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HYDE BAY HOME LETTER

VOLUME 25             August 22, 1951                   No. 11

MONDAY, AUGUST 13: Every boy who wanted to visit Howe Caverns was given the opportunity. Bob Pickett was in general charge, assisted by four councilors. This expedition went underground in the morning. In the afternoon we sought the water where an intramural swimming meet found Goody’s team beating Marshall’s. That night the wrestling tournament started.

TUESDAY AUGUST 14: The last Susquehanna trip #5 set out under control of Dick Geist. Tents 6 and 7, under Bud Feinen, assisted by Mac Williams and augmented by Spencer Merrick, spent the night on Gravelley. In the meantime, Tents 1 and 2 sought the heights of Nebo as a dormitory. A horse hike also occupied the summit of the mountain this fine evening. We saw a movie that night which described the making of tho Saturday Evening Post. We had a rain and heavy wind in the afternoon. One of our Comet masts was badly sprung.

THEN, WEDNESDAY: The various trips returned. Reeves Wetherill swam his “E” test. We spent the evening watching a splendid movie called, Deep Waters.

AUGUST 16: Old boys who had not been around the lake and wanted to go were taken under the general management of John Rouse. A heavy storm, featuring hail, appeared in the afternoon. John, to our vast comfort, called up to say all hands worn safe at Three Mile Point. Bob Pickett and Chiefie went down in the Hacker and towed them all home.

FRIDAY, THE 17th: We ordered a bus early in the morning and every boy who had not Visited the Farmer’s Museum or the baseball sanctuary was allowed the privilege of doing so. The trip was under the personal supervision of our Head Councilor. While Puffy and his tent were at Gravelley, most of the rest of us watched the finals of the wrestling tournament. The cinema set went off to town to see their last movie. It was cloudy and cold.

SATURDAY: Clear, cloudy, and windy. We had sailing races galore. Some of the tennis tournaments were finished. We held our annual nature hunt. An invention of the Director’s, it paraphrases a scavenger hunt. Boys bring in numerous samples of flora and fauna. As a reward, the winners were taken by the Director to see the graveyard in which he is alleged to have buried those he has robbed. There were, also, double dips of ice cream. The winning team consisted of two Barkers, one Freeman, and the Brown whose first name is Dorsey. The second team also went along. In the evening we were entertained by Bud Spraker, the Cooperstown magician, who appears at camp just about every year. Everyone was mystified and amused by his clever performance.

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VARIABLE SUNDAY: It was clear in the morning with showers in the afternoon. The Director preached. The horse show was held with great success, although interrupted by a heavy downpour. Colonel Simon Acoutin was the judge, as he has been for many years. Jan Rozendaal was judged the best of all Hyde Bay riders. Numerous ribbons were earned by others. Tent 4 took the Hacker trip for best inspection record. There was a short movie. The afternoon saw several more sailing races.

MONDAY: This day was given over just about entirely to the races in the “Wind—Up,” as our final series of contests has always been known. The “Wind” is pronounced as you would the process of revolving a fish line reel.

TUESDAY: We packed carefully under the rigid eye of councilors and their Chief. We waited for our parents to arrive while we put the finishing touches on homeward preparations. Just before seven o’clock 154 people sat down to devour fried chicken, corn (just fresh from our garden), candied sweet potatoes, numerous other odds and ends, topped off by the traditional ice cream.

SURPRISE: The Director introduced Chiefie, who gave to our good friends in the kitchen envelopes containing the gift which the boys and others of our family wished to make to then. William responded briefly. Then came the surprise. Head Councilor introduced a camper of the very old days, one Cooper Walker, who with some very fine remarks presented the Picketts with a lovely silver tray, in token of their completion of twenty—five years of Hyde Bay. I can say with a measure of understatement that both of the recipients were deeply touched. The one who had to be vocal was under some difficulty in making further remarks. His partner was visibly moved. The Director managed, however, to sketch the history of the camp and paid tribute to many individuals who had and still were contributing to its success. Under stress of the emotional tempest, he forgot entirely to laud the splendid work of George Chandlee as Head Councilor. I have always considered his work just about perfect, but this year seems to have been better than ever. Augmented by an unusually fine council, his management has made this one of Hyde Bay’s most successful seasons. Nor did the speaker say how deeply he was indebted to the members of his own family: the Directress who runs so many errands and so ably manages the food, the kindly ministrations of Betty, and the able assistance of Heb

SOME PRIZES: Colston Young had the best bunk. Fryberger and J. Alexander, Trigg and Potacki were given sailing awards. Tennis prizes were given out along with many ribbons and the various swimming certificates. The evening reached a climax with the award of a camera, generously contributed for this purpose by one of our good friends. This went to Pete Powell for participating in more activities than any other boy at camp.

DEPARTURE: Thirty-five boys went off by train, which was only six minutes late. Then parents came in one by one and took away the remainder. A truck rumbled in and your baggage went off, as you directed by railway express. Bob went ever to the station to help Dick Geist in getting aboard our special car. The councilors fell briskly upon the camp.

ALL FOR NOW: It has been a grand year. My thanks go to everyone who contributed so generously to its success.