COMINGS AND GOINGS: As near as we can tell in the present state of parental plans and camper whims, we will have essentially the same number during the second half of camp. We have had to refuse one or two late applicants even for this period.
BARBEQUE: To celebrate the mid—point of this happy season, we are tonight putting on a deep pit barbecue. The U.L.s dug a pit near the Russellorum 40” deep, 4’ long and 3’ wide. Bob Pickett and the U.Ls collected over a cord of splendid dry wood. From 7:00 o’clock to 2:30 last night, a continuous fire was maintained until there was a bed of coals 18” deep. Then 100 lbs. of boned beef, wrapped in 6 lb. paper packages were placed on sand which had been sprinkled over the coals. Bob and Phil Schwartz went the entire route putting boards over the hole and covering it deeply with earth. At 6:30 this evening, we plan to take out the finished product. For a thrifty soul like the Director, putting all this beef in the ground on faith, is a fearful ordeal.
MONDAY: This clear and warm day saw the first Trenton Falls trip set out under the guidance of Bob Pickett, Heb, Jack Garver, Bowdoin and Sargent. (They came back Wednesday afternoon reporting a splendid trip.) Blaise took a long hike to visit the old schoolhouse. He was accompanied by a large group of apprentice hikers. Bob Gilmor with George Barker to help him led his tent into the very heart of nature on Gravelly for the night. The wild Cats nosed out the Bears in softball by 4-3.
TUESDAY, JULY 20th: This day duplicated the atmospheric conditions of its predecessor. Sam staged a wrestling tournament for younger campers. Brad Damon, Pill Legg and Joey Hallett won candy bars for their prowess. A watermellon was devoured by the Panthers, who clinched the title this day by beating the Sabretooths 6 - 5 with a last inning rally accounting for 5 runs. Peter Wells and John Webster went to Gravelly with their tents. The evening was featured by a short movie which we had been unable to show on Sunday; and a bit of rain which was very welcome.
MORE RAIN AND WEDNESDAY: Bent on important construction work, the Director was upset to find his sledge—hammer missing. His composure was scarcely restored at all, when the missing implement was discovered under the Pickett bed which is traditionally the sanctuary for choice implements. Coach Casey Powell continued his winning ways by beating Chenango 8 - 2 with Jock McQuilkin pitching, hitting and batting in stellar fashion. A rival sport, known as lacrosse, burgeoned this day with a new goal fashioned with consumate skill by Heb from old water pipes and the tennis net which was recently retired in favor of a new one. A novelty was Phil Eastabrooks’ all day horse hike. They went almost to Nebo, had their lunch, swinging a wide circle back to camp. The day came to a climax at 8:00 when we were thrilled by an excellent film, “Five Fingers”.
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THURSDAY SUCCEEDS WEDNESDAY: is Monotonously excellent weather. Heb Blaise with four canoes explored the Unadilla River and a portion of the Susquehanna. Those streams were once the boundary between the Indians and the whites in Revolutionary days. Gravelly was invaded by Sam and Ken Boyd with their clients who went by rowboat. A few boys took in the movies in town.
ROAD TO NEBO (WITHOUT DOROTHY LAMOUR): Councilors Brown, Sargent and assisttant Arnold took some 17 boys to our favorite mountain top. One camper wandered away and was returned to the fold by the Director and Bob after a considerable journey. At the blissful hour of 12:30 a.m., Charlie Brown called from a nearby farmhouse to invite the Director to return to rescue Lorry Ansley who was suffering from an earache. The rest of the camp director’s not untypical evening was spent peacefully in bed.
FRIDAY: A splendid sailing day and still clear. Casey’s men won again over Chenango 15 — 9. (The original Casey would welcome such an amiable opponent in the big leagues.) Another movie trip went into town. Bob Wynne ventured fourth in a mere canoe accompanied by other craft to ferry Tent l4 to Gravelly.
SOMEWHAT RAINY SATURDAY: In spite of atmospheric handicaps, another Round-the-lake trip was consummated, Heb, of course, with councilor Andrew and assistant Arnold. Sort of justa day at camp.
DRAMATIC_CLIMAX: The third cycle of plays attained the almost impossible in being just as good as its predecessors. A distinguished committee with difficulty awarded the box of Hershey bars to Tent #7, who portrayed an unusual episode in the Metropolitan Museum of Sheboygan, Michigan and the Peruvian Jungle. Jon “Tarzan” Stuart and vicious crocodile portrayed by Paul Samborski took us deep into the jungle. Tent #8 experimented with inventions and laboratories, while s Shakespearean melange closed the evening when Tent #6 presented Hambeth, replete with witches, cauldrons and bloodshed. Weird sisters, Chase and Johnson well deserved the adjective, if not the noun.
AND ULTIMATELY SUNDAY: Clear and calm as befits the Sabbath. The Director preached once more linking our Nebo with its scriptural origin and endeavoring to draw some lessons from the life of Moses. Later on we held time trials in our swimming area from the turning board to the dock. The lanes were newly marked out by artist Pratt for this occasion. The reward for weekly order and decorum went to tents #7 and 9, who went to town in the Land Hacker rather than its aquatic brother due to atmostpheric conditions. (“Land Hacker” is the impertinent title given our School bus Emeritus.) Movies on wrestling and a splendid color film called “Pueblo Boy” concluded the evening for all but Phil and bob who kept vigil at the barbecue pit.
EVENTS OF SUPREME IMPORTANCE: “D” tests were passed by campers Babcock, Brad Damon, Joey Hallett, Kinder, Wilber and Williams. Many other tests were passed including the first set of “A”s. This means swimming from Clark’s Point back to camp, no mean distance, although sundry fathers might call it a vary moan distance.
ACHIEVEMENT: Let me add a final happy note. Gill Cochran is the first boy in camp to pass all his aquatic tests.
