Hut Happenings–

Published on by Kathy Baker Category: 1950's, 1960's, Activities and Sports, Blog, Buildings and Property, Cabin Life, Camping Life, Directors, Counselors, Staff, Friendships and Relationships, Traditions

From the fifties to the seventies, the “Loon” newsletter included the activities each session from each hut. Each cabin would contribute a few sentences, and the compilation of the different years added up to a diary (of sorts ) for the camp experience.

There was backwards day, tin can stove making on the rifle range, a banquet with entertainment, a historical parade and bragging rights from Hut 7 in 1950 when the entire cabin earned their blue caps in swimming. One hut hosted a fortune telling booth at the camp carnival in the lodge during another session that summer, while another had the distinction of having no Bay City girls in their hut.

There were cracker box sessions, where you could ask the counselor anything, and pennants for neat tables, hours of canasta on rainy days, scavenger hunts and marshmallow roasts. Girls bemoaned the fact they couldn’t get fires started on their cookstoves, or laughed when they had to sidestep cows on the path to Hale Park for their outing.

Some huts that summer bragged about the fact they all took tap dancing or arrived on the same bus to camp. Others were sad that their frogs did not win the frog contest, due to not being in top shape. Rain spoiled some activities, but inside the chains were finished for the Christmas in July tree. Jean Robinson’s mother had a cake sent up for her birthday to share with her cabin mates, and Jan Mosier and Shirley Miller won prizes for being the best dressed babies on Baby Night.

Gab sessions, tales of the Moms who attended, singing, hut rearranging, and gossip about the girls who were on a diet, counselors who missed their beaus and the girls who fell asleep early were topics in the newsletters. The girls wrote about how well they made friends and how energetic and contented they were.

In 1951 two campers from a hut had to have shots at the doctor’s office and when they stepped outside one of their friends was spotted riding a spotted black and white mare named Belle! One hut never had to get acquainted with each other, as they already knew each other! Others wrote of eating dinner in their canoes. Another hut had seven counselors in training—Ann Gunn, Pat O’Tool, Pat Parsons, Karen Temple, Jean Robinson and Judy Miller—all involved in creating the 16-18 ft. birch front gate sign.

Hut 9 had a “Hate Hut 9 Day” in which they said nothing but nasty things to each other, followed by a “Love Hut 9 Day”, where they expressed nice things. One hut in 1952 could not get over their counselor nonchalantly picking up spiders. Hut 2 laughed about going home with Texas accents with Chris as their counselor, while Hut 10’s claim to fame was three CIT’s—Nan O’Tool, Marsha Immerman and Shirley Blunden.

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The Legend Of Princess Maqua

Published on by Kathy Baker Category: Blog, Camping Life, Traditions

 

“Long ago when the trees stood tall and waters ran clear, two Indian tribes lived on the shores of Loon Lake. The tribes were called the Oyiesas and the Tawankas. For many moons the two tribes lived in peace and friendship. The evil spirits came among the Oyiesas and the Tawankas. Many were the battles fought. The dead numbered greater than the ripples of their beloved Loon Lake.”

“One of the greatest braves of the Tawanka tribe was Chief Thunder Cloud, so named because on the night of his birth the thunder rolled and clouds were fierce and black. Though only a young chief, her was respected by all and the tales of his strength and skill in battler were told far and wide.”

“While walking through the forest one day, Thunder Cloud came upon a young squaw picking berries. She was as beautiful as the first flowers of spring and as gentle as a summer breeze. As he watcher her, Thunder Cloud’s heart raced as that of a deer’s heart when it flees the hunters.”

“As he walked into the clearing the young girl stared at him in terror. Thinking to ease the fear, Thunder Cloud said that he meant no harm to her. He asked her name. Here then is the tragedy of our legend. For, the beautiful girl was Princess Maqua, daughter of the chief of the Oyiesas. Because their tribes were at war the two young people could have nothing to do with each other. Yet, already it was too late to stop the spirits of fate, for the two had fallen in love.”

“At the end of the day, both returned to the tepees of their fathers, each to plead for peace between the two nations. Their pleas fell on deaf ears as deaf as the rocks in the fields. Princess Maqua’s father forbid his daughter to ever set foot in the forest, for fear that Thunder Cloud would steal her away.”

“Finally the two young people could stand to be apart no longer. Stealing from her father’s teepee one night, Princess Maqua met Thunder Cloud by the shores of the lake. He placed her in the bow of his canoe and began to paddle swiftly away fromt the shores of the Oyiesa tribe. But, the spirits of evil were against them. The chiefs of both tribes, discovering their children missing, set out in search of them.”

“As Thunder Cloud paddled swiftly, the canoes from the Tawanka and Oyiesa villages began to overtake them. Approaching the far shore it seemed that their capture was near. Suddenly, the lake opened and the two young Indians in their canoe sank from sight. Long and hard did their fathers search, but they found no trace of them. The Great Spirit, seeing their tragic plight, had taken pity on them.”

“It is said that they went safely to the Happy Hunting Ground of their people. Our camp rests on the spot where Princess Maqua joined Thunder Cloud on the night of their escape. On still nights, one can see the spirits of Princess Maqua and Thunder Cloud come slowly across the lake in their canoe.”

(Unknown author of this legend from the archives)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The “Loon” Newsletter Over The Years

Published on by Kathy Baker Category: 1920's, 1930's, 1940's, 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, Blog, Cabin Life, Camping Life, Directors, Counselors, Staff, Traditions

Copies of the “Loon” in the early years, with their tissue paper thin pages, were preserved in the archives at the “Y”, along with other memoribiia. They were written and published by campers and staff in each session, usually reviewing activities at camp, anecdotes of the day, confessions of the campers, humorous stories, vignettes of the staff and cartoons.

As the years went by, the paper quality was heavier, and different columns were added. In 1947, Carolyn Abbott was the editor with Marge Niedzielski as her co-editor. The July 23-August 6th edition had a beautifully designed cover by K.J. Carroll, with “The Loon” in birch bark styled letters and sketches inside drawn by Ethel Feldman. At the back of the newsletter was a drawing of the actual camp layout.

Reporters that summer included Betty Miller, Ethel Feldman, Mary Lou Winn, Pat Kula, Barbara Jacoby, Pauline Clark, Judy Alcorn, Lucy Clark and Janice Reid. They created sections on the ideal counselor and camper, a ”What If?” section, jokes and other columns.

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Hut Sayings and Expressions–

Published on by Kathy Baker Category: 1920's, 1930's, 1940's, 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, Blog, Cabin Life, Camping Life, Directors, Counselors, Staff, Traditions

How many of you could identify the era a girl camped by the expressions, slang or sayings of the times? If you can’t remember some of the famous ones, go to this site for a memory refresher—-http://people.howstuffworks.com/53-slang-terms-by-decade6.htm

Judy Alcorn wrote the famous sayings in 1947 for the “Loon”, which included Dona Johnson’s “We never do that in hut 6”, Nan Kendall’s “Ain’t that quaint?”, Beverley Schlatter’s “Oh Man!”, Pauline Clark’s “Oh, Hegenauer!”, Nancy Hamme’s “Oh, be quiet”, Shirley Blunden’s “Oh, for John Pete!”, Yolanda Erickson’s “Oh, Pot!’, Sara Leet’s “Oh, Corn!” and Jean Sayle’s “Whoop-e-do”.

The hut sayings, according to an edition of the 1949 “Loon” included “Gee Whiz, Bear It Or We’ll Move You Down, Oh Fizz, Oh Norman, Cheese and Crackers, Wa Happened, Baby?, Holy Toot, What’s Up With The Polish, Gotta Go Bim, and Don’t Get Hysterical”.

There were “Famous Last Sayings” in 1950, which included “Vickie, come here”, “Clean up the hut”, “If you go to the Brownie, wake me up”, “Pass the potato chips”, “Anyone got some gum?”, “Run! A motorboat!”, “Get off my bed”, “Sweep the floors before inspection”, “Oh, be quiet”, and “Eek! A spider!”.

The hut sayings were “That’s An Insult”, “Don’t Be Snippy”, “Crumb”, “Jumping Catfish”, “Day Of Sorrow”, “Irma Ohla”, “Very Good”, “We’ve Got A Riot Of A Hut”, and “Hmmm”.

In 1952, the “Loon” listed more hut sayings with “I Yi Yi”, “Wha-chamma-jigger”, “Jeepers”, “Go to the staff table”, “That’s news!” “Hot Spit”, “Bilge”, “Shut Up”, “Taps have blown”, “Roger Dodger”, “You Old Codger”, “Match Me”, “By Gum”, “Ain’t that the peaches”, “Go over to the staff table”, “That’s a failure”, “Remember the golden rule”, “Raise the flag”, and “I’m going to get the hair brush”.

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Sentimental Saves—

Published on by Kathy Baker Category: 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, Activities and Sports, Blog, Camping Life, Traditions

Many of the special memories from camp were preserved in copies of the “Loon” from the beginning years at camp. Not only were there many copies in the Bay City YWCA archives, but campers saved them and many donated them for reference for the history. Along with the little newsletters, photos from camp (both professional and personal) were saved in albums and many of the girls to this day cannot part with them.

Gail Schultheiss (1966) saved many mementoes, including the brochure that would arrive every year to the campers. Nancy Keeler (1973-74) is still in possession of her newsletters, diary entries, photos and ribbons. Coleen Gasta has her autograph books of all her cabinmates from the early sixties. Carol Wahl (1974-75) has her rock with “Camp Maqua 1974) painted on it and a piece of driftwood. Sue Michelson (1963-73) says her camp rock goes everywhere with her. (“If I move, it moves with me,” she laughed.)

While Karen Magidsohn (1965+) was interviewing with me, she was pulling memoribila from her drawer with excitement, remembering how much she loved her arts and crafts at camp. In her hands was the little decoupage box she had kept and used all these years, and tucked inside was the jewelry from her Mom and the leather bracelet she made at camp.

Having always been a sentimental saver, she finally found all her old photos, brochures, award ribbons and the lifesaving books signed by her instructors from 1968-71. She also saved copies of her “Swim and Stay Fit” program, which logged each segment of her laps to track her progress.

Jane Linder (1956) saved her marksman’s bars from riflery and Kimela Peck (1966-74) saved her medals and certificates from archery and riflery, as did many of the women who shared their stories.

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Awards And Ribbons–

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

 

Margaret Dahlem stopped on the lodge lawn in 1989, soon after we bought the property. Her trip down memory lane, as a first-time camper in 1925, included the awards when she camped.  Her friend Harriet Crumb, who wrote a letter to me soon after, mentioned the same award.

There were competitions between the huts, including a parade of decorated row boats. The winner was awarded the “Bracken Fern Award”. There was also a “Spirit of Maqua” competition, based on the girl who most typified the ideal Maqua camper, with friendly voting that took place to choose one.

The awards were important to many little girls who excelled in a sport or activity that they had never tried before. Many of them saved their awards, ribbons and certificates from camp, as proof positive of their achievements.

Mary Lou Winn camped in 1946 and 1947 and remembered all the awards were presented on parents’ night at the end of camp. For her, it always seemed that the older campers seemed to get more than their share, but looking back her memory might have been tinged with envy.

“We had a three-day canoe trip, which was wonderful. I just remember how exciting it was to do this canoeing and camping. There were girls who were bickering on that trip—just amongst themselves. It was hard for the counselors. The girls were difficult and I always felt my role in life was to keep peace. I was shocked and amazed when I got an award for the “Most Cooperative On The Canoe Trip”, said Ann Ward (1958-61). ““They had never given that award before. I guess I was just a peacemaker. I was never the type that gossiped.”

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