WEATHER AND DIET: You will note on the day to day chronicle that we have had little rain until Sunday when there was a considerable downpour. We had previously gone for something like two years with no such interruption to our outdoor supper. Last night we had to eat our “Mouldybergers” indoors. This forbidding name is applied because these delicacies are fabricated by “Mouldy”. In other circles, he is known as Robert Pickett. This operation gives our cooks an afternoon off.

RESULTS: Our remark last week that we bad vacancies has already produced one and possibly two new boys. May this good work go on. If I had time to count, I think we would have nearly a hundred at the moment.

CURRENT RAGE: In the unregimented atmosphere of Hyde Bay, fads and fancies develop and die with remarkable rapidity. Right now it is chipmunks. You may know this small striped aniomal by some other scientific name. The species which inhabit Hyde Bay have such a low mentality that campers are able to catch them in large numbers in weirdly constructed traps. The high spot was to see a burly councilor leading one of those tiny rodents about the camp on a chain.

THE WEEK STARTS: June 30th proved to be Monday. It was clear and warm although subsequently overcast. Sherman Murphy and his satellites hiked up Shadowbrook. Tripmeister Brown with assistants Stanley and Pine sailed down the Susquehanna on the first of many such trips. Jeff Williams gave up the seafaring life long enough to take his tent to spend the night on Gravelly. Ronny Johnston rounded out a foursome of golfers over where we have such privileges. It is said to be the third oldest course in the United States.

COMES JULY: A beautiful day with lots of swimming ushered in this month. Councilor Classen took a group of small boys out fishing with modest results. Our horses received new footwear at the hands of a travelling blacksmith. These artisans are rare in this motorized region. We were fortunate to find one. Councilors Samborski and Walter McManus took their tents beyond Shadowbrook for a supper en the beach. Many boys enjoyed rides in our motorboat known as the “Hacker”.

JULY SECOND: Good swimming and much sailing featured this warm but overcast day. The feature of the day was a hike along the ridge which Judge William Cooper called “The Vision” or mount Vision, which campers call Strawberry Mountain. Bob Pickett and a staff of sure—footed councilors led this hike. Midway on the trip they explored that interesting formation known as Natty Bumppo’s Cave. It was one of our longest hikes ever. More rapidly and in mere patrician fashion, Bob Rockwell hiked on horseback. At night we saw a movie called “The Ring of Fear” dealing with the vicissitudes of sundry circus people.

______________Back of Page _____________________

THURSDAY: Rain punctured the overcast sky but it presently became a clear, hot and breezy day with the consequent popularity of our sailboats. Under the mistaken impression that the weather was destined to be bad, the Susquehanna trip was postponed. In the Junior Softball League, the Mouldybirds paradoxically defeated the Winners 11—6. There was activity on the volley ball court. We essayed water—skiing in the afternoon. The R. Jack Garver Memorial golf course burst into activity. It will return to its former name of Glimmerglass Greens when the sign is discovered in its present hiding place.

FRIDAY THE FOURTH: Clear and beautiful, chancing to cloudiness with a light shower. Out went the postponed Susquehanna trip under Daniel Boon Brown and sundry assistants. Dick Carlton conducted a motorized flotilla to the famous Sunken Islands, a shallow spot in the lake nearly a mile from camp where swimimming can be enjoyed on this historic shoal. Frank Pine and a group stalked the wary fossils. Another softball game saw the slippery Rocks score 17 points to Klassens Klassy Klowns one. Murphy and Charlie Classen took their tents far up the bay for supper despite a downpour which would have prompted the mother of every camper concerned to inquire solicitously “Do you have your rubbers on?” At night we had Sparklers and toasted marshmellows along with some allegedly illegal fireworks.

THE DAY AFTER: Back under the lowering clouds came the Susquehanna trip reporting a rainy night relieved by exposure to fried snapping turtle on the menu. We were able to hold baseball practice in the afternoon. Rain considerately descended upon us while we were at supper.

DRAMA: Veteran producer Schwartz with his equally veteran assistant Stanley Heuisler came forth with four excellent tent plays. Bill Brooks and his boys portrayed a type of morality play new to the Hyde Lay stage. Grayson Boyce and his tent gave an entirely new episode in the life of the famous Zorro. Pyramus and Thisbe was charmingly presented by John Hendee’s tent with the proprietor appearing as a most ferocious lion. Chipmunk-councilor Stanley sang an opening solo while no less a personage than the great Schwartz delivered a stirring epilogue. With all those temptations, the judges awarded the prize to a bizarre presentation by Jeff Williams and his tent, in which Mitch Miller starred so effectively so as to be called best actor of the evening. Todd Mulvenny as the only feminine lead was awarded the dubious title of best actress. His was a good enough performance to have scored with competition.

SUNDAY ENDS THE WEEK: In our quaint Hyde Bay parlance this heading is authentic. Most of the day was warn with a lot of swimming. In characteristic daffy human fashion having, submerged ourselves in water all afternoon, we fled to the dining-room to avoid more of the same dropping from the heavens. Our camp service was conducted by the head councilor making an effective use of sundry symbolic flashlights. The gonfalon for neatness went to tents #11 and #53B. Softballing Highballers defeated the Tags. Coach Macky disconsolately returned to his high chair.

The following are to be congratulated on passing their “D” swimming tests: J. White, Whitman, Taylor, Carlton, Murray, Gardiner, P., Houston, W. Hawks, Jimmy Redwood, and D. Thomson. That leaves only nine boys who have not passed any swimming tests.

Back to Home Letters
Back to The Lodge