1950’s

Mail Call!

Published on by Kathy Baker

“Mail was a big thing and I saved the funny letters and postcards that I wrote and my parents, brothers and grandparents wrote to me with encouragement,” said Gail Schultheiss (1966) l, who said she begged for a Maqua sweatshirt and tee shirt in every piece of mail, which her family still laughs about to this day.

Sandy Indianer (1967+) said forming relationships was easy for her, but said if the internet had been invented back then, she probably would have stayed in touch with some of her cabin mates. The way she stayed in touch with family in those days was the weekly letter home—“not long or involved”, but she recalled asking her Mom to have her Dad PRINT her a letter, since he was a doctor and his writing was atrocious. And, he did!

Kim Wynne-Parry (1963-68) also loved getting mail from her parents and grandparents and loved sending postcards home. “I’m pretty sure I wrote in huge letters, so there could not have been much on those cards, but I threw them out a few years ago.”

Her sister Vicki also wrote home to her parents and still has her letter on birchbark. Kay Alcorn also wrote postcards on birch bark once a week.  “I don’t think anyone told us this was not a real good thing for the stately birch trees,” said Kay, who camped in the late forties.

“Basically, I told my Mom I was having a good time and the weather was great,” said sixties camper Deb Wilkinson, who bought her postcards at the same time she bought her ice cream and candy at the camp store.

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Happy Mail!

Published on by Kathy Baker

The mail and packages created as many memories as the camping experiences and many of the girls saved their letters from home. Some, like Janet Dixon (1951-52) had a surprise waiting for her in 1991, after cleaning out her parent’s home. Her father had just died and she came across an envelope marked “Camp Maqua 1951”.

“It was in a fireproof file box where we kept important papers like insurance policies and tax records,” wrote Janet. “In the envelope were letters I had written home from camp. I was amazed that they meant so much to my mother that she had chosen to save them in this way. I am also amazed at how clearly I can remember my experiences there.”

Janet was ten the first year of camp and eleven the second year, with her birthday in September. “That (year) maturity is actually visible in my handwriting in the letters I sent home from camp—my handwriting in the letters from the first year was very childlike, with carefully controlled letter formation and uneven slant. In the second year, the letter formation is very fluid and the slant consistent. Very adult. It is hard to believe these letters were written by the same person.”

In the early years, the little camp store was located inside the lodge on the right as you entered the door. Beverley Schlatter (1944-49) remembered it was just a counter with storage shelves, where the girls could purchase stamps and postcards, as well as bathing caps, tee shirts and other items. Receiving mail was a huge deal, and the girls waited expectantly for their letters and packages from loved ones.

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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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