Carl Hokanson provides a new piece of Camp Clark memorabilia.

Carl Hokanson provide a new piece of Camp Clark memorabilia. His brother Richard also a Camp Clark alumnus passed this document on to Carl and Carl forwarded it to me. This piece has a special point of interest for yours truly. So a special thanks to Carl and Richard Hokanson.

As I prepped this piece to get it ready to post (a little Photoshop tweaking) I read it as the tweaks brought out some of the faded words.

For the first time there it was my name Wayne Griffiths in a comtemporanous document from Camp Clark in it's 54th season.  Answering the question "what did you like best about camp?"
Wayne Griffiths "losing my fear of deep water".

If you can date this document that would be a great piece of info. With the passing of my mom and dad I have no idea of when this could have been. Two hints in the document 1. all the campers were 10 years old. 2. The cabin Craigleigh.  I was born in 1947 so this would make this document a 1957 writing. Meaning the camp's first season would have been circa 1903.

Thanks Carl and Richard. Enjoy memories. 

This great photo was taken by Renee Fazio.

Thank you Renee for granting permission for me to use your photo.

Please visit Renee's website to view her work.

I remember this view from my days at Camp Clark circa 1960.  How about you?

About Renee in her own words.

Renee Fazio is a self taught, ambitious photographer who specializes in glamour and family portraiture and special events.  She has a passion for capturing genuine emotions and goes out of her way to make everyone feel comfortable and laugh.

The daughter of an avid photographer, Renee grew up with a camera in hand.  At the young age of 8 she would line up her dolls for portrait sittings and take photos of them.  After she suffered the loss of her father she wanted his passion to live on through her.  She became actively involved in the art world studying from well known locals and reading as much as she could get her hands on.

Her work has been seen on the covers of New Bedford guide, and Dartmouth Guide.  She has also exhibited numerous times at Gallery X in New Bedford, MA.  Her piece "The beauty that Awaits," received newspaper recommendation in 2012.

A message from Renee: If I could say only one thing about my work it would be that I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to document these moments of your life.  

Great News: "Camp Clark" property Preserved Forever

Preserved Forever

Pete Mandell and Joe Larson

What news would Camp Clark alumni most want to receive? If you returned to the shore of Lawrence Pond in Sandwich, and parked on Great Hill Road across Lawrence Pond from the Camp Clark site, and saw an array of mega-mansions where once you swam, played ball, and sailed, you would be experiencing what many others have on returning to a memorable location on Cape Cod.

 Our news to you is to encourage you to make that return trip. You will not have the sad experience that others have suffered. That's because in 2003 the Town of Sandwich and the Cape Cod YMCA entered into a legal agreement called a Conservation Restriction to ensure that the land that was Camp Clark, and now owned by the Cape Y as Camp Lyndon, will never be turned into a subdivision.

 In Massachusetts a Conservation Restriction is provision in law whereby a landowner may give or sell the development rights on land, in perpetuity, with state approval, to an approved conservation organization. In this case, the Cape Y (landowner), sold the development rights to the Town of Sandwich Conservation Commission, which is legally obligated to preserve the land and ensure that it is maintained only for organized camping. The Cape Y continues to own the land and to pay much reduced property taxes (because it no longer can be developed for a pricey profit) to the town. Each Conservation Restriction is worded to spell out what can and cannot be done on the property in the future.

 In 2000 the Town of Sandwich enacted a town zoning bylaw that created what they call the Three Ponds District, comprised of land and water in the area surrounding Spectacle Pond, Triangle Pond, and Lawrence Pond. Camp Clark alumni will recall that the Quincy YMCA owns Camps Burgess (an arch rival in softball) and Hayward that border on Triangle and Spectacle Ponds. The bylaw has, as one of its purposes, the preservation of open space, rare and endangered species and habitats, and the scenic character of the District.

The District bylaw set the scene for the Town of Sandwich Conservation Commission and the Cape Cod Y to negotiate and sign, on December 17, 2003, a Conservation Restriction in return for a payment of $500,000 by the Town to the Cape Y. The restriction spells out what the Cape Y, and any subsequent owner may do with the land. In the case of the Camp property, the Cape Y all future owners, are prohibited from building homes, retirement developments, assisted living facilities, bed and breakfast places, nursing or convalescent homes, or open space residential developments. Also prohibited are mining excavating, dredging or removing soil, loam, peat, sand, rock, or other minerals or natural deposits. "Buffer" zones have been established for more limited uses. Also established is a Surface Water Protection District consisting of all the land within 300" feet of the shoreline of Lawrence Pond. The owner retains therights to fishing, boating, hiking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing (Ski Cape Cod!), camping and other outdoor recreational and organized camping activities.

The Town of Sandwich Conservation Commission has also purchased Conservation Restrictions on other land in the Three Ponds District and is legally responsible for ensuring that the conditions of all the Conservation Restrictions are complied with. The Restriction on the Camp Clark/Camp Lyndon land has been filed in the Barnstable Registry of Deeds (Book 18158 Pages 155-171). The Registry's web site is http://www.barnstabledeeds.org/getConnected.php  The web site allows the public to see, but not download and print documents. You have to order them at $1.00 per page.

The bottom line is that, barring action by the Massachusetts Legislature, the Camp Clark/Camp Lyndon property will forever remain a place for camping of the sort we were all lucky to experience. We encourage Camp Clark Alumni to send in comments about this news.

This great news comes to us from two of Camp Clark's most loyal alumni. Pete Mandell and Joe Larson. I would like to thank them for all that they have contributed and continue to contribute to this website. Their shared memories have informed and entertained us all. Thanks again Pete (Marylou) and Joe (Wendy).

Pete Mandell (L) and Joe Larson (R). 
2012 photo taken by Wendy during a recent visit by Joe and Wendy with Pete and Marylou at Pete's home in GA.

Camp Clark - July 2012.

These photos were taken by my wife Donna while she was on a vacation last week to see her family in the Taunton MA region. Thanks to her and her dad for taking the time to take these photos.

 I hope everyone enjoys them as much as I do.

We should all be happy to see just how well the current steward's of the land, lake and buildings are honoring their stewardship.

Although some of the buildings have changed.  And a few old ones are gone.  And some new ones have been built.  It is still the camp we all knew.

Thanks to the Camp Lyndon staff and it's supporters for keeping our camp memories alive and flourishing. 

Respect - Honesty - Caring - Responsibility

    #2012-01  The dining hall from the entrance to the waterfront.

 #2012-02  The dining hall and flag pole from the entrance to the waterfront.

 #2012-03  The "Junior" Section from the Gazebo area. The lake is to the left.

 #2012-04  The Boat House from the beach/ Gazebo area.

 #2012-05  The Gazebo near the waterfront entrance.

 #2012-06  The Gazebo near the waterfront entrance. The "Junior" Section in the distance. I believe the craft shop use to sit on the approximate footprint where the Gazebo now sits.

 #2012-07 The "Dining Hall".

  #2012-08 The "Junior Section" from the Gazebo area.

#2012-09 The "Waterfront and Junior Section" as seen from the "Boat House".

 #2012-10 The "Nature Shack". This was one of my favorite places to hang out. It's probably why I have a BS in Biology.

 #2012-11 The upper floor in the "Boat House". I helped pound nails into the sub-flooring when this building was being built.

 #2012-12 This building used to be the "Candy Shack" in the late 50's and early 60's. If memory serves me right.

#2012-13 The "Boat House".

#2012-14 Camp Staff Jeremy Shea served as Donna's guide for the tour. Thanks Jeremy for making this 2012 photo visit to "Camp Clark" possible.

#2012-15 The "Waterfront". This photo made me smile. It is a great feeling to see "our memories" are alive and well and kids are still there.

#2012-16 The "Boat House".

#2012-17 The "Waterfront" for the "Dining Hall".

 #2012-18 Inside the "Dining Hall".

#2012-19  The "Dining Hall" we all know. The kitchen, fire place and the dish room.

#2012-20 The entrance to Camp Lyndon

Respect - Honesty - Caring - Responsibility
Well Done!

Thanks to Pete Mandell and .....

his great news releases in Cape Cod and New Bedford newspapers we now have some new Camp Clark camper who have found us and the website. Thanks again Pete.


So over the last month I have been contacted by the following campers.

Marshall Roper, Don Johnson, Tom Tollefsen, Carl Johnson, Bob Caswell.

I have added them to our email list.

Marshall, Don and Tom have added some of their memories via their emails. I have ask and in two cases received their permission to post their comments. I will be doing those posting over the next few days.

I am really excited about these new contacts.

Thanks to Pete and thanks to those individual for taking the time to make the initial contacts.

For everyone who has joined us let me again invite you one and all to offer up your memories and photos for us all to share and enjoy. I will make every effort to get them posted so that they reflect your memories.

If I haven't said it before please consider this website to be yours as well as mine. It is ours to share the memories we all have. Yes I took the time to "build" the original but since then it has been the combined effort of all of you who have share your (in many cases) extensive memories.

So if you have something you want to share the space is there. If you have questions about how to contact me directly email me. For now look to the email that I will send out later today. It will contain complete contact info.

Every time someone offers a new piece to the puzzle I am so thankful to learn things I didn't know about the camp the people and the stories about the special place we all shared. Keep them coming.

My new information is the Uncle Bob Hastings is buried in Florida. I did a rather extensive search in the New England area to find him and his family.  To date I was only able to locate Allen in New York State.

A little teaser of the great materials I recently received from Pete Mandell. WAIT! lots more to come.

Click on each photo & the comments below the pictures for a larger version of the photo & comments.

Alvin Tripp

Alvin Tripp who was actually the model for the bugler in the center of one of the Camp Clark logos.

Another bit of Camp Clark trivia from Pete Mandell. 

I don't know the "kid" in this picture but that sure looks like a largemouth bass.

Camp Clark 1948. Thanks to Joseph Larson for these great additions to Camp Clark history.

CLICK each photo for a LARGER version.

Co-Wah Craft Shop and Lodge. 1st. floor is the craft shop. 2nd floor is lodge (14 campers).

Infirmary and nurse's quarters.
Added info from Joseph Larson

The Infirmary and nurses quarters were both in the building in the picture.
As I recall sick campers entered the right hand door and the door on the far
left was a separate entrance to the nurse's room(s). The Infirmary was at
the far end of the Senior section and near the start of the trail up to
Brownbread.

Waterfront

L to R Brian Handspicker (14), Meredith "Jerry" Handspicker,  Joseph Larson (15)

Note: Pete Mandell in the background between Brian and Jerry.

Waterfront

Joe Larson remembers the threat of fires on the Cape.

While waitng for Hurricane Irene to hit Massachusetts this last weekend I thought about Camp Clark and what we would have been facing as counselors were a storm like this to arrive durning the camp season. The closest that I could come to such an event was to recall our concern about forest fires which were common on the Cape in the 1940's and 1950's.

Fire brooms and buckets were posted around the camp. Anxious parents would sometimes call to Director if they heard of a fire at Camp Edwards Army camp, but thank goodness that during my years we never had a serious threat.

Joe Larson

Thanks Joe for the memory and for passing it on. Wayne

40 years ago this pass weekend. A memory from Paul Daffine

"I realized something today. It was 40 years ago this past weekend that we pulled the docks out, pulled the boats out and shutdown Camp Clark for the last time. We did it all while awaiting a tropical storm. That night we eat steaks and smoked cigars in the dining hall, not knowing it would be the last time."  Paul Daffine

As sad as that thought is to me I am forever thankful that Camp Lyndon has survived and is still there as a great reminder of the great place we all knew as Camp Clark.

Thanks Paul for giving us all an opportunity to remember it as it was.

Wayne Griffiths

Another nugget from Jonathan Rodwin.

Yet another great piece of memorabilia from Jon.



Maybe we can get Jon to auction off this great hat. What do you say Jon?

Anyone else jealous?

Well in any case Thanks for sharing.

Three recent views of Camp Clark (now Camp Lyndon)

Google Earth view of Lawrence Pond. Looks kind of like the shadow of a bird or a bat. With that in mind. The camp is in the area of the "head". The small square is the swimming dock.


The junior section from the boat house. Left to right the cabins were:Kiwanis, Rotary, Craigleigh and Co-Wah (above the arts and craft shop). Thanks to Dan Murphy



The top of Brownbread hill. Looking across the lake. The camp bay is to my right side in this picture. The back bay is to my left. I'm standing on the crest of the hill that is now mostly over grown. I remember a set of log steps that formed an amphitheater down the hill toward the back bay.
None of that appears to be there now it is all over grown.

Another piece of Camp Clark history.

This "history" was originally written on February 23, 2004 by Pete Mandell and can be seen on this website.

Pete Mandell writes...

I know where it was. I was there for about 14 years – 1940 – 1954, as camper, counselor and finally Assistant Waterfront Director.

My best guess is that the year is about 1944 - because the tent just visible on the extreme right (“Tent Two” ) was replaced by a cabin (“Gordon Cabin”) in 1945.

Camp Clark began on that site, operated by the New Bedford (MA) YMCA in 1928 on the former farm owned by a Mr. Clark. It was sold by the New Bedford Y to the Cape Cod YMCA in 1971 (’72?) and renamed Camp Lyndon – as a memorial to the late, youthful Lyndon Lorusso.

This information added by Shutterwi.

Additional charitable works of The Lyndon Paul Lorusso Charitable Memorial Fund can be seen here, here and here. The Lyndon Paul Lorusso Charitable Memorial Fund honors the memory of Lyndon Lorusso, who died in 1971 at age 17. It was founded by Lyndon’s parents, Paul and Lila Lorusso, and has provided millions of dollars to help the youth of Cape Cod.

The Lorusso family provided funding to the Cape Cod Y to purchase the camp. It’s current address is 117 Stowe Road, Sandwich, MA. Basic info on Camp Lyndon can be found here.

Camp Clark maintained a mailing address in Marstons Mills throughout the 1940's and ‘50's, changing it to Sandwich sometime following that period.

The New Bedford YMCA wanted to sell the site to private developers in the early 1970's. The writer and a group on concerned former campers and staff banded together to prevent that from happening and were finally successful in having the campsite sold to the Cape Cod YMCA.