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The Nawakwa Outdoor Association of New York, Inc.

100 Years: Opening Day

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A series of posts as we look forward to the 100th Anniversary of ADKNY in 2023

As 1926 was a busy year for the NY Chapter, I’ll would dedicate a second message to this year.  To further quote from Ira Ayers’ A History, ADK Club New York:

“Preparatory to the purchase of all the essential supplies and equipment, a source of ready cash was required.  We had slightly more than broken even during our stay at Blue Bird.  The Council most wisely levied an assessment of $10.00 (today’s value: $144) on each member to help defray the costs.  As an aftermath of this action it was deemed unfair for all the succeeding new members to go untaxed.  Hence the $10.00 initiation fee was instituted.

 

Long before the April 1st date, the necessary equipment and supplies had to be decided upon and ordered.  As mentioned previously, the coal range, folding tables and pump and water line from the lake were brought in by the Park during the winter.  Norman B. Schomburg, through his company, purchased many of the items for us at wholesale.  These included the lockers, boats, oil lamps, the 2 stoves in the living room, 40 to 50 folding chairs, the old hickory chairs and settee, etc.  Also, he put me in touch with the Groff Bent Corporation for beds, mattresses and pillows, stating that we would get the bottom price on the same and thereby save his company’s 5% commission.  From the very beginning a telephone was considered an absolute necessity and was ordered.  It was installed in June.

During the winter we made several excursions down from Blue Bird, watching the progress of the construction and also watching the ice on the lake.  Our timetable called for the ice to be gone by April 1st.  In the meantime Walter Shannon spent a night in the partially erected building to be the first to spend a night in the new camp.

 

The first move was made on April 4th when we brought over from Blue Bird all our worldly possessions.  This included such items as blankets, a 3-burner oil stove, general utensils, “silverware”, the auxiliary water tank, the flexible flyers, etc.  At the same time, the beds, mattresses, and pillows were awaiting the April 10th delivery.

This brings us to April 10th, the actual opening day.  The grand opening took place a week later, April 17th, 1926.  To the average person now this may seem like any other day, but to us it was a grand occasion.  The company agreed to deliver the beds, mattresses and pillows if we would provide guides for the truck drivers.  Joe Durrenberger and I rode one truck and Herbert Hauptmann the other.  The lake was only partially flooded at that time, the water level being about the same as when work was done on Sebago Beach.  This would involve frequent wading when loading and unloading the boats due to the rocky shoreline.  A strong crosswind was blowing and the task of operating the old tublike boats with mattresses six high required considerable maritime skill.  The real labor involved at this stage consisted in carrying all the items up the hill to the various cabins and placed in order.  It is a marvel that 25 souls did so much in such a short time, completing the job well before night.

The cooks did a swell job in preparing a full meal for so many hungry mouths.  All the cooking had to be done on the 3-burner oil stove.  The coal range was installed but without any coal.  The dinner table consisted of three long boards nailed together and supported by saw-horses.  Improvised benches provide the seats.  This April 10-11, 1926 was actually a work weekend.

The official grand opening was a week later, April 17-18, 1926.  Every one of the 60 beds was occupied.  A grand and glorious time was had by all.

The attached photos by Herb Hauptmann are graciously donated by Geoff Weaver.  They are from his father ( Walter Weaver)’s photo album.

Ellen King

Archives Committee

 

100 Years: Transitioning from Camp Blue Bird 1925 – 1926

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A series of posts as we look forward to the 100th Anniversary of ADKNY in 2023

The NY Chapter, ADK moves from subleasing Camp Blue Bird to having a camp of our own.  To quote from Ira Ayers’ “A History”:

“During the summer of 1925, while working for the Camp Department of the Park, Miss Jolliffe, the Superintendent of Camps, asked me if the New York Chapter would like to have a camp on the new Lake Sebago. Elevation 778 feet.  My reply was a positive “yes” but that the official offer should be made direct to the Chapter Council.  This was done and the offer was immediately accepted officially.

The first big question that required an answer was where should it be located.  A committee consisting of A.T. Shorey, Adolph Sippe and a third was appointed to recommend the site.  The location selected by this committee was in the birch grove on the east side and near the upper end of the north arm.

 

This provoked a storm of protests.  In those days almost everyone rode to Sloatsburg or Tuxedo and walked in.  The protestors wanted a location on the west side of the lake and on deep water.  Herbert Hauptmann, Walter Shannon and myself and others walked down from Blue Bird on numerous occasions to scout the area.  We pressured the Council to select the present site which appears to us to have been the best.  The site was officially selected by the Chapter and Frank J. Oliver met J.J. Tamsen, the Superintendent of Construction, and the location was official with the Park.

Before any definite action could be taken it was necessary to decide on what the capacity of the camp should be.  The Camp Committee had many loud and active sessions discussing this point.  Some were very strong for a capacity of about 25.  Others wanted a much larger capacity to provide for growth and expansion, and also to provide income sufficient to pay the rent.  The final decision was a capacity of 60.  Now we were in a position to tell the Park the desired dimensions and number of cabins, and also to make the appropriate plans for the necessary equipment to be purchased.   From our experience at Blue Bird, it was decided to have all the sleeping quarters out and away from the main building.  Also, it was thought best to have the buildings somewhat removed from the shoreline.

 

I met Mr. Tamsen at the site and selected the locations of the main building, the five cabins and the dock.  The sixth cabin was added in 1929.  The dock was located on deep water and also where it would be clearly visible from the porch.  Mr. Tamsen then made his plans for the construction which we requested to be completed by April 1, 1926.  The chimney and fireplace were completed before the winter set in.  All the equipment and supplies were trucked in over the ice and up the old road from the canoe dock.  Also the coal range, the small folding tables and the pump and water line from the lake was brought in at the same time.  These items were purchased from the Park.  Of course there was no road in to camp at that time.”

1925 was a busy year for the NY Chapter and the Adirondack Mountain Club.  Our Chapter had been established two years earlier.  The Albany Chapter was the first Chapter to be established only three years earlier.  A vote was taken to amend the ADK Constitution to address the division of members’ dues between the parent club and the chapters to provide the chapters with the necessary finances to support their local activities.  Members of the NY Chapter withheld payment of their dues to support this cause.  One incentive for the main club to support this was their interest in forming additional chapters.  The new financial arrangement would encourage regions throughout New York State to create chapters and thus increase the membership of the ADK.

The attached photos are from Walter Weaver’s photo album generously contributed by his son, Geoff Weaver.  The photographer:  Herb Hauptmann.

 

Ellen King

Archives Committee

Camp opening delayed until at least June 1

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The latest from Harriman State Park. We will continue to share information as we receive it.

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Good Morning

I hope this finds you all well.  I am reaching out to inform you of our decision to extend our delay of the group camp season until June 1st 2020. This follows a similar decision made by New York State to delay the opening of their campgrounds.

We will be planning a conference call during the week of May 11th. We hope to have a clearer picture at that time. Again I would like to extend my true appreciation of all  your patience and understanding as we navigate through these difficult times.

Thank you and be safe.

David Bourne

Park Manager 3

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100 Years: Camp Blue Bird

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A series of posts as we look forward to the 100th Anniversary of ADKNY in 2023

Harriman State Park was officially open for 14 years when the NY Chapter moved from subleasing Camp Quannacut on Queensboro Lake to subleasing Camp Blue Bird on the east side of Upper Twin Lake.  The twin lakes were devoted to girls camps.  A girls camp (possibly the NY Jewish Big Sisters) used it during summers and the NY Chapter moved in in the fall of 1924.  In May our Chapter vacated Camp Blue Bird and returned in October and remained until April 1925.

 

Group camps began in the park in 1913 with the belief that parks should be for all people, particularly the underprivileged.  That year, there were 82 different organizations occupying 86 complete camping units in the Palisades Interstate Park (Harriman and Bear Mountain).  At its peak, around 1,500 structures were maintained by the Palisades Interstate Park to serve them.  These structures included cabins, recreation buildings, canteens, bathhouses, mess halls, and ancillary buildings.   Many occupied camps all the year around, but make greater use of them for the summer.  The children’s camps were mostly for summer use.  The total weekly camping population for 10 summer weeks was over 10,000 boys, girls, and adults.  The grand total for the summer season was 60,000.  The camps were run with private donations.  No state funds were granted until there was a need dispose of waste water from the camps.  The state appropriated $50,000 for a system of waste water disposal.

 


To give you a flavor of the other camps, they included:

  • Camp Fire Girls of Greater New York (the largest organization) occupied three different camps
  • Camp TERA for 200 homeless and unemployed girls funded by the NY Life Insurance Company + Eleanor Roosevelt
  • Y.M.C.A of the Oranges, NJ + many other Y.M.C.A groups as well as Y.M.H.A.s
  • The Hebrew Orphan Asylum of NY
  • Union Settlement Association
  • Girls Friendly Society, Diocese of NY
  • Boy Scouts (many different troops)
  • NY Protestant Episcopal City Mission Society
  • Idlewild Pleasure Club (social club from the Lower East Side)
  • Summer School Camp of the School of Education, New York University (they had several camps)
  • Negro Fresh Air Committee
  • Rogers Peet Company (clothing store) camp for their employees
  • Baker Camp for First National City Bank of the City of NY (forerunner of Citibank). George F. Baker, Sr. gifted the camp to his employees.
  • Green Mountain Club
  • New York Life Insurance Company for their employees

For 28 years these camps were overseen by the Group Camp Director, Miss Ruby Jolliffe.  Under her domain, the number of camps grew to 102 before settling in at 71.  It was the largest camping association in the country.  She is a historic figure in the annals of the Palisades Interstate Park.

 

Ellen King

Archives Committee

Special Announcement: COVID-19 and Camp

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Update: April 26, 2020

From the ADKNY Board:

An announcement from Palisades Interstate Park Commission Executive Director Joshua Laird regarding Harriman Group Camp 2020 Season.

More info will be shared when it becomes available. We will share information about Nawakwa opening as soon as we can. Thank you for your understanding.

 

Dear Group Camp Directors,

I hope this finds you well.

I am writing to inform you that we have decided to delay the commencement of the Group Camp season until May 15, 2020.  Please do not take any steps to occupy your camp facilities until that date. 

We will let you know as soon as possible whether the delay will be extended beyond May 15 depending on the status of COVID-19 public health guidelines as the date grows closer.

Our determination follows a similar decision to delay the opening of public campgrounds and other recreation facilities across New York State. While our group camps operate differently than most public campgrounds, our decision reflects similar concerns about the challenge of maintaining mandatory public health guidelines for social distancing when so many of our camps rely on shared restrooms and shower facilities. Further, our Group Camp cabins are constructed primarily of timber that would be especially difficult to clean and disinfect if contaminated with the novel coronavirus. We also have concerns about placing our Group Camp and emergency response staff at greater risk of exposure once the cabins are occupied.

We realize this news may come as a disappointment to those feeling the need for fresh air and exercise, or who may view our camps as an opportunity for even greater social distancing.  Nonetheless, we feel this decision is appropriate and follows public health guidelines issued by the CDC and NYS Department of Health.

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ADKNY announcement issued Saturday, March 21, 2020

To All New York Chapter Members:
The current Coronavirus pandemic has changed life as we know it and, with it, all of our expectations and plans. New York State is on a basic lockdown. The Main Club closed its lodging facilities, the High Peaks Information Center and Member Service Center on March 16th through April 30th. Thru-hikers and section hikers on the AT have been asked to come off the trail. Everyone is encouraged to stay home and to limit unnecessary travel. ADK says that if you are inclined to get outdoors that you do so locally and individually.

Given the realities at hand and the need to be careful and vigilant, individually, socially, and as a club, the New York Chapter announces the following:

  • All group hikes will be cancelled and rescheduled when possible. This means that the traditional Palm Sunday Hike to St. John’s in the Wilderness scheduled for April 5th is cancelled.
  • Although Camp season at Harriman Park normally starts May 1st, the opening of Camp Nawakwa will be delayed until further notice
  • The first work-day of Spring at Camp Nawakwa, usually held in early May, will be rescheduled
The current world-wide emergency is an ever-changing situation. We urge all members to follow all Public Health recommendations and guidelines regarding the COVID-19 epidemic so that everyone may stay safe and healthy. Through our website and emails, we will work to keep all New York Chapter members apprised of developments with the Chapter and Camp Nawakwa.
New York Chapter Board of Directors

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Founded in 1923, the Nawakwa Outdoor Association of New York, Inc. is a membership organization dedicated to the enjoyment of the outdoors through hiking, walking, camping, swimming, skiing, sailing, canoeing, and kayaking, and to the conservation and preservation of our wilderness, particularly the mountains, lakes, trails, and camping areas of the metropolitan New York region.