would have been good if we'd had a Hyde Bay boy there. Chenango was brought up by a "Burt Southworth" -- who must be a C-town resident, I suppose. Think I'll send the Crier a letter to the editor...

Doug Cornish 08/25/13 - Go gettem guys!

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John Mercer 08/23/13 - I found this Hyde Bay laundry ticket in the bottom of one of my drawers:

     Doug Cornish 08/24/13 - Relics like that trigger patterns in my memory that are automatically favorable tracing a pathway to blissful thinking. The future thoughts of Hyde Bay will play nicely. Doug

     John Hebb 08/24/13 - This is an amazing find, second only to Louis Leakey's work at Olduvai Gorge.

     Colin Murray 08/24/13 - The latest airing of dirty HBC laundry, so to speak, reminded me, of all things, of the annual race to pick out a mattress.

     Mike Hilliard 08/24/13 - This is going to sound weird. The laundry ticket find was interesting, but did little for me. My Mom, Wilma Hilliard, had me bring my laundry to her each week. She would take it to town and do it with the family's laundry. So, I never used a laundry ticket. Spoiled huh. Mike Hilliard

     Fred Gale 08/24/13 - I would call this smart, not spoiled!

     Tom Lynn 08/24/13 - Of course, never thought about "underwear" as a sub-category of "pants" until I was at HBC and had to fill out this list. Actually, iIt was at HBC that I heard, and adopted, the term "u-trou" for underwear -- much better description of them. Nothing like communal male living/bonding to "advance" the language...  (And, I think that HBC was the first place I met people who went "commando," too.) -- Lynn, T.

Tom Lynn 08/24/13 - Better than mailing it back home (to Baltimore) which is what I was always told Bucky Turner had done in his camper days...

David Dube 08/24/13 - Why is it that EVERY year at this time, my mind in a sort of reflex action goes to 'wind-up' week and activities. I start dreaming of bonfires, and yearn for simpler times with brighter days, and COLD Otsego nights, sometimes with the sleeping bag over the bed linens just to insure warmth....
Wishing you all a wonderful 'wind-up' to your summers,
David H. Dube MD, CMD, perpetual camper,etc

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John Mercer 08/23/13 - John sent this in Yesterday:.

Harry Parker Honored on the Charles
"Harvard Magazine," 08/19/13

ROWERS OF MANY generations reunited at Harvard on Saturday morning, August 17, to get into racing shells and row past Newell Boathouse in honor of their mentor, the late Harry Parker. Many were wearing the same shirts they had rowed in as collegians, a tribute, in part, to how meaningful their crew experience under Parker had been. A number of rowing luminaries joined them on the dock, including Vyacheslav Nikolayevich Ivanov, the Russian single sculler who won Olympic gold medals in 1956, 1960, and 1964; Parker, too, rowed in the 1960 Games, finishing fifth behind Ivanov.

That afternoon, many of the rowers gathered for a memorial service for Parker at Memorial Church, followed by a “Henley style” tea reception on the banks of the Charles River.

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Jocko McQuilkin 08/12/13 - Mac and I met for dinner in Atlanta Saturday night. It was a very special mini reunion.

     I would say we covered all the ground of five decades or so ago: Hillsy of course, our triumphs and resounding defeats as doubles tennis partners (well we didn't actually talk about that last part), every McManus who ever walked the HBC beach muck, 8" regattas, D. Coupe and H. Billedeau (sp) who terrorized Mac, the strange disappearance of one Edward Atwater who remains MIA, even Beezer (aka Leslie Manning) although most of you will probably not remember him.

     It was hard to say goodbye to Mac as I returned home and he to his hotel room to prepare for the second leg to Hilton Head Island. It always astonishes me how clear those days at Hyde Bay were. It seemed like Mac and I recalled every detail, every camper, every theatrical event for Hyde Bay was for me always about theater.

     This was the real Camelot. Fondly, Jocko

Rob Maslin 08/12/13 - I attended Hyde Bay 1952,53,&54. I do remember "Beezer."

Tom Lynn 08/12/13 - Jocko, your final comment is most apt! I was up on the lake this past week and a half. Got back yesterday. Last Monday I attended "Camelot" at the Glimmerglass Opera House (aka Alice Busch Theater), though I think they now call it Glimmerglass Festival -- perhaps in order not to scare away the non-opera folks (they have one Broadway musical each year).

Anyway, later that day I was taking my first kayak trip from the cottage on Peggs Point over to "Hyde Bay." As I came in to the overgrown, but still recognizable, beachfront and camp, the title song began to waft over me.

"In short, there's simply not
A more congenial spot ...
... than here
In Camelot!"

Couldn't quite make the rhyme substitution, but certainly could replace those last three syllables with three others: "...than here at Hyde Bay Camp!"

Kept humming it over and over as I paddled back to Peggs Point. (The last day I again paddled by the HBC site as I continued on and had a fantastic, surreally quiet trip, past the covered bridge, down Shadow Brook.)
-- Lynn, T.

Ps And last year's Glimmerglass musical was "The Music Man." Certainly a "musical" connection to HC in that, from the Director on down, and over the years, there were SO many "Music Men" at Hyde Bay Camp who were able to cast a spell over so many young boys -- and make them believe they could do anything -- and have FUN at it... while enjoying each other's company so much!

Jocko McQuilkin 08/12/13 - If only Richard Burton could sing...he's no Robert Goulet although I saw them and Julie Andrews in the original Broadway production. I can picture you kayaking to camp...hope you did not get caught up in the Hacker buoy.

Bill Bergstrom 08/13/13 - Thanks, won't soon forget that magical reverie, paddling and humming Camelot. Another tune, that went through my mind for days after leading patient wife Margaret and daughter Elizabeth through brambles and nettles, waving my arms and explaining where all the buildings, tents and docks were: Brigadoon. -Bergy.

Charlie Burnham 08/13/13 - Another favorite is: T.L.I.L.H.  The song, the play!

Tom Mercer 08/13/13 - Tell Laura I Love Her???

Doug Coupe 08/13/13 - The song was recorded by Ray Peterson just in case any of you trivia buffs wanted to know! Doug aka Plop!

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Jim Main 08/08/13 - Rumors have it that the great Impresario Team of Mellor and Main of the early 1960's Hyde Bay Theatre were recently seen together, possibly planning a revival of My Fair Pierre, to be presented at the 2014 Durbar ... Since this was their first reunion in over ten years, plans became stalemated when they realized the team would not be complete without Ned Atwater, who apparently has not checked back in with the Dayman. Pictured in front of a giant keyboard vaguely resembling the theatre piano, the two held up a hand written libretto, titled "Do", which Rogers and Hammerstein explained to the world is a female deer.

      Back to the subject, it was a nostalgic reunion with much talk of bygone Hyde Bay days ... (Note: I should have listened to Mr. Mercer more attentively as we studied "30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary" my first summer at Hyde Bay in 1955) ... Cheers and Huckleberry Pie to all ... Jim

Rick Coupe 08/08/13 - "It's the ring, not the dog." Littleplop.

McKee Lundberg 08/08/13 - Mac,  Even the possibility of a Mellor & Main reunion is great news.  If Steve invented the rumor, it was worth putting out there. best, McKee.

Mac Mellor 07/08/13 - Jim, you might have mentioned that we dined in Nashville, so-called “Music City,” where all the keyboards are giant.

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Michael McQuilkin 08/04/13 - Hi John. My wife found your web site with pictures of Hyde Bay Camp. Great stuff! The name of the boy holding the snake in picture 24 is Frankie Saunders. He was my tent mate as a camper, probably around 1967. I think he was from Baltimore. Loved seeing the piano which I played many times.

See photo

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Jennifer Downs 07/30/13 - I had a great reunion with my old pal Suzie Carlton (now Susan Hopkins) in Maine! Turns out she has been in Belfast Maine for years and just moved to Florida. Her daughters live in Maine and they came back to visit so I met her in Belfast. We laughed a lot and recalled all kinds of great stories from our 9 year old girl perspective of Hyde Bay. What fun. Will attach a photo and later hope to send more when I get some time. Will forward your notice to Suzie. She and the Pickett boys are cousins!
Jennifer (AKA Jeffie) Downs

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Andy Astmann 07/29/13 - Hyde Bay reared its head in a most surprising fashion for me several months ago.... I was visiting in Washington, D.C., walking up Massachusetts Avenue, deep in conversation with the man who happened to be walking next to me; suddenly I heard someone call my name. Boy, was I startled! Well, it turned out to be John Diamond, whom I had kept in touch with since Hyde Bay until about twenty years ago. It took me a moment to recognize him, though he had recognized me immediately. We chatted for about twenty minutes and then went our respective ways.

At Hyde Bay I was always fascinated by Hyde Hall, silently, remotely looming over us in all its abandoned, shuttered-up grandeur. The first time I revisited Cooperstown ('70's?), I somehow finagled a personal tour of the whole house, from basement to attic, from the guy then overseeing its restoration and also living there alone. One year at Hyde Bay there was a camper who was a descendent of the Hyde Hall Clarkes. One day his mother or grandmother came to visit him, and took him to Hyde Hall for a visit. When he returned to camp, he mentioned (I'm sure amongst other things) that there was no floor in the kitchen (strange. the peculiar things we remember). Well, when I toured the house - just as that kid had said decades before - no floor in the kitchen; that crazy memory of mine was confirmed! I was back in 1997 and then got just your standard, paid guided tour. But every year I send some minimal amount of money to the nonprofit that's restoring the place. It's a funny way to maintain a tenuous connection with Camp Hyde Bay.

Andy

Tom Lynn 07/29/13 - Thanks, Andy! Maybe at the next Durbar we can make a big effort to get any of the surviving Clarke campers (if there were more than one) or offspring to attend and we could all go for a group tour of Hyde Hall. At the last Durbar in 2011*, Charlie Burham oversaw a group of us (Jeff Rice, Hilliards, and I -- with Mercers arriving for the subsequent tour) touring HH. At one of the earlier Durbars (II, perhaps?), The Commodore had arranged through Jane Forbes Clark (no "e") to have a tour and a picnic for us all at HH. (After all, it was quite a coup for Jane to have gotten Walter to be on the original[?] committee for the restoration of HH back then. Also, at that picnic, Dad took a tumble backwards off his picnic bench. True to his Ed-Russell-grappler-training, Dad rolled backward and popped right up! He was a spry 67 at that time!) -- Lynn, T.

Ps *Are we next Durbar-ing in 2014 or 2015? Inquiring minds want to know...

Charlie Burnham 07/29/13 - As an ardent supporter of Hyde Hall I would be glad to host a private tour at the next Durbar. ||   www.hydehall.org   || Please consider supporting and be sure to mention you are a Hyde Bay Camp alumnus.
Charlie Burnham

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Winston Wood 07/26/13 - Dr. Dandy was at camp in the 1930s about the same time as Dr. Lynn, Bucky Turner, Walter Lord, etc. Likewise Walter III in my day, famously caught smoking once in the woods near the tutoring school by Mouldy, then protesting "I don't smoke, I swore it," with a pack of Marlboros sticking out his back pocket. (But that didn't keep him from somehow getting into Harvard...)

See obituary here

Jeffrey Levi 07/27/13 - Walter Dandy, III has invented some running assistance device, www.runbike.com.

I called and talked to him. He was such a nice guy and delightful to talk to. He also has done some movie work, imdb.com/name/nm5028529.  -Jeffrey

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Winston Wood 07/09/13 - Spent a long weekend in Cooperstown, showing my daughters some of the scenes of my not-wasted youth. The place looks great, and if you can ignore the hordes of grubby Little League kids who clutter the area around the Hall of Fame on pilgrimages from the Dreams Park south of town, not much seems to have changed since our camper days. (Did the locals think we were grubby little kids when we came to town for treats with the Sunday mail bag? I hope not.) But yes, you really do have to pay to park now on Main Street.

     Speaking of locals, during the visit I had a chance to catch up with Clem Herman, one of the very few Cooperstown boys I know who came up the lake to camp. His father, Dr. Emery Herman, a surgeon retired after years at Bassett Hospital, is a cousin of my mother-in-law, well out of his natural habitat in LaGrange, Georgia. My wife and I see him every time we're up there, but this was the first time that Clem was on hand in more than 20 years, living as he does in Holland. He is now brought up to date on all things Hyde Bay and equipped with the link to the HBC website.

     Reports on two other Cooperstown alumni have it that Peter Callahan is a landscape architect living in the Boston area and Martin Tillapaugh is a lawyer who also serves as the village's legal counsel. So if you get a parking ticket for forgetting to feed the meter on Main Street, Martin may be your man to get it fixed or forgiven.

Tom Lynn 07/26/13 - Thanks for the great update/info, Winston. I'm assuming that Martin could also help if you need to be connected for a quickie burial in C-town, too, right? (Didn't one/some of the Tillapaughs have the speediest boat[s] on the lake?) -- Lynn, T.

Winston Wood - 07/26/13 - I don't know about the Tillapaugh Navy these days, but while messing about in a kayak one afternoon I spotted a magnificent Hacker moored under cover at the town dock. A dual cockpit job and perfectly maintained, called The Pioneer (in Cooperstown, what else?) Bruce Rice, eat your heart out.

Charlie Burnham 07/26/13 - Peter Callahan used to work for me here in Stowe.  I knew he was from C-town but did not know he went to HBC.

Colin Murray 07/26/13 - The name, Tillapaugh, a Cooperstown denizen, rings a big bell with me. . He and I became friends one year just after Camp 'wound up.' For the short time I remained in the area, he entertained me with one harrowing, therefore, memorable experience: a pull behind a very powerful speedboat with absolutely minimal freeboard. The outboard engine was so bulky, it worried me that a smallish wave could pour in over the transom and swamp the craft when at rest; it was surely not made to pull water-skiers like a Donzi ... or that wonderful and historic Hacker that I hope someone eventually restored with a varnish only finish. So he yanked my fat self off the dock with the assurance he'd keep the speed reasonable. Right. There was no appreciable wake to jump even if I'd had the nerve to deviate my course directly behind that cloud of mist; a fall would have been tantamount to sliding on concrete for a long, long way! Was there heat generated from under the skis? At least he slowed a good way up the lake to make a wide turn for the return run, again way too fast for this human. The dude scared the bejesus out of me that day. Relief trumped anger, however, so I think we enjoyed each other's company during those waning, chilled-down days of summer.

     If memory serves, that fellow's family operated both a funeral home and a small-plane service with the motto, "Fly and Die with Tillapaugh" emblazoned on the fuselage. True? Was there even a nearby airstrip? Fixed-wings were never irritating noise-makers in our neck of the woods as I recall. Despite nearly producing another body to embalm, I wish him well.

Tom Lynn 07/27/13 - The Tillapaugh that I recall sometime during the mid-60s was David Tillapaugh. Supposedly he wasn't invited back to camp (for some rumored notorious reason) -- and during that season of camp, he (again, supposedly) would frequently "buzz" the camp showing off his latest, most powerful speedboat. Anybody who can verify or debunk any or all of those "suppositions"? -- Lynn, T.

Rusty Pickett 07/28/13 - The Tillapaughs in question owned the local funeral home in Cooperstown. My grandfather was good friends with David’s grandfather and the Tillapaughs buried my grandfather in Worcester after we did the funeral service at my grandfather’s house Craig Lynn – home of the infamous camping trip Bobcat Run! They did have speed boats as I remember, but don’t remember any reason for him to not be invited back to camp.
Thanks! Have a great day, Rusty

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Winston Wood 07/09/13 - This op-ed in today's Wall Street Journal, penned by a curmudgeon who apparently seems to think kids today should all get summer jobs in coal mines for their experiences and spending money, got me thinking about Hyde Bay. My response published to same is appended below.

See the article here.

Bob Cunningham 07/09/13 - I'll call right now.

Bruce Rice 07/09/13 - Fine words, wisdom, and response by Woody. For some reason I feel compelled to relate two things:
1) I know, unfortunately, of no Camp Runamuks now days other than the one my sons attended (Camp Maxwelton in Virginia, where the young John Schmick was a long timer). Daily activities were varied, trips were somewhat helter skelter, my one son spent days in the hospital with impetigo because he hadn’t bathed. No one from camp informed us, we learned from friend’s kids who in their Sunday letters informed their parents that Colin survived, and was now fine. One other camper went into shock from bee stings, and the camp nurse (who worked at Wal-Mart the rest of the year) tried to give him an epee pen shot, but had it backwards, shot herself, and passed out. I believe the kid survived.

2) There is something to be said about hard labor summer jobs. My first summer job after counseling was on a farm bailing hay. I was there at 6:00 am every day, and bailed hay until 5:00. My first morning on the job, the crusty old farm foreman took me aside, and told me there was one thing day I had to know: “Never f___ the cows”. Words of wisdom I have lived by all these years, and I had never learned at Hyde Bay. - Boo

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Richard McCaffery 07/04/13 - I was the Riding Councilor in 1961 (with my horse J'arrive) between my freshman and sophomore years at Harvard. So sorry to read of Harry Parker's death last week. I have the fondest memories of that summer!

A. M. "Mac" Mellor 07/05/13 - I do remember John and agree with Jim’s spelling of the last name.  The 1861 tent list confirms Jim’s suspicion: McCaffery was in command of Tent 18 with (R.) Cunningham his able lieutenant.

Steve Cunningham 07/02/13 - Richard McCaffery, won't you check back into camp and give us your whereabouts?

John Mercer 07/04/13 - I clearly remember him and the horse he came in on.

Jim Main 07/04/13 - Hi Ho Campers ... I do remember McCaffery, and I believe Mac would also ... If I'm not mistaken he was the son of newsman John J.M. McCaffery who used to anchor the ABC or NBC news team back then. Hope my memory is correct on this one ... It's been a while ... Jimmain

Charlie Burnham 07/04/13 - Was that the horse with bad breath?

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John Mercer 06/27/13 - Harry Parker, legendary crew coach at Harvard and splendid addition to the Hyde Bay staff for a year or two in the early 1960s, has died. See his obituary here:
http://www.hydebay.net/WhereAreTheyNow/Where_HarryParker.html

Jock McQuilkin 06/27/13 - Very sad hearing about Coach Parker's death. I remember Senior Lifesaving @ HBC and thinking to myself, I can't let this guy down. Harry could certainly be intimidating - no doubt his Harvard crews felt the same way - but you wanted to win for him... and he was a winner!
      Head of the Charles will never be the same. Fondly, Jocko

Mac McClelland 06/27/13 - I took Jr. Life Saving from Harry.

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Tom Lynn 06/08/13 - Be sure to take extra change with you next time to Cooperstown. Paid parking has come to Main Street! On the positive side though, the latest Freeman's Journal says there are a lot of empty spaces -- and angry people!

Jim High 06/09/13 - Yes, that's true. But paid parking is ONLY on Main Street. Try the other streets and it's free.

John Hebb 06/09/13 - Pay for parking on Main Street! What is next? Closing the movie theater?

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Tom Lynn 05/18/13 - The obituary of one of the camp's earliest campers appeared today in The Sun. "Ham" Welbourn died on April 29th at the age of 98.

     I met "Hambone" at Durbar III at the Otesaga. He was a real tennis enthusiast, and I met him while we were both watching, on TV, Pete Sampras winning his first title, the 1990 US Open.

     Ham, at age 75, enjoyed part of that Durbar weekend playing on the Otesaga's Har-Tru courts -- which impressed him very much! Several years back I had the pleasure of watching Ham's grandson (who, I believe, is also called "Ham") wrestle for Gilman, then talking to him about his grandfather. Ham is also featured in Walter Lord's memories of Gilman, including the famous "Conversation Play" which won a football victory over the Tome School -- in a very 1930s comedic sort of way! Ham is also remembered in Herb Pickett's Family History on the HBC website. Good stuff to read up on again.

"Hammy's obituary - Click here

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Headmaster John "Jolly" Schmick retires from Gilman school

Tom Lynn 05/11/13 - Great HBC representation at "The Event" for the retiring Headmaster Schmick! Rusty, Pierre, and Freddy Gale arrived from out of state. Rusty and Pierre joined me for an alumni lunch where they were acknowledged by JES during his remarks. I gave Rusty and Pierre a tour of some of the school -- especially the photo gallery of some of the Gilman faculty "greats," including Rusty's grandfather Herbert Pickett, Ed Russell, AJ Downs, Hunt Hilliard, James Dresser, Miles Marion, George Chandlee, and Joanne Davidson. Rusty took many photos of the photos! Later that night we attended "The Event" tribute to Jolly. There was a very funny "Top 10 Reasons for Johnny to Retire Now" list delivered by HBCer and long-time JES friend Mac Barrett. As Jolly closed the "entertainment" portion of the show with his closing remarks, the HBC contingent gave a rousing "Strawberry Shortcake" cheer. Shortly after that, we presented Jolly with a small plein air oil painting of Lake Otsego Through the Trees (signed on the back by all HBCers in attendance) and had a group photo taken with him. In addition to the aforementioned folks, in attendance were Bruce Rice, Mike Hilliard, Skip Hebb, Jeff Levi, Dave Clinnin, Eddie Brown, and Stan Heuisler. Harry Turner had registered but was unable to attend due to illness. There were close to 600 people in attendance honoring a much beloved John Schmick. As Betty used to write in The Homeletter, "A good time was had by all!" (Ps After the "regular folk" had gone home, Rusty, Pierre, and Freddy went over to the Headmaster's residence for some après-party conviviality...)

A video tribute to John "Jolly" Schmick
From all the constituents at Gilman School.
Click here

For all who knew John at Hyde Bay Camp for Boys

Tom Lynn 05/17/13 - A little out of focus (perhaps appropriately so...), here is most of the HBC gang, including Headmaster Schmick, at his feting. (Before the deluge arrived.) Bruce "Boo Corn" Rice, Peter "Fat Pierre" Black, Freddy Gale, John "Jolly" Schmick, (squatting/crouching) BlakeGoldsmith and Rusty "Tinkerbelly" Pickett posing as The Indian Hunter, Jeff "Hoolian" Levi, Tom "Linty" Lynn, Mike "Mikey" Hilliard, and John "Skippah" Hebb

Bruce Rice 05/11/13 - Great show last night for Jolly. Hyde Bay was well attended and even part of the show in toasting Jolly with Strawberry Shortcake. Even some unknown Hyde Bay Alums (Mac Barrett?) claimed allegiance. Just reiterating tonight for those not there last night, and those that asked again for the details. 6:30 at 1811 Thornton Ridge Road. End time as per your assigned tent lights out. About 15 total have responded coming, and a few as yet unheard from.
Boo

Tom Lynn 05/11/13 - And tonight, it's off to Bruce "Boo Corn" Rice's for a just-HBC party! Pierre is still in town for it, though Rusty and Freddy have returned home. Jolly can't join us as he is attending various Gilman class reunion parties in his official capacity.

Tom Lynn 05/12/13 - Had a good turnout at Bruce's tonight, also. Had HBCers John Diamond, Chooch Turner, Todd "Fluh" Mulvenny, Blake Goldsmith (who was also at the Friday "Event"), Mike Hilliard, Jeff Levi, Dave Clinnin, Pierre Black, and, also, Jolly Schmick joining us after doing the Gilman reunion dinners circuit. Bruce and Susan put on a great spread supplemented by food provided by some of the guests. Bruce entertained us all with Hyde Bay trivia questions, which were followed by many of the great stories and character "profiles" of the legend and lore that was/is Hyde Bay. A good time.
Ps - A group phone call was placed to badger/plead with Steve Cunningham to join us, but he coyly demurred... (apparently, relic-hunting-related exhaustion was the reason.)

Steve Cunningham 05/12/13 - Yup, a muggy, sweaty, rugged day in the realm of copperheads, low lying branches, multiflora rose, fallen trees, and foot-sucking swampy areas. 8 hours on South Mountain (Civil War battle of Crampton's Gap) is limb-quivering exhausting for this mud-from-head-to-toe old man. Would have loved to attend but didn't expect such a rigorous expedition. Amanda would have had to drag me around by the ankles. Enjoyed the phone call from Bruce's party, though.

Chooch Turner 05/12/13 - Bruce and Susan, Thank you guys so much for getting us all together last night. It was so good to see several of you I hadn't seen in many years. And others I don't see nearly often enough.
      Johnny, I was glad you and Janet made it as well for a chance to relax. I apologize for bailing out "so early" to many of you, but it was way past my bed time. Let's find reasons to do this more often. Kind Regards, Chooch Turner

Blake Goldsmith 05/13/13 - I second Chooch’s thanks to Susan and Bruce for a great evening and keeping the Hyde Bay flame alive and well! I am a little surprised to hear about Chooch’s early bedtime . I guess all great athletes need their rest.
      I would like to get an MRI of Tom’s brain to see how we can cure Alzheimer or the general forgetfulness that comes with hitting 60.
      Jolly you have had enough compliments and roasting for a while but I need to add that you have a unique way of making everyone feel included. Over the years I have had the privilege of working with a lot of famous people in my event business. Sometimes “VIP’s” do not relate well to the folks at the meeting. Cal Ripken is someone who like you includes everyone and always seems genuinely interested in everyone’s well -being.
      Jolly that sense of caring is an inspiring gift that you have given to many over the years . Hope you and Janet get to enjoy a relaxing summer. Best wishes, Blake

Jocko McQuilkin 05/13/13 - Great exchange, Blake. However, would someone kindly waken Chooch and have him contact me? A few decades overdue. Jocko McQuilkin

Tom Lynn 05/13/13 - As I look at the "Seen by __" list on this post, I see that Josh "Shoebibs" Shoemaker checked it out. I forgot to mention that Josh was featured on the video tribute to Jolly. So, it was good to "see" him at "The Event," if not actually in person there! (Additionally, Josh was one of the several HBCers at the recent re-dedication of my brother Billy's memorial classroom at Gilman. Headmaster Schmick presided, Bruce "Boo Corn" Rice spoke, and in attendance were John "Skip" Hebb, Mike Hilliard, and Chooch & Harry Turner, as well brother Jim Lynn.)

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Mike Hilliard 04/15/13 - My wife Georgia and I had a great brunch at B's in Baltimore's Bolton Hill with John Diamond yesterday. We then walked two blocks to his unique town home built in the late 1960's in a small development that is now a National Historic Landmark.

     The house is a beautiful two bedroom home in a unique and quiet portion of the city. We then spent several very enjoyable hours visiting with John.  Mike Hilliard

John Hendee 04/17/13 - John Diamond-a name from the past! It is fun recalling those Hyde Bay days.

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Jay Alexander 04/15/13 - I think about HBC at odd times, and the new Jackie Robinson film reminds me that I saw the Brooklyn Dodgers at the Hall of Fame game c. 1950, Jackie R., Pee Wee Reese, Duke Snider, et al. What a thrill.
     Loved the Susquehana and Trent. Falls trips, and Dick Moss and I were some of the first to dive off the bridge! Loved driving the garbage truck at age 15, my final year in 1955. Many warm memories!

Tom Lynn 04/16/13 - "El Grosso" Sager?

John "Skipper" Hebb 04/15/13 - The only freak of nature at HBC was Larry Sager.

George Barker 04/15/13 - I was a part of that Unadilla trip. What I recall may not be entirely accurate, but it is what my mind, as ancient as it is becoming, plays back to me. I recall Heb, God bless his soul, finding a sand-bar on which to camp when there was very little light left. That was the good news. The bad news was that, unbeknownst to us, we were set up perilously close to a railroad freight line. At about 4:15 in the morning, a very large freight train, powered by two awesome engines, made its way toward us. I recall it getting louder and louder and closer and closer. In a sleep-filled haze, I thought we were done for. Thankfully, it rolled right on by us into the night. The coming of light was never so appreciated. Only a few of us get to tell this tale, but it is vintage HB. Regards to all, George Barker
      PS This to Alexander and McQuilkin. Your former HB baseball coach (as the successor to Pete Powell (we were both lacrosse players)) remembers you as being a great battery and very skilled athletes who were a joy to watch. GB

Charles Burnham 04/15/13 - I loved it! A freak of nature I had never conceived of! Had to explore every crevice down there.

Tom Lynn 04/15/13 - HATED Snow Gulch! (Or, as I mispronounced it back then: Snow Glutch.) Hated it the first time. Hated it even MORE the second time. Would have rather stayed in camp! So MUCH more to do in camp...

John Diamond 04/15/13 - John--I clearly remember the snow.....Your former camper, John D.

John Hendee 04/15/13 - Reading Jay Alexander's memories of early days at Hyde Bay (1950's) sparked distant recollections--does anyone recall that ill-fated, one time only Unadilla River canoe trip? The river was shallow, dirty, and as I remember, we spent most of our time pulling our canoes over rocky shallows. Of course it was an adventure and in itself had a certain feeling of challenge, but it was not to be attempted ever again.
      How about the snow in July---obtained from a deep cleft in the rock-somewhere between HB and Richfield Springs, in a dense woods.It was fun throwing snowballs at campers lined up for milk and crackers. John Hendee(1951-1960)

Jocko McQuilken 04/15/13 - I wonder how JR would have handled Jay's hard stuff (and I don't mean JR Ewing)? Jay's faithful battery mate, Jocko

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Steve Cunningham 03/25/13 - Our celebrity camper, Tom Lynn, appeared on Jeopardy last night and was within a button-push of winning the jackpot. To view Tom's Hometown Howdy and complete Baltimore Sun article, click here (QuickTime format) and turn your speakers on. Tom arranged a viewing of the show at Zen West Cantina where a whopping crowd of friends and family viewed the show on a large-screen TV as dinner was served. Perhaps Tom will tell us all about the ordeal.

Tom Lynn 03/25/13 - Had a good HBC contingent at the viewing party! Steve "Night Man" Cunningham, Rick "Little Plop" Coupe, Bruce "Boo Corn" Rice, Skip "Blanche/Bleche" Hebb, Harry "Belt" Turner, Jim & Tom Lynn

Jeff Levi 03/26/13 - It is a real achievement to get on Jeopardy. They have a very tough screening process. Congratulations to Tom for even getting on. - Julius

Mike Hilliard 03/26/2013 - This is certainly LynnT's moment of fame. Please see the following story re: Tom's appearance on Jeapordy that was posted on the Baltimore Sun web site: [ The news artical has been transfered here ]

Rusty Pickett 03/26/2013 - Who is that bald wonder – Skipper Hebb???? Thanks! Have a great day - Rusty

David Dube 03/26/2013 - And just think, we all knew him when... - DHD

Jeff Levi 03/26/2013 - I am glad that you posted the link. It was a nice article and I missed it when originally posted. - Julius

David Dube 03/26/2013 - Thanks Steve. I cannot believe how much I am drawn to all things Hyde Bay. Also, have had some wonderful correspondence with Tom about other campers and the persistent impact of HBC on each of us. I confess that the clarity of his memory is a bit daunting. As a teaching physician I read many scientific articles, and often need to quote them. I am the sort who can only recall 'the bottom line', and the journal in which an article was published. Tom strikes me as a REAL academic, if he had been a physician he wouldlikely give not only the authors' names, but the experimental design, statistical tests used, and some of the more important references cited? - David

John "Skipper" Hebb 03/27/2013 - Steve: It has made my whole day to be referred to as "Campers." Best wishes, John "Skipper" Hebb

Tom Lynn 06/09/13 - This was just posted by "Jeff6286" today on the Jeopardy site discussion board (on the "Errors in clues! So easy to fix!" thread):

"The craziest thing about the "Waitin for Godot" response was that just 4 months later, they had "Singin' in the Rain" as a correct response, and 2 of the 3 players wrote "Singing in the Rain", and were ruled correct. Interestingly, one of the two would have actually benefited from being ruled incorrect, because he was in 2nd place and would have had more money left than the leader if both were ruled incorrect, making him the winner. I've seen arguments over why it made sense to accept "Singing" for "Singin'", even though they didn't accept "Waitin" for "Waiting", but I don't remember the specifics, or which side of that particular argument I fell on. This may have also been mentioned before, but if she had included an apostrophe and said Waitin', rather than Waitin, would (or should) that have made any difference?"

Oh, and the wound had almost healed! (GOT to let it go...)

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Tim Pitts 02/14/13 - Dinner in Charlston.

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New York State Historical Association Research Library in Cooperstown 02/12/13 - A librarian from the New York State Historical Association Research Library in Cooperstown contacted me about a patron who wanted to know the artist for two paintings he had bought at auction in the 1980's. Attached are two scene backdrops from our own Hyde Bay Theater painted by Jack Garver.

Tom Lynn 02/15/13 - They could have gotten a lot more money if they had allowed some of us to bid on it! I know that I really coveted that main/front drop of the lake & Indian when the camp closed down...  -- TKLynn

Scott Carlton 02/15/13 - This is really quite exciting!  To think that they are still around ... I remember them very well.  Nice post!

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Tom Lynn 01/20/13 - Not sure if anyone responded to David Dube's question about the origin of "hoya-toya," but the person I remember saying that (maybe he just enjoyed saying it the most) was Marty Zuebeck (sp?). He was the handicapped kid who was on crutches. When I became a camper, I instantly knew HBC was a special place upon seeing Marty. Same as when Artie Hahn joined us. Mouldy and Betty (and the Director & Emily before them) put together a great community of a wide variety of people! On a separate topic, I want to ask David if it was he or Ted Mehl who heaped so much verbal abuse on Sandy Pickett! I am willing to be a witness for Sandy if he ever takes the offender to "camp court"!

Colin Murray 01/21/13 - David comes to mind - unpleasantly - as my one nemesis at camp, choosing to dislike me with no understandable provocation. I wrote him off as a bully. Though I was plenty rotund, he was taller and more fit. Finally, a showdown took place directly in front of the dining hall; we were out in the open, in plain sight, in full sun. Some snide remark and a shove tweaked my last nerve. No longer caring what injury I might sustain, the shove was reciprocated, this time tearing a button off his shirt. At the loss of his button, he swore in a purple rage to exact vengeance and reparations. I spat back that he may beat me to a pulp, but I was certain that I could deliver "at least one blow he'd remember for a very long time." No further contact ensued; better yet, he stayed off my case for good.

David Dube 01/20/13 - I sailed with Ted, and had great fun with that. He was a great skipper, and I missed him a lot the last two years I was at camp.
      I do not remember heaping abuse on Sandy; I shared Mouldy City Annex with him, and I thought we got along well. (Though I confess to ABSOLUTE jealousy when both of us were not included in the one or two visits by 'Shoebaker's' girlfriend)
      Being small of stature then, and still now a bit more round, but still on the short side, I have never approved of, supported, or intentionally belittled another. I like to think that such lessons were deeply embedded from the HBC experience. I remember how much I truly valued the way that Artie Hahn's tentmates protected him, and also included him in their activities.
      Sandy, if you read these notes, and I was guilty of tormenting you, SHAME ON ME! Did we all tease each other? Probably. Mean spirited? Not by my recollection. And, I still believe that the HBC culture would not have tolerated ANY mean spirited teasing for very long.
      DHDube

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