Directors #9

Published on February 22, 2017February 20, 2017 by Kathy Baker

Marge Falvey, camp committee director during the early seventies, had been instrumental in hiring Carol Nieman for the position of camp director in 1975, and had known her family. Carol had been a substitute teacher in the Essexville school system and had done well as a teacher, but somehow her abilities did not seem to transfer as well with her capacities as a camp director, according to some of the interviews of the staff during that period.

““One night there was a food fight in the lodge,” recalled Betsy.Falvey. “ The next thing we knew this food fight had gone from funny to dangerous in about ten minutes. There were about one hundred girls and they were all sliding around on the floor. Carol almost had a nervous breakdown. I remember calling my Mom on the phone in the lodge to tell her Carol was having a breakdown. We were just hoping the health inspector didn’t show up, and we took Carol into a room to calm her down.”

“Compared to Sue and Beanie, she never engendered the same feelings about staff,” said Betsy.. “The Carney sisters, Yakky, Superdoo, and Sue Michelson were all counselors when I was twelve. They were all so close. The last year I was there, Maqua was scrambling for campers. My Mom felt horrible and I know they had girls from Finland, England and Norway. She thought well of Carol’s family and she had worked hard to keep the camp going.”

Amy Falvey noted her mother felt fairly responsible when she saw her directorship was a “trainwreck” in 1973, while her sister Betsy felt her immaturity and behavior led to the demise of the camp. Whether this was accurate or not, it appeared that there were some out of control moments at camp under her leadership, which left an impression on many.

Counselor’s Retreat

Published on January 9, 2017February 21, 2017 by Kathy Baker

For the staff, the days were long and responsibilities were huge. They were in charge of many campers at one time and at the end of sessions, most would say they were truly tired. In the early years a tent sat behind the lodge for smokers, but later one of the cabins was designated for revival. There were days off and escapes to the Laundromat in Hale (laughed Zoe McGrath 1967), but the retreat was THE place to go.

“Camper’s Vision and Opinion of the “Staff Shack” was the 1965 headline of the “Loon”. A survey was conducted to see why many of the campers had something against the retreat. (The final conclusion was the retreat had formed lazy counselors out of nice girls, according to the survey!)

“We would look better in it than those counselors. It’s so dirty, they probably have rats. They’re always telling us to be quiet, how can we? They’re setting the example from the retreat. The retreat is just a place of gossip. While we make her bed and pick up her stuff, she sits, eats the candy out of the candy machine and listens to music on the hi-fi”

Camp Inspections

Published on September 28, 2016February 21, 2017 by Kathy Baker

It was vital to the existence of the camp that standards were adhered to with respect to various state and local agencies. It was the responsibility of each incoming director to become familiar with the standards expected from each one.

The American Camping Association inspected the camp every five years and rated different areas and always gave advance notice, but the State Summer Recreation Camp Inspection was always a surprise visit.

The State Department of Social Welfare changed their policy in the late sixties or early seventies and sent a postcard indicating their day of inspection. It meant a tour of the entire camp, as there was a different person each summer that took a look at the sleeping quarters, Infirmary records, health records of campers and staff, certification of waterfront staff and methods, safety of riflery program, riding area and food handling cards and qualifications of kitchen staff.

The kitchen and surplus food inspection was random and not always yearly, but also done by the State of Michigan Social Welfare Department. Dates were checked on food, how it was stored, conditions of the food storage, and the refrigeration was checked for cleanliness and temperature.

In one of Dorthe Balaskas’ reports, her main concern was staying on top of the cleanliness of the camp for the surprise visits. Disappointed with some of the staff’s lackadaisical attitudes towards cleaning, despite caper charts, she felt the camp was not very clean for a few summer visits.

It was interesting to read some of the reports left in the archives. In the summer of 1954, new screens and block foundations on the cabins had been installed. One of the questions posed at the end read, “Can lake water be used to flush the toilets without ruining the plumbing with sand?”

Minutes from the camp committee dated January 21, 1957 read; ”Miss Taylor reported that the American Camping Association, after a routine inspection, gave 939 points out of a possible 1000 to Camp Maqua. Rated high in administration and safety, but counselors should be 19 years of age or over—well trained in the major responsibilities. Members of the committee suggested that “Accredited by American Camping Associaion” be listed on camp folders.”

Alice Bishop was the camp director in 1960 when inspector Ed Young from the Michigan Department of Social Services interviewed her. Improvements to the camp included a new drinking tap in the camp area and three new cabins (24×24) had been built the previous year. (Senior Village) He was impressed with the neat, clean cabins with racks for clothing and suitcases, which housed seven campers and one counselor, even noting the children seemed “enthusiastic and happy”.

Nurses, Doctors and Patients-#1

Published on August 29, 2016February 21, 2017 by Kathy Baker

Off to camp went the girls, with their injection records up to date, physicals performed and armed with whatever medications they may need for their stay. Although the staff always included medical personnel, there was no way a summer camping session could maintain a clean slate of minor medical maladies, and sometimes even some major ones.

There was always a sick bay of some sort, whether in Dutton or in the new Infirmary and it was always staffed with a health official.As early as June 26, 1935 there was a mention in a news article about medical staff at the camp. The article was partially cut off, but mentioned Dr. Lorna Feng as the camp physician. (The piece noted her interest in art, literature and poetry; her position as an intern at Grace Hospital and that she was one of fifteen children educated abroad.)

Dorothy Bonnen, who camped in 1942, said “Dr. Vail’s wife was our nurse and she volunteered her time at camp with her five year old little boy with her around as she did her job. She used to be the person who inspected the cabins for tidiness.” (It is unclear if her husband was the doctor on call.)

There were also unexpected injuries that demanded immediate attention. “The mouse that Pam Farley hit with a broom during the day came out limping at night and she said ‘poor mouse’ and picked it up,” said Pat O’Tool (1944-52). “It proceeded to bite her and she had to be taken to West Branch to the doctor for a tenanus shot.”

Dutton and the Infirmary

Published on August 24, 2016February 21, 2017 by Kathy Baker

The farmhouse on the shores of Loon Lake was the first structure used as the main building in the summer of 1924 when the Camp Maqua property was purchased.

“Dutton was a farm house on the property, and this was used the first and second years and about twelve girls could be accommodated at one time, with a staff of three. The screened porch (which was added in 1940) was used for indoor activities, and the cooking was done in the same building”, according to a note in the archives.

There were a few discrepancies in the notes as to year the upstairs porch was added to Dutton, but it provided sleeping quarters for the director and the nurse and at one time the dietician.

A few tents were set up for the first campers. Miss Helen Graves, secretary of the Girl Reserve Department of the YWCA was the first camp director and Mrs. E.B. Perry was the camp chairman.

Margaret Dahlem was one of the original campers in the twenties and recalled the nurse’s first aid room was near the kitchen in the lodge during her stay. Beverly Schlatter, who had camped in the mid forties, recalled a tent/cabin, which appeared to be a temporary structure, and was located down the hill from the lodge. “It was used as the Infirmary and it was about 50-60 ft. from the lodge between the craft hut and the lodge. The nurse dispensed meds or we went there if we were ill. I remember I had to go twice a day to get my meds for some reason.”

Aladdin–The Preferred Builder

Published on August 22, 2016February 21, 2017 by Kathy Baker

Pictorial: Aladdin Homes – Bay City, Michigan : Bay-Journal

The Aladdin Company from Bay City was the primary builder of the huts or cabins, but it is unclear whether the lodge was built by the same company.

Founded by brothers W.J. Sovereign, O.E. Sovereign and Charles Munro in 1906, it was a pioneer for mail order pre-cut kit homes. Their best years were around the time the camp decided to build the lodge in 1924. Many of the huts were donated by the Aladdin Company, featuring their summer cottage style.

In 1937 the plans for the new counselor’s cabin were shown to Mr.Paul Thompson, president of the Rotary Club, with the suggestion the club may want to build it for the camp that year.

In 1955 the concerns of the camp committee revolved around different housing arrangements for the cook and whether two more tents (which would house eight each) should be procured, since camp leaders had determined it would be more economical to set up for one hundred girls. A staff cabin was also needed as soon as possible to “free up rooms used for sleeping in the lodge” for a nature room, music room and library.

Girls of Camp Maqua

My Book ~ Your Story

Buildings and Property