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Homeletter 1934 Vol. 7, No. 2

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Hyde Bay
CAMP FOR BOYS

HERBERT E. PICKETT,
DIRECTOR
1935 HBC Logo COOPERSTOWN, NY
HYDE BAY HOME LETTER           VOLUME VII        NUMBER 2, 1934.

POSTSCRIPT.
Last issue we omitted several items.  First issues are always statisticalish.

GLOURI0US FOURTH.
We survived our national holiday very fortunately.  Thanksgiving should really be moved to the day after the Fourth.  We had no casualties.  During the morning most of the council assisted the smaller boys with their crackers, mostly small crackers.  In the evening the fireworks provided by the camp were liberally supplemented by supplies of the boys and a generous donation by Mr. Gildea. Each boy armed with a sparkler dashing about in the darkness was perhaps the most entrancing sight.

INITIATIONS.
After a supper party on hot dogs at the Three Willows, Saturday night, even hotter dogs were unleashed on the new boys.  Initiations were held with fearful tests of human courage and endurance.  Meanwhile the older boys with the Director and a few Councilors, had their endurance tested in Cooperstown by the histrionic deficiencies of the pugilistically competent Max Baer.  Home without incident.

BALL GAME.
On the Fourth, Mr. Marrian, Jack Young, Fred Levering, and Hammy Welhourn helped Springfield Center hand out a fearful defeat to the team of Roseboom, a nearby hamlet.
On Wednesday, the smallest hoys went down to play Chenango at soft ball.  The ball was soft but the game was not.  We lost by 25-5, or something like that.  Pitcher Huidekoper and Second-baseman Allner were the bright stars.  Best remark, "Hammy, which is right field?"  by a substitute going into the game.  Of course the Alumni have started the usual cry for Coach Welhourn1s blood, but we favor giving him another chance.

NEW THEATRE.
A building is nearing completion which will house a small theatre, a boxing and wrestling arena.  It is being built entirely by Jack Young and the U.L.  Some of the rest of us saw and pound a bit.  We plan to stress drama strongly.  We have make-up, and lights, and many ideas.

PUP TENT CITY.
A number of Spartam younger boys have been sleeping on the ground in pup-tents for several nights.  After the rain on Friday, The Thirteenth, the Director enacted the role of Mr. Hoover and broke them up.

NOMENCLATURE.
In this same "city" queer names appeared.  Carton Circle, Pickett Park, Cassilly Corners, Allner Alley, a bushel basket with the label, City Dump, and a sign pointing to city limits. All these names were done in early English in paint on scraps of board.

HORSES.
Our five horses are as follows: Xxxxxx, a veteran of two or three previous years, strangely enough, black.  Prince, also an old boy, a bay.  Three others were finally rented from a veteran horse-trader of Richfield.  They are a white pony of decided opinions, name “Silver”.  Sue, a dark brown with an alleged Kentucky origin, Betsy, headstrong and headless to be ridden only by councilors.  They are a gentle lot who make a pretty picture by the willows as they come down to the lake to drink.

SWIMMING.
Swimming councilor Boyce has done remarkable work with the small boys.  Every one has made an advance to another group in the Red Cross classification.  Almost all have been able to swim in from the float, all from the motor boat at anchor half way to the shore.  The reports will chronicle individual progress.

BOARDS.
All have been agog waiting for college examination results.  Mr. Russell tried to while away the time by riding the board known as the Aquaplane.  After falling off twice he announced that the Board was harder than any College Board except Latin.

FOSSIL HIKES.
Leslie and his crew have already been scouring the hills for fossils.  A beautiful male trilobite was brought the other day.  Some of the scoffers say that the ravine near Pathfinder Lodge is the best hunting ground.

NEW BOAT.
Herbert Smelser, the Motormuchus, went to Cortland recently and brought hom a beautiful new boat.  With his motor it makes a great wake in the waters of Otsego.

VISITORS.
Hyde Bay has been honored this week by a visit of a genuine 1934 Bride and Groom, Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Turner.  It has increased the letter writing volume of the Council by 183%.  Sighs have been heard.

LETTER.
At supper Thursday night the Director read a letter from Fanny Payne in which the excouncilor sent a personal message of a pat and humerous nature to every old camper and in fact to every one about Hyde Bay.  Doug Wise sent the camp a cordial telegram containing advice to the U. L. as well as wishes for our success.  Jimmy Turner brought a letter from Harry Lee Smith who waxes militant at Watertown

STORM.
We had a fierce rain on Friday during which a waterspout whirled its way up the lake past Sleeping Lion.  Hail also fell for a few minutes.  It halted work on the theatre.

 

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