Music, Song and Dance–

Published on November 13, 2017November 13, 2017 by Kathy Baker

Music, dance, song and instruments played a huge part of the camp experience during every era, from the early years up until the closing. One of the earliest memories belonged to a camper who stopped by the lodge in 1987. A flood of nostalgia swept over her, as she sat down at the original camp piano and played some of the old Maqua songs.

“One thing that attacted me from the start was that we sang most of the time,” said Meg Dahlem, twenties’ camper. “On the bus coming from Bay City, through Pinconning, Standish, Twining, Turner, Whittemore, and Hale, we sang loudly, so as to attract the attention of the townspeople, the same song over and over—from city limits to city limits. It was always, “Oh Camp Maqua, we sing to thee. The place where every girl longs to be. Among the girls and counselors gathered round. We are the CAMPERS. Are we a preppy crew? Well, yes, I guess! We are the same that put the aim and fame. Always game, in Camp Ma—qua!”

“We had some little blue covered songbooks, about the size of a checkbook, with the words to many of the songs we used, but of course, we knew most of them by heart after a few times around,” wrote Meg’s friend Harriet Crumb, twenties’ camper. “Most of them had hand, arm or body motions to accompany the singing. We sang at the table, and around the campfire, either on the beach or by the big fireplace.”

“As I attended other girls’ camps during those years, I learned that part of the criteria for a good camp was the quality of these camp songs that were used. They were not school songs, nor popular dance tunes. They were CAMP songs. One very popular one, adjustable to the year, was: “1—-9—-2—-9, At Maqua Camp, No other year the same. Every girl a comrade true. Whatever school or name or fame. 1—9—-2—-9. At Maqua Camp, Sunset and evening glow. But it’s the inspiration most, That makes us love it so.”

“During one of the first two years that I was at Maqua, we put on a show for our own entertainment. It was such a success—at least we thought so, that we went to Hale and put it on for the townspeople! I cannot remember much about it. I was, of course, one of the younger girls. (Save that it featured a long song that was a parody of “Among my Souvenirs”), she wrote.

You Can Never Have Enough—-

Published on October 25, 2017October 25, 2017 by Kathy Baker

Many campers could trace their present day love for all things arts and crafts to their days at Maqua, including Maggie Young, who felt so fortunate to have the exposure during the sixties and seventies. Carol Requadt (1945) could still remember the cedar smell of the craft hut where she loved working with her hands.

Mary Hewes (1946) and MaryJane Keschman (1944-54) loved the traditions at camp, including the arts and crafts. “I remember making Gimp bracelets with four strands of plastic woven together and a leather lanyard that I gave to my brother. We also sanded wooden bowls until they were smooth, “ said Mary. For MaryJane, it was the wooden plate with her mother’s initials and the same Gimp bracelets that were her favorites.

“In the arts and crafts hut, there were work benches and tables in picnic table style”, said Caryl Sue Abendroth, who loved that they could work on their leather keychains, basket weaving or lanyards in the fifties, even on rainy days.

Lanterns and tile ashtrays were the craft of choice for Helen Thompson in 1968. A paperweight with a four- leaf clover embedded inside, formed with a regular three leaf and a single one added, pleased Bev Lemanski’s father in 1945. For Beverly Schlatter, who loved the craft hut in the forties, it did not matter what she brought home to her parents, she just liked working with flowers, stones, glue and scissors.

The little yellow painted bowl, with I LOVE YOU inscribed on it, is still in the possession of Maureen Moore’s mother from the sixties, as well as Patsy Walsh’s little leather woven purse in the shape of a triangle from 1938!

Arts and Crafts–

Published on October 18, 2017October 18, 2017 by Kathy Baker

In 1927 the craft hut and boathouse were built, under the watchful eye of Mr. Clark, who chaired the construction committee. “He was ably assisted by Mr. Perry, Mr. Fifield, Mr. Davidson and Mr. Clift,” noted the minutes from that year. In 1936, the minutes contained a mention that a screened porch was needed on the “arts and crafts hut”, but it took a few years before it became a reality.

Maryetta Simmons wrote about handicrafts in the “Loon” of 1949, which was run by Jackie Dawson and Vicki Smukal. “The campers may buy craft strip bracelets, plastic belts, scotch purses, earrings, wooden plates, pill boxes, flowers and leather articles,” she wrote of the crafts that were usually made for parents. She remarked the craft hut was a great place to go on rainy days, because “there is a bright fire in the fireplace and happy girls”.

The craft hut was also a great place to take photos for publicity. Many postcards, brochures and feature articles in the Bay City Times displayed the photos of the girls sitting on the long bootstrap benches around the linoleum covered tables, working on their projects.

Mary Obey found herself in two copies of the Bay City Times, dated 1957, seated at a craft table, concentrating on a project. She laughed, saying,”I might be in the craft hut in that photo, but that part didn’t carry over into my adult years!”

Load and Fire!

Published on October 16, 2017October 14, 2017 by Kathy Baker

Riflery was held in a “covered car part building”, which contained seven mattresses and the target was a backboard fifty feet ahead of the lean-to. The building had been enlarged and moved in 1950, due to the proximity of the range to the cottages. (It is unclear where the shooting range was located during earlier years, but there were archival photos of riflery classes.)

According to Linda Lee Harp’s 1969 directors’ reports, there were only seven guns, so only seven could attend class at one time. The guns were in a riflery cabinet that was locked at all times. The camp charged seven cents a round, which bought a round of five cartridges, so the girls knew not to charge up too high, knowing it was going on their store bill.

The safety procedures in place included a red flag to let anyone in the area know that shooting was in progress. The horse trail ran past the range and firing had to cease when the riders went through.The correct way to hold a gun, how to site in, and the positions were taught, as well as the certificate process. Each student moved at their own rate according to their mastery of their guns and the director and her assistant kept good records for certification.

Bullets and Bows–

Published on October 11, 2017October 1, 2017 by Kathy Baker

“I loved the riflery and still have my NRA diplomas and archery certificates from camp, “ said Diane “Dodo” Dudley (1957-63). “I still shoot and use my pellet guns to shoot at balloons or targets. I am not much for the rifles anymore, since they make too much noise, but I have been back and forth across the country about four times camping, so Maqua did influence me.”

Many of the girls learned new skills that came with these sports, bearing bruises as badges. Kathleen Clements (1961-62) decided after the welt on her forearm from archery, it was not for her, but it did not deter Chris Lambert (1958), who later taught the skills to others at camp.

“I loved riflery and my grandfather had given me a 22 when I was fairly young. I loved learning to shoot standing up, sitting down and laying down. I liked archery, but in the beginning my arm would be all black and blue, so I took an archery class before I taught it, so I could hold it the right way.”

Kim Wynne-Parry (1963-68) felt archery and riflery broadened her horizons and was pleased at how proud her Dad was when she came home from camp with her awards. Rosemary Orgren (1956-58) had to be encouraged to try archery and riflery, but loved that she could hit a target. “My Dad was a hunter and I had learned to shoot tin cans off a log, but the archery always bruised my arm.”

Taking Aim—

Published on October 9, 2017October 4, 2017 by Kathy Baker

“Archery is becoming a nationwide, popular sport and for this reason is enjoyed by most of the campers,” wrote Nan O’Tool in the July 11,1950 edition of the “Loon”. “With good coaching and practice, campers can become expert Robinhoods.”

In 1969, beautiful bows were on loan from Bear Archery Co in Grayling. and Barb Grey noted in her activity report that she wished she could buy them. Linda Lee Harp was the archery instructor in 1969 and she had detailed descriptions of the equipment, rules and class procedures, safety procedures, and how to work through the series of awards from the CAA. All these notes were a benefit to anyone coming in the following years as an instructor.

The campers had to complete a series of 15 yd. requirements before moving to 20 yds. Only points were recorded, not hits, and the scoring started from the middle yellow ring or bullseye with nine, the red ring with seven, blue with five, black with three and white ring with one point.

The certificates, cards and seals were free, but pins and arrows were paid for out of the campers’ store funds. A round consisted of five ends of six arrows each and most of the time was practice time with scoring at the end of the hour, until it evolved into a class of only scoring.

Alice Shetter commented in the “Loon” on the archery with Norman Neeb as the instructor in 1949. He had the girls string, unstring and aim the bow for their first lesson and after a day or two of practice, the girls felt ready to score for their awards.

Girls of Camp Maqua

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1940’s