Ready for visits!

While the Empire State Building was being completed in 1931, Camp Nawakwa added the swimming float.  “The Chapter had to pay for it.  That was the reason for its omission from the original set up.  Cost:  $185.  Later that year, a spring-board (diving board) was installed.  Another vital addition was the pyrofox gas with a gas stove and gas lights in the kitchen.  Later another gas stove was added and the old oil stove discarded.”

‘Host Instructions’ were created to alleviate the problem of hosts unable to estimate correctly how much food they should purchase for their weekends, thus eliminating waste.

There were 226 members of the NY Chapter. (1)

“The Social Committee invited the noted explorer, Harold McCracken, to speak at the Annual Dinner.  Mr. McCracken had just returned from his 4^th major expedition to the Arctic.  He showed three reels of film which are reputed to be perhaps the best movies ever taken of big game of the North.

Kersen Nurian led a hike in January 1931 from Midvale to Suffern.”  For those of you wondering who the Nurian Trail is named after, it is Kersen.  “He established the trail in 1929.

A Committee was formed to explore hiring someone to work at Nawakwa on weekends to fetch wood, water, coal and kerosene, fill the lamps, start the fires and do all things necessary for the proper enjoyment of the camp by members and guests, prepare or assist in the preparation of the meals and in serving them, wash the dishes and clean up the kitchen after each meal on Saturday and Sunday.  In those days, the Sunday lunch was a hot meal.  A petition was formed and signed by 27 members supporting this initiative. The Council (former title of Board of Directors) rejected this proposal due in part that no person could be found to perform the duties.

 

 

 

At the same time, a petition was created supporting the construction of a toboggan slide and ski jump at Nawakwa.  The idea was rejected by the Council due to the cost of $900, the question of how often these facilities would be used, and who would upkeep them.  The Park came up with the funds and began construction of a toboggan slide on the hill north of Camp as they had extra unemployed staff with nothing to do.  The Chapter would only have to pay for the wood, $250, so the Council agreed.  It was brought up for vote at the Chapter’s annual meeting and was turned down.  The Chapter would have been responsible for the insurance and ongoing maintenance which may have swayed the vote.

The idea of a boat house was considered by a committee to house canoes owned by members.  Members were surveyed to see how many owned canoes and would want to store them at Nawakwa.  No mention is made as to why this was not built.

In 1932 seven fire extinguishers were purchased and installed.

The Trail Marker invited members to a meal ticket to Cut-Rate Parties offered by a Manhattan church for members who had been impacted by the Depression.  In practically every TM issue there is mention of members being late in paying their annual dues.  Members were invited to spend their summer vacations at the Camp as well as at Johns Brook Lodge at reduced rates.” (2)

“With the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt to President in 1932, publicly funded work programs increased.  Two Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps were established in Harriman Park each housing 185 men.  Soon there were twelve camps throughout the Palisades Interstate Park with ten thousand men.  They planted trees, built roads and buildings and developed Pine Meadow, Turkey Hill, Wanoksink, Welch, Silver Mine and Massawippa Lakes.” (3)

1. A History by Ira Ayres,  ADK
2. Trail Markers 1931 – ‘32
3. Palisades 100,000 Acres in 100 Years, Robert O. Binnewies

Ellen King

Archivist

Hello Nawakwans – this weekend is your opportunity to contribute to the welfare and safety of The Camp.

• Your attendance is needed June 27 and/or 28 for the first of two Summer Work WeekendsJune 27 and/or 28 for the first of two Summer Work Weekends. Please refer to the guidelines on ADKNY.org, as we have a limit of 15 keyholders at a time along with other restrictions.
• Please fill out the Restricted Access Form on ADKNY.org, that will be your RSVP or Sign-up. Be sure to specify which day, and approximately what time you will begin working
• Please also be sure to bring your own bag lunch (there is no cooking or preparing food), refreshments, and Mask.

 

Thank you. We look forward to seeing you! – The Board

Click for details on how to attend

Camp Activities: Virtual Talk on Snakes & Reptiles

This period was a busy one in the formation of Harriman State Park.  As the attached photo reflects, the land was bare and in need of replanting.  During this period the mountain laurel was purchased and transplanted in the Park.  112 Group Camps were in operation. Franklin Roosevelt, Governor of NYS, toured the Palisades parks of which he was very familiar.  He said the parks would “relieve us of the dangers of overcrowding in the cities and the strain on our nervous systems.” (1)

 

On October 24, 1929, “Black Thursday”, the stock market fell by five hundred points.  The onset of the Great Depression was at hand and the Palisades Interstate Park Commission would be severely impacted. The residents of Sandyfields, a mountain hamlet in a remote section of Harriman Park opposed construction of a dam as it would flood their properties.  Most residents agreed to sell their lands but some held out as properties had been in their families since the 1700s.  Other settlements including Baileytown, Johnsontown, Pine Meadows, Queensboro, Doodletown and others succumbed to the PIPC.  (1)

The Depression caused the dayliners on the Hudson River to stop operation.  Wages were cut across the board for Park employees.  Raymond Torrey’s salary was cut in half from $3,000 to $1,500 per year.  (1)

During this time, single women could not camp in the park.  Married women could camp as long as they were accompanied by their husbands.  (1)

The Park received needed assistance through Governor Roosevelt’s newly created Work Relief Program.  Within weeks, 2,500 men were employed in the park system.  They were paid $4.00 per day minus 50 cents for transportation.  They took the train arriving at Bear Mountain. (1)

Back at Camp Nawakwa, in 1929 “a new sleeping cabin was erected (cabin 2) and the washrooms in the Main Cabin were added.  The trap door and steep stairs leading to the basement were eliminated and a real staircase was constructed from what was previously the front sleeping room.  The pack room was created with shelves and hooks for packs, camping and sports equipment, coats and hats, etc.  The kitchen was enlarged.  The purpose of the new sleeping cabin was to accommodate the girls’ bunks removed from the main lodge.”  (2)  The new Women’s Cabin was completely weather proofed.  (3) The partition in cabin 1 were removed.  Originally the cabin was partitioned into four sections, one of which had a stove.  The intention was to provide a small place for a small group coming up during the winter without opening the main building.  The idea never worked out.  (4)

The January 1930 Trail Marker – “The Editor takes the liberty of again suggesting that we would all do well to get out on the trail much more frequently than we do.  Perhaps we are getting too “camp minded”.

WHO SHOULD DO THE DISH WASHING

The question has arisen again as to the desirability of having paid help about camp on the week-ends.  This question has been much discussed and very definite views both “Pro” and “Con” have been brought up.  After considerable discussion, the Camp Committee was asked to investigate as to the practicality of securing such “help”.

Footnotes:

1. Palisades 1000 Acres in 100 Years, Robert O. Binnewies (including attached photo)
2. The Trail Marker – April 1929
3. The Trail Marker – December 1929
4. The Trail Marker – January 1930
5. A History by Ira Ayres

 

Ellen King

Archivist