Sunday, March 30, 2008
A special thanks to PJ Richardson and his staff.
Thanks to PJ and his staff for their hospitality during my recent visit to Camp Lyndon. PJ has provide me with a box of old photos and color slides from the Camp Clark era. I will be sorting, scanning and posting these photos up at this web site. I hope to attract former campers and their families. I would like to organize a reunion of old Camp Clark campers at Camp Lyndon.
Recent photos. February 2008.
This is the sign at the front entrance. The road between the beach and the chow hall / flagpole is in the same location. The road is now lined with a split rail fence.
Looking toward the swimming beach. My son Scott and I in late February 2008.
For the "old timers" the beach should look familar although more open, less trees than I remember. Notice the junior cabins to the right of the photo.
This is the dedication plaque that is on the rock in the picture above.
My son Scott at the flag pole. Same flag pole and chow hall. I recently spent sometime inside wandering around. Old timers will still feel right at home. It brought more than one tear to my eyes. Same wooden floors. Same stage area. Kitchen and dish room have had a face lift but still look the same. The ceilings have been sheeted. No more open rafters.
Junior section taken from the boat house dock.
View toward the chow hall and softball field.
Camp fire and awards ring. Just over the hill from the back of the chow hall.
The boat house taken from the swimming beach.
Current Nature Shack. I think this is a new Nature shack. The old shack was in the same general location as I remember it.
This is the back bay it was a "secret swimming area" used by the some of the workers. It was behind the Nature Shack and at the foot of the hill where we would have Sunday night services.
Old photos. Do you know anyone in these photos?
PHOTO #1
Circa 1967. This photo is a photocopy. I believe it was supplied by Brian E. Sandlin.Update: April 19, 2008 - Back row far right is Jim Whitehurst. He was a PE teacher some where in the Baltimore area during the year. His wife's name was Harriet. Thanks to the
Anonymous poster.Back row center. Striped shirt..Paul D. Back row left..Dick Lindsey. Far right second row from top..Janet Hastings. Thanks Paul D. IDing these individuals.
I believe back row second from left...Spike(?).
PHOTO #2
Circa 1965. Notice the boat house now has a deck on the front. See the photos above.
PHOTO #3
Circa 1965. I learned to row a boat, paddle a canoe, sail, and water ski from this area.
PHOTO #4
Circa 1964. From the craft shack I learned to make and lanyard using gimp. I'm proud to say 45 some years later I can still whip out a lanyard. Water skiing however isn't quite as spontaneous and easy.
PHOTO #5
Circa 1963.
Update: April 19, 2008 - Back - Women is Harriet Whitehurst the wife of Jim Whitehurst (Assistant Camp Director). Thanks to the
Anonymous poster.PHOTO #6
Circa 1962.
PHOTO #7
Circa 1962. I believe the boat driver Bill Eckert. This is the Boston Whaler I learned to waterski behind.
PHOTO #8
Circa 1962. The adult in the upper left is Uncle Bob.
PHOTO #9
PHOTO #10
Circa 1962. Most of these photos were taken by: Commercial Photographer David L. Richards, 16 Davis Road, Braintree MA. Anyone know if the studio still exists?
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Old Photos
This is me circa 1957. I'm standing on the side of the first cabin I stayed in. I cannot remember it's name but hope to figure that out soon. This was my first day at Camp Clark.
Update: One of us appears to have failed math. She contends she is 3 in this picture and that it must have been taken 36 years ago. That would make her say 39 now. Here is the math problem. That would mean I'm 46. Understand being 46 is not the problem. Being 46 in the 60 year old body IS the problem.
This is me at roughly the same spot 40 years later and a "few" pounds heavier.
This is me circa 1960.
This was "Uncle Bob" Hastings in the early 1960's.
This is "Spike" circa 1960. I cannot remember his real name.
This I believe is Warren Hastings circa 1960.
This is a group photo taken circa 1960. Notice the flag pole and the chow hall that are both still there. Or at least they were in 1997. That's me the 5th from the right front row with the Camp Clark sweatshirt. I think the kid to my right is Donald Hastings.
The women on the left side of the photo was the camp cook. One day for what ever reason she up and quit. Packed her bags and left mid-morning. At that point we had no cook for approximately 100 campers. That's where my mom and sisters come in. I'll tell that story soon.
One little teaser. I had a teenage sister that summer. She got to spend several weeks at an all boys camp. Oh and did I mention that without showers we all had to take an early morning swim each morning. Oh one more thing no bathing suits this was bath time not swimming lesson time..
Monday, September 17, 2007
Memories of Camp Clark. Circa 1956-1966
Google Earth Photo.
This is a Google Earth Photo of a YMCA camp on Cape Cod Mass.
CAMP CLARK as I remember it.
A-Uncle Bob's cabin and camp offices.
B-Boathouse that I "helped" build. I remember pounding nails in the new floor.
C-Chow hall and rainy day activity center.
D-Water front.
E-Junior campers cabin areas.
Camp Clark was owned by the New Bedford YMCA in the 1950 and 60's.
Now it's Camp Lyndon.
Summers at Camp Clark has to be one of my fondest childhood memories.
My Mom and Dad somehow managed to scrape together enough money to send me to this wonderful place.
Each day at Camp Clark started like THIS.
It was here that I learned to swim, sail, water ski and paddle a canoe. It is here that I learned to love nature. That I learned the basics of plant and animal life and exploring the outdoors. It was here that I learned to make a lanyard out of gimp.
I can remember the steam rising off the early morning water front and the sound of the screen doors slamming on the chow hall.
I can still see Uncle Bob (the camp director) and smell the sweet aroma of his pipe.
09/17/07 Update: Uncle Bob's assistant was a guy we called Spike. I'm sorry I cannot remember his name. Uncle Bob's family was from Marion MA where he lived at 48 Main Street until 1981. His family: Wife -Evelyn. Sons - Alan, Donald and Warren. I believe there was a daughter and she was the youngest.
I can still remember the end of session camp fires that included the great magic of a bonfire that started with a great flash of flames and a loud W.O..O..S..H you could hear and feel. NO matches NO flares and NO torches...just "magic".
This magic was created by an appropriate incantations of a senior councilor and as I learned many years later a well timed exothermic chemical reaction assisted by a commonly available accelerant. GAS! See the update below.
Maybe this is why they always had lot of shiny hand pumped fire extinguishers available. They were worried about the candles!
A campfire that included games and fun competitions like laying head to head on the ground with a mouthful of water and a flaming candle on the ground between the each contestant. The object being to extinguish thecandle.
A camp fire where we each received our awards for swimming (minnow, flyingfish, shark, junior and senior life saving). I can still remember the pride of hearing your name being called and getting a badge or certificate to signify your success.
I can still remember the chow hall with it's long tables. One table for each of the many cabins. A long table with the campers and their counselor and CIT (counselor in training). The food served family style. The boxes of cold cereal the we would cut open along the dotted H line and simply pour in milk. Platters of pancakes, french toast, and bacon.
I can still remember the camp songs sung in the chow hall after the noon meal.
Two of my favorites.
Bill Grogan's Goat. Lyrics here.
There's a Hole at the Bottom of the Sea. Lyrics here.
I can still remember the dish-room it's sound and smells and the time I had to spend cleaning dishes when our cabin pulled kitchen duty.
I can still remember the required afternoon rest periods in our cabin bunks.
I can still remember the Sunday evening services on Brown Bread Hill with it's very own "Old Rugged Cross". It was a YMCA camp after all. Lyrics to the Old Rugged Cross HERE. Listen HERE.
I can still remember the the sorrow of seeing mom and dad's car pulling away on that very first Sunday of my very first summer, the tears and the fears of them leaving me at this strange unknown place. And yes, I can still remember the disappointment of the Saturday morning two weeks later when I had to go home. I can remember begging them to let me go back. PLEASE! PLEASE!
And of course, I STILL have great memories of this great place on Lawrence Pond on Cape Cod Mass.
Today some fifty years later it still is a summer camp where boys and now, girls learn to swim, sail, have campfires and learn crafts.
Today it is called Camp Lyndon. Still a wonderful place and a wonderful story.
A story of how my 25 year old nephew in the summer of 1997 helped me re-discover the "lost" Camp Clark... The story of the day 45 years later when I returned to these fond memories and sights.... This story I will tell someday soon. Hopefully, with pictures if I can find them.
Updates: Here is that promised story with pictures.
Each day at Camp Clark ended like THIS.
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the hills, from the lake,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.
09/16/07 UPDATE: Today I posed the following question to a local college chemistry professor "what commonly available chemicals might be used to start a fire by an exothermic reaction". His answer was dead on. Read this. Read the section that describes USES. OH by the way DO NOT try this at home.
This solves an old mystery for me. I guess it wasn't the incantations after all. Thanks R.D.
This is a Google Earth Photo of a YMCA camp on Cape Cod Mass.
CAMP CLARK as I remember it.
A-Uncle Bob's cabin and camp offices.
B-Boathouse that I "helped" build. I remember pounding nails in the new floor.
C-Chow hall and rainy day activity center.
D-Water front.
E-Junior campers cabin areas.
Camp Clark was owned by the New Bedford YMCA in the 1950 and 60's.
Now it's Camp Lyndon.
Summers at Camp Clark has to be one of my fondest childhood memories.
My Mom and Dad somehow managed to scrape together enough money to send me to this wonderful place.
Each day at Camp Clark started like THIS.
It was here that I learned to swim, sail, water ski and paddle a canoe. It is here that I learned to love nature. That I learned the basics of plant and animal life and exploring the outdoors. It was here that I learned to make a lanyard out of gimp.
I can remember the steam rising off the early morning water front and the sound of the screen doors slamming on the chow hall.
I can still see Uncle Bob (the camp director) and smell the sweet aroma of his pipe.
09/17/07 Update: Uncle Bob's assistant was a guy we called Spike. I'm sorry I cannot remember his name. Uncle Bob's family was from Marion MA where he lived at 48 Main Street until 1981. His family: Wife -Evelyn. Sons - Alan, Donald and Warren. I believe there was a daughter and she was the youngest.
I can still remember the end of session camp fires that included the great magic of a bonfire that started with a great flash of flames and a loud W.O..O..S..H you could hear and feel. NO matches NO flares and NO torches...just "magic".
This magic was created by an appropriate incantations of a senior councilor and as I learned many years later a well timed exothermic chemical reaction assisted by a commonly available accelerant. GAS! See the update below.
Maybe this is why they always had lot of shiny hand pumped fire extinguishers available. They were worried about the candles!
A campfire that included games and fun competitions like laying head to head on the ground with a mouthful of water and a flaming candle on the ground between the each contestant. The object being to extinguish thecandle.
A camp fire where we each received our awards for swimming (minnow, flyingfish, shark, junior and senior life saving). I can still remember the pride of hearing your name being called and getting a badge or certificate to signify your success.
I can still remember the chow hall with it's long tables. One table for each of the many cabins. A long table with the campers and their counselor and CIT (counselor in training). The food served family style. The boxes of cold cereal the we would cut open along the dotted H line and simply pour in milk. Platters of pancakes, french toast, and bacon.
I can still remember the camp songs sung in the chow hall after the noon meal.
Two of my favorites.
Bill Grogan's Goat. Lyrics here.
There's a Hole at the Bottom of the Sea. Lyrics here.
I can still remember the dish-room it's sound and smells and the time I had to spend cleaning dishes when our cabin pulled kitchen duty.
I can still remember the required afternoon rest periods in our cabin bunks.
I can still remember the Sunday evening services on Brown Bread Hill with it's very own "Old Rugged Cross". It was a YMCA camp after all. Lyrics to the Old Rugged Cross HERE. Listen HERE.
I can still remember the the sorrow of seeing mom and dad's car pulling away on that very first Sunday of my very first summer, the tears and the fears of them leaving me at this strange unknown place. And yes, I can still remember the disappointment of the Saturday morning two weeks later when I had to go home. I can remember begging them to let me go back. PLEASE! PLEASE!
And of course, I STILL have great memories of this great place on Lawrence Pond on Cape Cod Mass.
Today some fifty years later it still is a summer camp where boys and now, girls learn to swim, sail, have campfires and learn crafts.
Today it is called Camp Lyndon. Still a wonderful place and a wonderful story.
A story of how my 25 year old nephew in the summer of 1997 helped me re-discover the "lost" Camp Clark... The story of the day 45 years later when I returned to these fond memories and sights.... This story I will tell someday soon. Hopefully, with pictures if I can find them.
Updates: Here is that promised story with pictures.
Each day at Camp Clark ended like THIS.
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the hills, from the lake,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.
09/16/07 UPDATE: Today I posed the following question to a local college chemistry professor "what commonly available chemicals might be used to start a fire by an exothermic reaction". His answer was dead on. Read this. Read the section that describes USES. OH by the way DO NOT try this at home.
This solves an old mystery for me. I guess it wasn't the incantations after all. Thanks R.D.
Alumni site for YMCA Camp Clark Sandwich MA
Welcome!
I'm hoping to make this site a gathering point for former Camp Clark campers.
I spent many summers at Camp Clark circa 1957-1962.
Camp Clark is now Camp Lyndon and you old campers will be glad to hear that it is alive, well maintained and for the most part has not changed much.
This is the website for: Camp Lyndon
I want to thank "PJ" from Camp Lyndon for taking the time to talk to me and encourage this endeavor.
I'm hoping to organize a reunion at the camp on Lawrence Pond.
If you have access to a computer try visiting this site for a great satellite view.
Google Earth website
I'm hoping to make this site a gathering point for former Camp Clark campers.
I spent many summers at Camp Clark circa 1957-1962.
Camp Clark is now Camp Lyndon and you old campers will be glad to hear that it is alive, well maintained and for the most part has not changed much.
This is the website for: Camp Lyndon
I want to thank "PJ" from Camp Lyndon for taking the time to talk to me and encourage this endeavor.
I'm hoping to organize a reunion at the camp on Lawrence Pond.
If you have access to a computer try visiting this site for a great satellite view.
Google Earth website
Sunday, August 12, 2007
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