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HYDE BAY HOME LETTER 19th SEASON August 3 - 9, 1945
Return Home. Word has just come from the railroads to say that we will be allowed to close camp on the day we had planned. The supervised group will therefore leave Ft. Plain at 8:56 a.m. on the morning of Thursday, August 23. If proper connections are made in Albany, they should arrive in New York at 3:15. Failing to make the 3:15, they will arrive in New York at 4:40. Parents from New York and vicinity will be expected to meet their children in Grand Central Station upon the arrival of the train, or let me know other arrangements. Boys who are not met immediately, will be instructed to proceed to the Incoming Train Room, and wait near the Bulletin Board. The supervised group will then take the next available Pennsylvania train for Baltimore and Washington. Under present travel conditions, it is impossible to be more definite in regard to this connection. If the group reaches Now York at 3:15, they will take the 4:30. If they arrive in New York sufficiently later, they will take a later train. Parents are asked to advise me promptly of any change in travel plans.
Weather. This week has been the best of the camp season so far. No rain has fallen for the last four days. There has been excellent weather for sailing, and temperatures high enough to promote swimming. We are hoping for a continuation of this atmospheric new deal.
Health. It is a pleasure to report that the infirmary this past week has been empty as the head of this editor as he starts to compose this home letter.
Tent-of-the-Week. The experiment described last week is proving quite a success. The tent—of—the—week is No. 3, where Councilor Jim Waters presides ever Messrs. Clark, Crisler, Egerton, Fox and Joslin. This distinguished group will have the privilege of visiting Cooperstown to witness a movie era many days have passed. Scores this week were much lower than last, but still creditable.
Sports. With the return of good weather, a baseball tournament rages in the soft-ball league. Ten games have already been played, The tennis tournament is progressing rapidly under the stimulus of good playing conditions. An innovation has been an outburst of dodge ball in the chalked circle which once served as the race track for the turtles. A wrestling tournament is in full swing. There are seven weight classes; the first round has already been finished.
Cinema. The movie was given on Monday night, rather than Wednesday this week, because it was judged that no evening could be quite so atmospherically unpleasant. Sure enough, Tuesday and Wednesday proved clear and inviting. The presentation was, “The Road to Morocco” portraying the trials and tribulations of Mr. Hope, Mr. Crosby, and Miss Lamour.
Bingo. Monday was one of the worst days on the score of weather in many a camp season. Cold, dismal rain fell all day. Much of the campers time was taken with a rousing Bingo game in the lodge.
Departures. George Wallis and Gilbert Colgate, having completed their tutoring, have checked out during the week. By way of compensation, Wendell Patton has returned from his sojourn with the mumps.
Strawberry Nights. Tents 3, 8, 9, and 12 spent the night on Strawberry Mountain which overlooks the camp. The weather was kind in every case. Deep slumber was reported by all.
Hikes. Under the leadership of the Pickett boys during their brief sojourn at camp, as well as directed by other councilors, several gangs have explored Mohican Canyon, the alleged “haunted house” on the ridge toward Springfield, and other routine trips such as Sunken Island, and Shadow Brook.
The Dramatic Climax. The best plays of the year were presented last Saturday night, rising to a grand crescendo when Tent 16 presented a scene from a nearby camp for girls. It was a treat for the eyes of even the aged, to see such beautiful maidens as Billy Crawford, Pat Abbott, Angus McLean, and Joe Hooper, entertaining such masculine charmers as Ed Brazier and Bill Ward. The latter obliged with some tap dancing. The other plays were Buddy Gilpin’s tent in a drama of much sudden death, as well as charms and magic. Cub Harvey and his boys In Tent 12 portrayed life in house even madder than Tent 12.
Gastronomy. The first corn to come from our own garden graced our table on Sunday. More is following hard on the heels, or ears, of this much relished delicacy. Peach ice cream furnished a fitting climax to such a feast.
This IS Hay. On Saturday, the director and seven boys went down to harvest the hay crop for the camp horses. Four loads were gotten in. With rain in the offing, and some hay still out, some of the same boys, with a few new laborers went down on Sunday morning and cleared up the job. Weather conditions have made hay a scarce article in this locality, so the boys rendered a great service to the camp with their hard work.
Baseball. Even as this is being written, our teams are playing on historic Doubleday Field. We shall tell you more about that next week, when we know more about it,
Sailing. Dick Williams had the brilliant idea of having the small boys sail the three boats around close to the shore almost in front of the camp. The idea has taken on like the proverbial wild-fire, with constantly changing crews learning the fundamentals of sailing, under the watchful eye and bellowing voice of the innovator.
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