Boys Camp
Things We May Remember
and how They Appear Today
I recently made a foray to the camp to try to capture in pictures many of things I remember from my camp days, and how they appear today.
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Some things never change.
Ranger Rock - located next to the door of the Ranger Cabin.
Smoker's Rock - what? Smoking? Well let's face it, many youth go through a phase of trying smoking, and this was a convenient, out-of-the-way place to smoke without leaders catching you. It was located to the right on a short trail off of the "old" waterfront trail. This was an overgrown trail that left the upper-upper field, passing in front of the original "shelter cabins" and then turning left to go down the hill.
And of course, the ever popular Fisherman's Rock, located along the trail to Pioneer
Island, in the pond.
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I don't remember the gap between shore and the rock, but of course we thought nothing of facing danger...
Although part of the environment, but not really playing any part in camp life, the ever-present stone walls winding through the woods as an ongoing memory of earlier days when the camp property was part of a working farm.
The original spring used by the camp.
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While I was there, I do not remember ever even seeing this. But it is still there.
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Nice concrete job...
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The well worn roads, that never used to have weeds growing in the center.
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And the road to the waterfront, passing by the Green Biffy (on the left).
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The road down to the lower-lower field.
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Imagine the carnival day zip line (before they were called that) on the right side, and the Ride of Your Life monorail on the left (ending by the horseshoe pit).
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Some things do not last forever...
This is one of the earliest cabins, a Shelter Cabin. We believe that this is the JLQ (Junior Leader Quarters). It is finally succumbing to nature and is now collapsing. Most of the cabins were sold and removed.
Another blast from the past that is still visible, but in worse shape, is the Green Biffy.
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Some have asked about the origin of the word biffy. Linguistics experts are not sure. It may be from "privy" or a shortened form of bivouac, "bivy". It is from Canada and the mid-west. Austin Welch was from Ohio, so this makes sense.
This was once the Woodsman Cabin.
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The standard cabin being constructed in the later years of the camp was 20-foot by 20-foot and slept 8 people: a leader and seven boys.
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And all that's left of Tony's Tower are the corner foundations.
Some things are returning to their natural state.
Boot Hill. You can see the rock in the center.
Imagine rings of logs filled with campers intently listening to the upcoming activities.
Imagine rings of logs filled with leaders discussing which campers should receive merit awards this week.
Many an evening was spent in the amphitheater along the trail to the waterfront. Songs and stories: Good times.
Off the trolley bed, just west of the camp entrance, was a small granite quarry. It is barely visible, but some of the former equipment remnants can still be seen.
The trail to Pioneer Island is barely discernable. The brook is a bare trickle, and the bridge over the creek is long gone.
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Pioneer island itself has returned to its natural state. There were no signs that anyone had even been there.
Some of our favorite haunts
This is the site of Lucy's.
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The blueberry fields are completely overgrown. The buildings do not exist anymore.
A favorite spot was Sanderson Brook Falls. It has been left to return to nature. The state has turned it into a hiking only park. The roads are closed. Bridges are out and concrete blocks have been added to keep vehicles out.
Lenox Lake. The parking area and the boat ramp are still there, but someone has built a house next to the rocks that we would jump from into the water. There are "no swimming" signs and the water weeds have taken over.
And of course, the Trolley Bed
Including cross ties for under the rails. I never noticed these when I was at the camp, but erosion has now exposed many of them.