Campers had several ways of getting to Camp Maqua, which included the bus that left from the Bay City YWCA or their parent’s vehicles. Once the girls arrived at camp, there was always a necessity to have a camp vehicle to provide transportation to and from overnight outings, emergency trips to the doctor or hospital, trips to church and shopping for supplies for camp.
The notes and minutes from ledgers at the YWCA discussed trucks as early as April 1, 1932. The camp committe had the decision whether to pay a flat rate to the YMCA or hire a truck and that summer they hired a truck on a mileage basis.
May 10, 1935, there was a mention in the minutes that read; “Balcer Brothers Bus Company has agreed to furnish busses for our campers at twenty-seven dollars a trip from Bay City to Camp Maqua.” Members of the camp committee, Mrs. Ramsey and Mrs. Hewitt were given the job of interviewing automobile dealers to secure a loan of a car for the camp season. The result was Mrs. Stegall of Packard Cars made sure Mrs. Ramsey’s car was in good condition and she loaned it to camp, even after two members investigated the loan of a car from a local dealer.
In 1936, the camp committee again discussed a camp car and Mrs. Hewitt suggested a station wagon, which was needed and could be purchased cheaper in the spring. “It is especially needed for transporting the girls to and from church on Sundays,” she said. Minutes in March stated there was still no decision, so the old car was sent to the factory “to be put in first class condition”.
By 1937, a station wagon was to be purchased for $500 in Detroit, “if a satisfactory finance can be worked out”, stated a committee member in the minutes, who also suggested the old camp car be sold for whatever money it could bring, and the March minutes verified the financing was agreed upon and the car was sold.
No mentions of vehicles were made until May 21, 1943, when the first item of business was to repair the station wagon, presumably the one purchased in 1937. “Work on the motor of the wagon has been done by the Travelers Garage at a cost of $68.05. After trying several places to get the woodwork put in good condition, Mrs. Macaulay finally took it to Saginaw to the Wienecke Company. Mr. Wienecke has promised to do a good job on it, the cost around $22. This will consist of almost an entirely new top and woodwork,” the report stated.
In 1945, ideas were discussed by the committee on how best to come up with money for a new station wagon. (Borrow from the finance committee, raise money through teas, bridge parties or food sales, some other money making project or something with the Community Chest, of which the YWCA was a member.)
On October 13, 1953, the minutes stated a station wagon had been offered to camp by Mr. Harry Richard.
Mr. William Watson, caretaker, was using the camp truck in 1958, which was left at camp during the winter with snow tires and a tank of gas, so he could get into the camp in the winter. In April 1959, his home had not been finished and he had requisitioned 80 gallons of gas. The camp committee decided to leave the truck at camp once again.
But, by May $900 had been collected to help pay for a 1957 Chevy ¾ ton truck from Reed Draper Chevrolet for $1789, including license. Also, a gift of a large station wagon had been offered to the camp and was to be delivered in June, which was in good condition.
A bill was submitted to the camp committee on October 2, 1958 for damages to the station wagon and the repairs would take place in the spring after storing it to dry out. The following summer the station wagon was stored at a private residence for $4/month.
The camp station wagon was sold in 1960 to the Dack Service Station for $100, according to the minutes. In 1961, minutes noted rental of a Rambler station wagon from Schumacher Auto Sales for $75 each month and by the end of the camp sessions, it was decided a standard station wagon was large enough.
The committee must have changed their minds, and they decided to rent the Rambler again after car rental research in 1962. There were questions later in the season about insurance for transporting campers and a gasoline credit card was to be procured.
Mr. Schumacher at Nash Schumcher was contacted in 1963 about renting or buying a new car. The rates were quoted at $90/month for a new wagon and $15-$20 for used. The committee decided to rent a Rambler station wagon demo and they rented one again the next summer, but decided it was inadequate and investigated a VW bus for the following season.
There were no notes until August 15, 1970 and by then the needs were listed as one private car for emergencies, one station wagon and one pickup truck for transporting campers. It may have been a wish list or a reality, but in July only a station wagon was listed under vehicles.
A report from the Social Services in 1974 recommended a more suitable vehicle! What did they end up with? Do you recall any of the camp vehicles?