Nan O’Tool wrote about a two-day trip in “O’Tool’s Activities” in the July 12-26,1950 issue of the “Loon” describing the canoe trip by Hut 7. “We left with the canoes hanging out of the back of the truck on Monday morning. Our counselors, Irene and Dickie and Betty accompanied us and showed us what to do almost every foot of the way. After going about three miles from Loud Dam across the AuSable River, we came to a small inlet. After looking around, we beached our canoes and made our camp, which we used for the next two days. “
“We were gifted with delicious food for every meal. Some of the outstanding foods were: cube steaks, smoked ham, sausages and eggs, and huge servings of ice cream. The fishing was good, but in the morning only. We caught seven Rock Bass all together. By mistake, the fish were left on the side of the canoe and some lovely water creatures ate all except one head. We, at least, had the enjoyment of catching them. The water was quite clean, so we all went swimming several times during our stay. It was a rather sad departure at first, but when it began to rain we agreed it would be good to get back to camp.”
Sister Pat O’Tool said some of her fondest camp memories were of the trips away. Her first overnight trip was to Rollways and sleeping bags were unheard of. She took blankets and rolled them with newspaper for insulation.“We took a number of canoe trips and normally it rained. We knew how to pack and we packed carefully. We would sleep in our tents in the rain. I can still remember the Angel Bread we made with sweetened condensed milk. We would dip two pieces of white bread in the milk, then dip them in coconut and roast them over the fire. We also used large cans to make stew with vegetables or sloppy joes over the fire. I think I tasted apple butter for the first time at camp and it was strange, but I liked it.”
A small article appeared in 1951 in the Bay City Times, written by Helen Ryan, with the title “Maqua Has Various Interests” and subtitled “Campers Find Many Ways To Keep Busy”. Along with several mentions of the remote spot and delightful atmosphere, Helen outlined the canoe adventure on the AuSable River. The camp nurse at the time was Betty Parrish, who accompanied Irene Verbedian’s hut with director Dorothy Dickie as a guest.
Ann Gunn and Pat Parsons, who were also on the trip, “portaged in at Loud Dam” and travelled upstream to find the campsite where they pitched their tents in a downpour and had to dry out their clothing. The campers “fashioned their own spit” to cook a roast beef dinner, which also included steaks, pancakes, bread twists, cocoa, baked potatoes, potato salad and popcorn.Judy Miller and Nancy O’Tool fished, while Annette Brandt supervised dishwashing with stream water and sand. Pat Hubbard picked the berries for breakfast, utilizing a vacant ranger cabin with a natural spring behind it for their refrigerator,while Pat O’Tool took photos.
Forties campers Jan Mosier and Linda Greenwald shared their memories of learning to lash twigs and barks into strips to cover the trenches dug for the latrines. “We would sit over a big hole,” said Linda, who agreed the experiences gave her an appreciation for sports, outdoors and communal living. “I have always wanted to go back and see if I could find the sapling that we roped into a curve to see if it grew up crooked.”
Jan hated waking up to the ugly bugs under her damp bedroll, but loved how good the food tasted when it was cooked outside. “We would make little stoves out of cans from the camp kitchen, with little doors and windows in them. I remember a meal of dried eggs with water and some goulash type of meal.”
What camping experience holds the best memories for you?
