Ashes On The Lake

Published on by Kathy Baker Category: 1940's, Accidents and Illnesses, Blog, Camp Influences, Farewells and Goodbyes, Friendships and Relationships, Traditions

INTERVIEWS WITH GEORGE BROWN AND SHIRLEY WONTORCIK–Husband and best friend of deceased SANDY LANGELL BROWN

Sandy Langell spent three or four summers in the late forties at Camp Maqua and told her husband, daughter Trina and best friends Shirley and John Wontorcik that they were the best years of her life.

“One of the last things she asked me to do,” said her husband,” was to spread her ashes on Loon Lake. She loved the water, lakes and the country. I was able to determine what lake the camp was on from some notes she had made one year.”

“My wife’s personality was that of a bright and shiny person—always smiling. She was part fish and loved the water. She was so torn up to leave Midland when her father was transferred to Boulder, Colorado. Even though she graduated from high school in Boulder, she always came back for the Midland reunions.”

Sandy suffered a stroke and the passed away from cancer in December 2009 at the age of seventy-three. Shirley and John were able to track down who to contact at the camp and despite the fact that my husband and I were not up at the lake in early summer of 2010, residents Thom and Lydia Engel took her husband, daughter and two friends out by boat for the ceremony.

“We had a little service on their pontoon boat and spread her ashes and felt we couldn’t have been luckier,” said George. “The people who took us out were absolutely fantastic and they treated us like they had known us forever and even gave us a tour of the camp.”

Shirley and Sandy were close friends in middle school, but their friendship developed even more in high school. Although Shirley did not attend Camp Maqua, Sandy’s friend Dixie Maxwell went with her and has since died, also. Shirley also described her best friend as a fish but said she was very easy to get along with.

“It was the circle of life,” said George. “Those were the happiest days of her life. It was the biggest thrill for her to swim in Loon Lake and spend time with the other girls in the little cabins.”

Maggie LeDoux had a friend who passed away that had attended camp. She bought a book of camp songs from Restoration Hardware and sang them to her while she was ill, along with photos from camp. Cynthia Gregory was also at a funeral for a fellow camper and discovered at the wake that many of her friends had also camped at Maqua, so they all sang the songs. Kerry Weber had one wish from her camper friend who passed away—for her to share Maqua memories. These stories are reminders of how lasting the Maqua experience was for many young girls.

A few years ago, one of our beautiful Maqua residents, Sandy West, passed away from ALS. Those who loved her boated out on Loon Lake and spread her ashes over the water, as one of her favorite songs was played. I’m quite certain these traditions won’t be the last from our friends.

The Fiftieth Celebration

Published on by Kathy Baker Category: Blog, Camping Life, Off to Camp Maqua, Traditions

A document in the archives from 1974, was soliciting for donations for the “camp restoration program” for the fiftieth anniversary for Maqua. It listed “Trail Blazer” as $1,000+, “Maqua Sponsor” as $500-$1,000, “Camp Circle” as $300, “Century Camp” as $100, and “Builder” as $99 and under. Checks were to be addressed to YWCA Camp Maqua Fund and could be paid in installments.

The results of the Camp Maqua Improvement Fund Drive listed the amount pledged as $15, 737.32. There were 153 individual pledges totaling $13,237.32 and the Osthelder Foundation pledged $2,500.00. On January 7, 1975, the amount spent on improvements was $7, 525. 81. There was a list of itemized expenses, which included $3,947.97 paid to Bob Feasal for labor and materials. Paint, hardware items and lumber, as well as campaign expenses were listed. It left $6,392.51 in the checking account on that date.

The second session “Loon” edition was July 20. 1974 and it was Maqua’s fiftieth anniversary. (July 15 was the actual date, but camp celebrated on the 14th.) The day cleared after it rained in the morning. The camp worked on cabin projects such as cleaning the boathouse, washing the boats, cleaning the firebowls, and washing the cars. Two of the cabins made signs that instructed the cars to slow down and a sign to direct people where the camp was located. Some painted the trash cans, some created new song sheets and one cabin made a new cross for Chapel Hill. In the evening there was an old fashioned picnic at the waterfront with hot dogs and “S’Mores”. “It was a beautiful day and after taps, the trees whispered their thanks for all we had done,” the article ended.

There was a full page spread in the Bay City Times on April 4, 1974, titled “Celebrates Fifty Years” under a photo of the entrance sign of “Camp Maqua YWCA”. Times staff writer Gay McGee wrote the article detailing the history of the camp after a rally had been held at the YWCA to mark the date with old photos, stories and a few original campers there to celebrate. Photos from every era graced the pages

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sale Of Camp Maqua

Published on by Kathy Baker Category: 1970's, Blog, Buildings and Property, Maqua After Camp, Off to Camp Maqua

Bob Sukenik saw an ad in the Detroit News advertising the lodge for sale in 1979 by the Bay City YWCA. He submitted a sealed bid, forgot about it and after a business trip, arrived home to a congratulatory message from the YWCA. The following weekend he and his family drove north to see what they had bought.

“What we got was an abandoned camp that had been closed for quite a few years.—maybe five. Everything was quite dilapidated and nothing worked”, said Bob. “The toilets were called “Biffys” and I think the only one that worked was the one adjacent to the lodge. You could not see the lake from the lodge because of the dense forest of trees 8”-12” in diameter. There was some rudimentary wiring on half fallen poles. The lodge itself was a huge open room filled with tables and benches. It had no bathroom, running water or heat.”

“It had not been vandalized, but small animals had chewed through the back screen doors. On that weekend, we were sitting inside and a chipmunk ran across the floor, stopped and looked at us with a face of no fear and proceeded to run into the kitchen, eat some of our dog food in the bowl on the floor, then scampered back out. Groundhogs were also a problem, eating all the tomatoes that had been planted by the west side outdoor wall.”

“Now that we had it, we had to figure out what to do with it. It was a gorgeous piece of property on a beautiful lake”, said Bob. “Our first thought was that we might be able to fix it up and lease it to someone who might want to operate it as a camp again. That didn’t work. We fixed it up so that it was relatively safe, but never even found the slightest bit of interest. We had an opening party for our friends that out to be a work weekend just to survive. It is a miracle they took to it so happily and that they remained friends.”

“Lacking any better ideas, we decided to convert the lodge into a duplex and subdivide the rest of the property for sale. This required surveying, making decisions on subdivision, writing restrictions and setting up the Maqua Association,” continued Bob.

“We continued to work many a weekend doing one thing or another to upgrade the property. One spring weekend, with no heat and freezing temperatures at night, my son Jim and I plus a few of his friends, slept in front of a roaring fire on the west side in front of the fireplace. (This was where you broiled on one side while freezing on another!) The heat also woke up a few mosquitoes, so it was not too comfortable. The boys had built a huge fire. Suddenly, there was a roaring sound, and I discovered what it meant by a chimney fire. We went outside and watched flames shooting out of the chimney for about one minute.”

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Camp Falls On Hard Times

Published on by Kathy Baker Category: 1970's, Blog, Buildings and Property, Directors, Counselors, Staff

IMG_0007Camps across the country were closing in the seventies for many reasons. Some of these camps were positioned in areas that were popular for vacations and second homes. Property taxes had risen and many families began taking family vacations together, instead of shipping their kids off the camps. Camps closed when they could not afford to operate with high bills and lower enrollment. The media was focusing on issues of pedophilia within some camps, which caused parents to tighten the reins on allowing their children to attend.

Judy Alcorn, forties camper and board member at the YWCA, wrote, “It was at the end of their time at camp when it fell upon hard times. There were four women who served on the board who decided to begin much-needed repairs and painting. They, along with their husbands, were Marge and Jim Falvey, Georgie and Jim Fenton, Nancy and Bob McAlister and my husband Pat and me,”

“We put hundreds of gallons of paint on all the huts. We called ahead to the hardware store in Hale, which stocked the paint for us. They would have it all shaken and ready to pick up during the weekend. We all cleaned and generally picked up the place. Our kids came with us and we would build a fire in the lodge at the end of the day and sleep in our sleeping bags. Although we worked hard, we had a good time. We used a small fundraising campaign to pay for the paint and the material used.”

“That kept the camp going for a few more years. I am not sure about sharing with Camp Mahn-go-tah-see across the lake. Camp came to an end and we started an agreement with Camp Iroquois, the Bay City YMCA camp, for a few years. Then, that folded as well. It was a sad day when that happened. At that time many sports camps were in business and the competition was too strong.”

Judy was not on the board when it merged with Camp Iroquois, but she recalled the YWCA had turned down the offer to merge at one time because they were afraid the men would take control. The men felt that Camp Maqua property was better suited to a camp

When the decision was to be made in 1976 between the Bay City YMCA and the YWCA to merge Camp Maqua and Camp Iroquois (on Sand Lake), David Bast was the camp director at the boys’ camp. He was designated to be the director of the combined effort but accepted a position in Alabama. Camp Iroquois’ decreased enrollment and the financial situation at both camps was the impetus for the merger, despite Maqua’s higher enrollment. “The plan was to merge the program, but not mess with the assets,” said Delphine Evans, director in 1976.

“Both camps were struggling financially and Maqua had the better physical facility, so the two boards merged their camps, or that was my understanding,” said Amy Falvey, whose parents were huge volunteers at Maqua.

An article in the Bay City Times on September 21, 1979, said, “In an effort to save the camp, it was merged in 1976 with Camp Iroquois, a young men’s camp, and renamed Camp Maquois. Camp Maquois operated for two years on a co-ed status before the decision to sell the Camp Maquois property was made. Officials of the Young Women’s Christian Association of Bay County say interest in the camp has dwindled to money-losing levels in this age of recreational campers and snowmobiles. The YWCA Board of Trustees decided to quit going deeper in debt with the facility and advertised the property for bids, which must be submitted before November 1.”

A Safe And Happy Camp

Published on by Kathy Baker Category: 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, Blog, Camp Influences, Directors, Counselors, Staff, Friendships and Relationships

The physical plant of Camp Maqua was listed as ‘rustic” in the 1971 report from the Dept. of Social Services, but “conducive to a quality camp experience”. The report confirmed the positives of the camp stating, “Camp Maqua is definitely a fun place to be for YWCA girls. The program is varied and complete and the leadership is mature and experienced.” With that recommendation, the camp received it license for 1972.

“It appeared all fears and anxieties relative to being away from home had been dispelled,” wrote James Sweeting, who evaluated the camp in 1974 for the Dept. of Social Services. “A wholesome rapport between campers and staff members was obvious throughout the camp.”

Ann Pennington (1963-72) said, “Maqua was never a pretentious camp. The simple things made it special. The camp directors concentrated on the basics of outdoor life and physical activity, and it was a building block for me. That atmosphere of activity helped me make the decision to go into teaching and physical education”,

Dorothe Balaskas was the camp’s director for most of the years Ann was there, and she remembers that all the girls respected her so much that they would have done anything to help her out. Ann went off to college, thinking it would be the last time she would attend Maqua, until she heard there was to be a new director. She drove to Bay City to a meeting at the Y, only to discover that her physical education teacher Sue Patenge was going to be the new director. Ann decided, along with her friend Ann Carney, that they should return to help Sue transition her first year as a director with knowledgeable counselors under her.  Both Anns were indicative of the strong leaders that kept Camp Maqua’s reputation so positive for all those years.

Alice Bishop had been the camp director in 1961 and her report illustrated the type of order that made for such an organized camp. The counselors were in their cabins from 1:00-4:00 to receive the campers and other staff members were assigned to jobs with parking, luggage delivery, waterfront watch, and money collection.  This type of schedule was used for every session and helped with the continuity of the camp.

Cathy Hawkins, who camped in the sixties, said, “It was a happy camp and there was something for everyone. It was a good nature experience for girls, especially to be away from home.”

“It was a happy camp with no bullying. It wasn’t tolerated. Everyone got along because there were strong leaders with a strong, positive influence, “ said Missy Butsch, who also camped in the sixties.

Ilene Zacher (1959+) attended camp in the era when the Jewish camp movement began and attended Tamarack, but thought it was more like a retreat than a camp. She enjoyed the feel and experience she had at Maqua much more.

“As much as I loved my summers at my cottage with my family, I loved the giving and loving environment of Maqua. Everybody had a place there. Everyone got awards. There was one summer when I was twelve that I went to tennis camp in downtown Detroit. Mrs. Hoxie, who was famous in the tennis circles and a friend of my grandmother, took me under her wing. I was with older kids that summer and it was completely different, but I went back to Maqua the next summer. Honestly, I was so busy that summer, I never had time to miss it,” said Chris Lambert, who began in 1958.

“It was one huge family and there was so much inclusiveness. I was a shy kid then, but the thing that struck me then was how much we were all included. Our cabin became our family and we all became close. Later, as a staffer, we wanted to do that for our campers—-provide that feeling of being included.”

Stephanie Patterson (1961-65) went off to Maqua at the age of ten, reluctant, but came away with a great feeling of being welcomed with open arms from a diverse group of people. Others, like Jane Linder (1956+), felt it was run as a true Christian camp and Barb Rehmus (1965-76) loved the warmth and safety she felt over her long camping years at Maqua.

 

A Well-Organized Camp

Published on by Kathy Baker Category: 1920's, 1930's, 1940's, 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, Blog, Camp Influences, Camping Life, Directors, Counselors, Staff, Friendships and Relationships

Barb Ballor was eight years old when she first attended Camp Maqua. “It fostered kindness to others. I was so sad when it was no longer a camp. It was such a well-organized camp. There was a camp nurse in attendance. Older girls were encouraged to help. And the staff were careful not to let the boys from the boy’s camp too close,” she said. “Everyone had fun!”

“Camp Maqua, that lovely spot just north of Hale, Michigan, is a place where one can be at her best,” stated a newspaper article from June 1929. “ It is the place away from the complex grind of everyday things—almost a fairyland. A blue lake nestled among silver birch trees; comfortable huts and a cozy lodge; joy of creating things with one’s own hands; joy of being natural; friendships that are sacred; all of these things dear to the hearts of real lovers of nature are found at Camp Maqua.”

“I liked my counselors and everyone at the camp. They were very good to us. They accepted everyone and always appeared to be fair and impartial. I never remember anyone, even the cooks, becoming angry or impatient or ever raising their voice. They were exemplary models of good behavior, said Janet Dixon, of her camping years during the early fifties.”

“The camp was very well organized and very well run. The staff knew how to keep children busy and out of trouble. I liked the regimentation, but it was because it was tempered with variety, choices, and enough free time. I loved learning new things, and, especially, the chance to taste independence. I don’t know how they did it but I know they did it well! in 62 years, I have never forgotten my experiences there.”

Hut five was interviewed in August 1950 and the girl’s answers were published in a copy of the “Loon”, “What do you think of Camp Maqua?” and the comments ranged from “Camp Maqua is worth saving because it is educational”, “You can’t compare Camp Maqua with any other camp because Camp Maqua is the best”, “Camp Maqua is more fun than any other camp I’ve been to”.

“It’s a great camp. You learn many new activities and you have the opportunity to meet other girls,” wrote Jean Jahnke, who was the reporter and was from Bay City. She said she wanted to tell those who had been there before and the ones that were there for the first time that they made the camp what it was and the counselors did a “swell job”.

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