John Ruggles just sent me this photo of kids leaving for Camp Clark in 1937. His dad is name in the photo. I believe this is the oldest photo I have received. New Bedford Standard Times July 8, 1937.

 

Kids leaving for Camp Clark 1937.

Original news paper clipping. New Bedford Standard Times July 8, 1937

Submission from Marylou Mandell

 

Welcome to the Camp Clark website for former campers and their friends and families and all who are interested in the story of the acres of natural beauty located in Sandwich, Massachusetts.  Camp Clark has a long and interesting history beginning in 1908 as established by the New Bedford YMCA and known at that time as Sea Breeze and located on the banks of a river in Westport, Massachusetts at a spot called Barney’s Joy.

In 1928 the camp was relocated to a site on Lawrence Pond in South Sandwich, Massachusetts.  The property was purchased as a result of a gift from a gentleman by the name of Mr. A. Frank Clark operated as a YMCA overnight camp until 1972 when it was sold to the Cape Cod YMCA and renamed Camp Lyndon.

The history of Camp Clark has been made possible by the help of former campers and friends who contributed to the collection of the material that you see on this site.  However, this site would not be possible without the considerable time and efforts of Wayne A. Griffiths whose love and devotion to the camp are evident as you go through the website.

Wayne was a former camper from about 1955 until about 1961. After graduation from high school in 1965, he enlisted in the USAF and became a medic.  After returning from active duty in 1970, Wayne was convinced that Camp Clark was no longer in existence and upon taking a meaningful trip to find it, he was thrilled to find it still there. 

In about 2007 Wayne set about the work of documenting the camp through his development of this website.  His work continues and as of July 2022, he is working with the Cape Cod YMCA to incorporate the Camp Clark history website with the Cape Cod YMCA via a website link.

There will be two plaques in the dining hall at Camp Lyndon presented as a part of the 50th celebration of Camp Lyndon in July 2022 and those will be commemorating:

* The work of  Peter Leonard Mandell as Chairman of his successful “Committee to Save Camp Clark”. and,

* A plaque recognizing the work of Wayne A. Griffiths in establishing the ongoing Camp Clark website.

We will be posting videos of these 2022 presentations on the Camp Clark website.

Thank you for the efforts of all former campers and staff who were involved in saving Camp Clark and its legacy.

Sincerely, Marylou Mandell

A personal note from Wayne. This history of Camp Clark was submitted by Marylou Mandell the wife of Pete Mandell. With Pete's passing on November 12, 2020, at the age of 87, Marylou took up the mantel of ensuring that Pete's work to save the camp was not forgotten. A large portion of the early history details on this website was from Pete's memories and writings. Including a video dating back to the late 1930s early 1940s. 

 Pete Mandell's Historic Video circa 1930-1940  

As Marylou continues to explore Pete's archives of Camp Clark she continues his work by submitting new material for the website.

We all owe a great debt of gratitude to Pete and Marylou Mandell for the history we have gathered.

The first location of what was to become Camp Clark. New Bedford YMCA, Sea Breeze camp circa 1908, Westport MA.

Camp Clark has a long and interesting history beginning in 1908 as established by the New Bedford YMCA and known at that time as Sea Breeze and located on the banks of a river in Westport, Massachusetts at a spot called Barney’s Joy.

 

G. Latimer Hannum. This photo comes from Pete Mandell's archives of Camp Clark.

                                                             G. Latimer Hannum.

         This photo comes from Pete Mandell's archives of Camp Clark.   The photo was sent to us by Pete's wife Marylou. Who obviously still has a sharp memory.  

I just received this photo from Marylou Mandell. She found it in Pete's Camp Clark memorabilia.

(R to L) Bruce Bochman; Pete Mandell; Hap Greenhalgh; George Wright; Dick Davenport and Joe Larson

Update: As of this posting comment (06/28/2023) Joe Larson (Green Shirt far right) has had his 90th birthday. Happy Birthday Joe! Wayne, Marylou, Donna

 

 

 

Rev. Paul G. Favor and group staff photo. Including Paul Favor and Alan Mandell (Pete's older brother).

Rev. Paul (Gordon) Favor (?)

Paul Favor 1921 from Duluth MN. Public School Yearbook. Paul Favor was listed as a coach in the high school. A YMCA document also lists him as a Duluth YMCA staff member.

Leave it to Pete Mandell and Joe Larson. "The House of Seven Doors." yet more Camp Clark lore.

The Lawrence Pond screensaver image shows the Camp Beach in the foreground, and across the Pond is a white house. Did Pete tell you about the "House of Seven Doors"?

It was a story that Pete manufactured to tell his campers. It describes a person who is trapped in a house, and the only way out is to open a series of doors into separate rooms - each occupied by some person or animal, or something else that was horrible, that had to be subdued before the next door could be opened. As I recall, he told the story of each door and room over a series of seven nights. This allowed him to tell the whole story before any of the campers went home. To put a little pizzazz into the story, on the seventh night, he would reveal that the white house across the pond was the "House of Seven Doors''. When we took campers on a seven-mile overnight hike to the ocean Sand Dunes, we had to use the road that passed the House of Seven Doors. Sometimes we told the campers to "step lively" until we had passed the house. Naturally, the campers would beg him to tell the story again. 

Editors note: I'll bet there is a pretty good chance that the seven occupants are still there during the months the camp is occupied.

"The White House with the Seven Doors"

Jim Howard at camp 1956 - 1958. Jim has some good memories / tales and reminds us of Carl Johnson, Bob Dennie, Al Doig (A Dog), Bob Hastings and Tom Tollefsen

Hi Wayne…….

                     I came across the Camp Clark website a while back, and it sure has brought back a lot of memories.  I initially went to Camp Clark as a dishwasher in 1956.  I had a great time, and one night I even got to view the dishwashing machine from the inside – thanks to the senior counselors.

 

Those guys also discovered that I was a real heavy sleeper which led to me waking up out in the woods, down by the waterfront, and one time in the dining hall with no idea how I got there.

 

I returned the next year as a CIT and spent the summer in the junior section.  I believe my counselor was Carl Johnson.  I also became the camp bugler that year.   I remember one morning not being able to find the bugle.  Turned out it was at the top of the flagpole!  Never did find out who did it.   I was also able to improve my swimming skills that summer which led to me being able to assist on the waterfront the following year.

 

In 1958 I shared counseling duties with Al Doig in the cabin above the craft shop.  We were overseen by Bob Dennie, and it was my job to bring him  a jug of warm water every morning so he could shave.  Al (A Dog) and I led the singing in the dining hall that year.  I enjoyed seeing the words to the songs on the website.

 

Unfortunately, 1958 was my last summer at the camp.  I had some major surgery later that year and I was not recovered enough to be able to attend.  I did land a job working for Bob Hastings in the youth department at the New Bedford Y that year and continued to work there for about 3 years. I believe I succeeded Tom Tollefsen in that position.  During that time I was able to take a course at Springfield College to become a Leader/Examiner and passed the Red Cross test at the Y to be certified as a Water Safety Instructor.  That led to two summers of Lifeguarding at Anthony Beach in Dartmouth, MA.

 

I now reside in Burlington, NC with my wife Marilyn, and work a full-time job managing a division of the Industrial Rivet & Fastener Company that is based in NJ.  I enjoy the job and retirement is not in my plans.  

 

Thank you for the website, and I look forward to future postings.

  

The following comments arrived via a letter sent to Shutterwi. The comments were made by Joe Larson after seeing the video in the post below. The video was provided by Pete Mandell's widow Marylou Mandell. Marylou followed up on Pete's promise to send the video.

 Comments on the Camp Clark videos:

There sure were many tents in camp at this time. By the time I arrived on the scene, there were no tents used for campers. They had all been replaced with wooden cabins. The kitchen boys had a tent near the Mess Hall, and there was one right next to the Director's "Lodge" for who?

Wayne - you are correct that the flag pole seen from the beach must have been on Brownbread. In my time, it had been replaced by a wooden cross, and we had Vespers on Sunday evening on that site.

One scene shows people playing ping pong on the beach. In the background is the so-called little "Boat House" that looks like a one-holer outhouse. No boats could fit in it - only oars and paddles. The week following the Camp closing, counselors dragged the boats and canoe up to and inside the mess hall (remember the double doors on the mess hall?)

In my day, the Totem Pole was much larger and located on the little hill (where once stood the little "Candy Store" hill overlooking the baseball. outfield...

The Junior Section scenes jogged my memory that the cabins were named Kiwanis, Rotary, and Craigleigh. Wayne, do you agree?

It appears that a lot of outdoor games were played in those days. I do remember that the ballfield we used when playing against other camps was up in the woods near the Camp Burgess property line. Or maybe we borrowed it from Burgess?

There was a quick scene of campers entering the outdoor Chapel just outside of the Junior Section. The last time I was at the Camp, it had disappeared.

The beach scenes showing the diving raft brought back a memory I will never forget.  There used to be a one-holer outhouse up behind the infirmary that legend held that it had been built for former Director Paul Favor. It was held together with hooks and eyes for easy disassembly. One Saturday night, the senior counselors - minus Pete - disassembled the outhouse and carried the parts down to the beach. The parts were laid across a rowboat that was then towed by swimmers out to the diving raft. The outhouse was re-erected on the raft. The door was left ajar so that the toilet roll could be seen - with toilet paper strung out the door and into the water. The next day was Sunday when all staff and campers were required to soap up and take a naked bath at the beach. There was a dense mist over Lawrence Pond - and as it lifted, raft, outhouse, and toilet paper came into view. The Camp Director, one  G. Latimer Hannum, was speechless. No one would take responsibility, so he directed that all the counselors would take part in moving the outhouse back to its rightful location.  Pete Mandell felt that the prank was inappropriate to the memory of Paul Favor. He had refused to be involved in any way with the matter.

Complements of Robert Zimmerman's Photos

The docks for the swimming beach were very different than in my day. But the old sailboat shown in one scene was familiar. I bet that it was one that Pete used to sail on the Pond and try to cross the underwater sand bar that blocked sailboats with a keel to cross into what we called Hoxie's Cove. Peter would pull the keel up or lean way over to lift the keel somewhat. He would some times get across the bar - with much cheering. When he failed, the sailboat shuddered, leaned over, and sometimes dumped Peter in the water.

(L) Pete (R) Joe

See the link in the post below.

This is a rough cut of a video that Pete Mandell acquired over the years. This video has footage starting in 1939 ending in 1943. I have added music clips and several photos. I will be polishing it working toward a final version. Enjoy.

To view this video using the following links below.

Link to Pete Mandell's 1939-43 Video

A personal note: The kids and adults in this video were born in the late 1920s early 1930s. The reality is that most if not all have long ago passed away. As always to attend the camp the kids would have been  

7 years old in 1939-1943