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The Camp Store

Published on by Kathy Baker

The camp store, or trading post, was one of the highlights of the camping experience. Little girls looked forward to the time of day when they could line up to purchase items from the store with the feeling of independence. It was an event that most of the girls did not do in their daily lives.

“There was a little store, like a little shack, with a window that lifted up, and inside were candy bars, shampoo and items for sale,” said Caryl Sue Abendroth (1953-54). “You were given a certain amount of allowance to shop at the store by your parents. (If you didn’t know anyone, that was the place to meet new girls and have conversation.) I remember the sweatshirts with Camp Maqua on them and how comforting they were on a cold morning. It was so cozy to pull on a sweatshirt and it was such a luxury!”

A green and white camp tee shirt was the purchase Pat Rehmus (1962-65) bought and a brown Maqua tee shirt was recalled by Kim Hartwig in 1976. Cara Prieskorn used her money to buy a terry cloth tee shirt during her time at camp (1966-71). “My account would run out of money and I would worry about what my parents would say to me and if they would be mad when they picked me up because my money was all gone,” said Cara, who admitted they never got mad.

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Taps and Reveille

Published on by Kathy Baker

 

It was always an honor to be chosen to participate in the flag ceremonies at camp. The tradition of Reveille with the flag-raising, and Taps blown at flag lowering at the end of the night, were tradtions that remained in the memories of the women who participated.“I still remember what an honor and big deal it was to get chosen to raise or lower the flag,” said Jeri Smith (1965)– still puzzled by the selection process.

In the fifties, Janet Dixon recalled; “Each day began with a bugle playing Reveille and the lonesome sound of Taps at lights out.” For Dawn Sohigian (1966-74) it added to the wonderful structure that comprised the days at camp. Others, like Pamela Hartz (1966-75) loved waking up to the sound of the bugle blasting through the camp and the routines and structure that served as her anchor.

“There was a seating area where we would wait for the big bell to ring. We had to be there for flag raising,” said Beverly Schlatter (1944-49). “It was traditional—rain or shine. It was deemed to be quite important and attendance was required.” There were rules that were remembered surrounding the ceremony involving the flag—no bare feet, and coming and going by the bell in the sixties for Mary Obey.

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Close To Nature, Close To God

Published on by Kathy Baker

For many women, their experiences at the YWCA camp and Chapel Hill left lasting influences. Young girls, like Susan Ruterbusch (1947-52) and Debbie Tweedie (1965-72) felt the gorgeous views contributed to their feelings that they had never been closer to God as young girls.

“I loved running down the trails and walking up Chapel Hill in our whites,” said Katie Harris (1951-52). “I can remember thinking about God in the middle of nature and I think that was the most lasting memory–the nature and feeling very comfortable in that setting.”

For Ellen Hydorn (1954+), the services had a lifelong effect on her. “It was the first time I realized you could have a spiritual experience without the four walls of a church. So many sensual memories are tied to spirituality—and that was Chapel Hill—sights, sounds and smells and just the physical feeling of space.”

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The Spiritual View

Published on by Kathy Baker

The services, whether you believed or did not believe, were spiritual in nature because of their natural surroundings. Many of the girls had clear memories of the spot on the hill with the beautiful trees and view of the lake, and just as many reasons why they loved it.

As a present-day photographer, Anne Shutt (1961-66) had memories of dressing in whites to go to the services and the beauty of Chapel Hill. “It would photograph beautifully. Those were the years that I decided I wanted to be a photographer. I knew what I wanted to do at age ten. I was so into Camp Maqua and it was so beautiful.”

Linda Greenwald (1948-58) loved the scenery and sitting in the fresh air, as did Holly Foss (1966-72) who admired the views, but Valerie Monto (1964-68) not only enjoyed the view of the lake, but the boys from the camp across the lake patrolling by as they sat in their service!

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Those Little Catholic Girls

Published on by Kathy Baker

“Our family was Catholic and I remember when my parents made arrangements to send my sister to camp (1962) some of their friends worried that she would be “indoctrinated”, said Sue Augustyniak . “They had not started bringing the girls into town to the Catholic Church yet, so she went to the lovely interdenominational service and loved the singing and thought it was better than church. When I went, they would drive us into Hale to mass.”

Sharon Wilcox (1949+) said the Sunday rituals at Camp Maqua remain clear—whites placed at the end of the Catholic girls’ beds, so the counselors knew who to wake up for church—and off they went in a pickup truck, with those left behind marching up Chapel Hill for their service.

Anne Obey (1960-70) agreed that if you were Catholic, you did not get to sleep in on Sunday. She and her sister Mary Obey were raised strict Catholic. “That was the first thing my parents asked when they decided to send us to Camp Maqua—whether we could attend mass on Sundays. Off to the Catholic church we went in the Maqua “Woody” each Sunday,” said Mary.

Mary Grego (1960), Brooke Sauve (1949-51), Barb Ballor (1951-55), Maureen Moore (1968-70), Ruth Wiesen (1957-59) and Cynthia Behan (1945) all remembered bring crammed into the pickup truck or station wagon to go to mass, sometimes in a dress. Many of them wish they could go back in time to experience Chapel Hill.

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